Taunton Castle changed hands several times in the Civil War of 1642–1645, but only along with the town. During the Siege of Taunton it was defended by Robert Blake from July 1644 to July 1645, with the town suffering destruction of many medieval and Tudor buildings. On 20 June 1685 the Duke of Monmouth crowned himself King of England at Taunton during the Monmouth Rebellion and in the autumn of that year Judge Jeffreys lived in the town during the Bloody Assizes that followed the Battle of Sedgemoor.