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Home » War and Rebellion » People » ab Iorwerth, Llywelyn (1194-1240)

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  • Cilgerran Castle stands on a precipitous, craggy promontory overlooking the river Teifi where it merges with the Plysgog stream. The Teifi here is just at its tidal limit, so the castle was able to control both a natural crossing point and the passage of seagoing ships. It is not certain when this strong site was first fortified. It may be the same time as a Norman castle called 'Cenarth Bychan' from which we know, Nest, the spirited and beautiful wife of the Norman lord, Gerald of Windsor, ran off with Owain, son of the prince of Powys during a Welsh attack in 1109. Cilgerran is first mentioned by name in 1164, when the Lord Rhys (Rhys ap Gruffudd) captured the castle here. It was retaken by William Marshal, earl of Pembroke, in 1204, only to be taken again by the Welsh during Llywelyn the Great's campaigns in 1215. However, eight years later, William's son, another William, regained control, and it was probably he who built the imposing masonry castle we see today. Sources: http://www.castlewales.com/cliger.html http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/
Aerial photograph of Cilgerran Castle, 1992
  • Caerphilly Castle is regarded as one of the great medieval castles of western Europe. It is one of the largest castles in Britain, second only to Windsor. Caerphilly Castle was built in the late 13th century by Gilbert de Clare, lord of Glamorgan, who was one of Henry III's most powerful and ambitious barons. His purpose was to secure the area and prevent lowland south Wales from falling into the hands of the Welsh leader, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Llywelyn the Last), who controlled most of mid and north Wales. Building work began on 11 April 1268, but the castle was attacked by Llywelyn in 1270. Work recommenced in 1271 and was completed without hindrance as Llywelyn soon retreated northwards. Source: http://www.castlewales.com/caerphil.html
Aerial photograph of Caerphilly Castle, 1999
  • Building work on Montgomery Castle was commenced by Henry III in 1233 on the site of an old 'motte and bailey' castle. The new castle was built during Henry III's campaign against Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great) and was given to Hubert de Burgh in 1228. It was held by the Mortimers in the 14th century. During the English Civil War, Montgomery became the site of a large battle in September 1644, with anything up to 9,000 troops involved. The castle surrendered to the Parliamentarians and was demolished after the war on the order of Parliament. Sources: http://www.castlewales.com/montgom.html Cadw, 'A Nation Under Siege: The Civil War in Wales, 1642-48' (London, HMSO, 1991).
Aerial photograph of Montgomery Castle, 1995
  • Building work on Montgomery Castle was commenced by Henry III in 1233 on the site of an old 'motte and bailey' castle. The new castle was built during Henry III's campaign against Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great) and was given to Hubert de Burgh in 1228. It was held by the Mortimers in the 14th century. During the English Civil War, Montgomery became the site of a large battle in September 1644, with anything up to 9,000 troops involved. The castle surrendered to the Parliamentarians and was demolished after the war on the order of Parliament. Sources: http://www.castlewales.com/montgom.html Cadw, 'A Nation Under Siege: The Civil War in Wales, 1642-48' (London, HMSO, 1991).
Aerial photograph of Montgomery Castle, 1999
  • Caerphilly Castle is regarded as one of the great medieval castles of western Europe. It is one of the largest castles in Britain, second only to Windsor. Caerphilly Castle was built in the late 13th century by Gilbert de Clare, lord of Glamorgan, who was one of Henry III's most powerful and ambitious barons. His purpose was to secure the area and prevent lowland south Wales from falling into the hands of the Welsh leader, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Llywelyn the Last), who controlled most of mid and north Wales. Building work began on 11 April 1268, but the castle was attacked by Llywelyn in 1270. Work recommenced in 1271 and was completed without hindrance as Llywelyn soon retreated northwards. Source: http://www.castlewales.com/caerphil.html
Aerial photograph of Caerphilly Castle, 1999
  • The Cistercian abbey of Cwm-hir is of great historical significance. Its early history is somewhat obscure but the permanent foundation dates to 1176, probably under the patronage of Cadwallon ap Madog of Maelienydd, as this area of Powys was then known. It was twice attacked during the late twelfth century by Hugh de Mortimer and eventually given a Norman charter. From 1197 onwards, the earlier wooden building began to be replaced by a more permanent stone structure and, although it was never fully completed, the abbey was, at this time, of a size that was only surpassed by those at Durham and Winchester. During the thirteenth century, Llywelyn ab Iorwerth ('Llywelyn Fawr') embarked upon an ambitious building programme which, again, was left uncompleted. He wanted to rebuild the abbey as a great national cathedral which would reflect Welsh political and religious independence under his rule. However, his efforts did not go un-noticed by the English king, Henry III, who imposed a huge fine upon the abbey, seemingly as a result of an alleged act of 'rebellion' by one of its monks. This fine crippled the abbey and effectively stopped its development as a national cathedral. There is a also long-standing tradition, based on the evidence of one chronicle, that the body of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd was buried at Abbey Cwmhir after his death at Cilmeri, near Builth Wells, in 1282. The abbey was further attacked in 1402, during the Owain Glyn Dwr uprising, when it was a stronghold of the Mortimer family, and never fully recovered from the damage sustained at that time. Source: Radnorshire Museum
Aerial photograph of the ruins of Abbey Cwm-hir, 1995