Welsh Anglo-Norman castles

Wales' Norman-built stone castles and English expansion. Llywelyn the Great's expedition during 1215, and Welsh built castles. (Wikipedia articles linked).

Castles in Wales had been originally built with wood, but they did not last long. Some of these fortifications were adapted from pre-existing hillforts, and these forts were built using the natural earthworks from the local vicinity, but, in some cases, the fortifications constructed would have a motte and bailey. For a generation after the Norman invasion of Wales in the 1080s, Norman castles were built in the Kingdom of Gwynedd, such as Aberlleiniog Castle on Anglesey which was similar to previous fortifications, however this time they were built with stone and capable of withstanding the harsh terrain of Northern Europe. The Norman fortifications were a few centuries before the new era of castle building which became known as the Ring of Iron (1277-1320s) e.g. Caernarfon Castle, one of four major medieval buildings in North Wales. The castles were designed by the European Savoy master mason, James of Saint George who was employed by Edward I. The construction project culminated in the unfinished construction of Beaumaris Castle, this was due to lack of money. Beaumaris was built to protect the English interests on the Isle Anglesey, the fortification was a direct response to the rebellion of Madog ap Llywelyn in 1294–95, he was a distant Aberffraw member and the Lord of Merioneth.

Caernarfon Castle (built 13th century), Gwynedd, Wales.

The Kingdom of Wales survived Anglo-Saxon invasions and Viking raids. Eventually, the Kingdom was dismantled by the Normans. In Gwynedd that began because of Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester from 1086. Aberffraw Palace was then abandoned, the roof had caved in, and nature took over the building, turning it to ruin. The Llys must have been rebuilt, and there had been a palace in use by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (Llywelyn The Great), but this structure was eventually disassembled around 1317. As well as the later palace, there was a timber wooden structure on-site and a mound built for a castle type of reinforced fort. As a response to the invasion and by combining the ambition of the House of Aberffraw and its parent house of the Kingdom of Gwynedd, it was the Welsh Princes of Wales who would use their alliances with neighbouring Kingdoms in Wales and the knowledge of Norman / England Kingdom builders to construct many castles throughout the north of the country. In Wales, over 400 castles were built, but only 10% were castles constructed and inhabited by Welshmen. With the advent of stone castles in Wales in the 11th century, the newly built castles did not replace the original Welsh courts (Llys). Most of these new castles were built to protect important routeways and allow cattle farming. Also, Welsh castles were mostly built within locations of strong natural defences, like hilltops or next to a river. It wasn't until the reign of Prince Llywelyn the Great that stone castles were successfully built. During the reign of Llywelyn the Great, grain shipments that were meant to feed Llywelyn's army were blocked from leaving Anglesey by Edward I of England.

During the period of the Norman castle building phase (1088-1277) in Wales, until the invasion of Wales by Edward I was when the majority of native Welsh strongholds were built for the members of the house of Aberffraw. Llywelyn the Great would oversee the construction of the stone castles in the Kingdom of Gwynedd, but these castles were expensive to build. The locations were chosen with military strategy, and for the grazing of animals around Snowdonia, none except Degannwy were built near a Llys. Most Welsh-made castles were built as a direct consequence of the invasion of Llywelyn's father-in-law King John of England and as a response to the Welsh uprising of 1211. With the growing infrastructure in Wales, c. 1271, Prince Llywelyn II was a ruler to around 200,000 people, this was approximately three-quarters of the total Welsh population.

The 11th-century Norman invasion started a new wave of castle building and warfare in Wales, having the Normans fighting the invaders, the Welsh, who would in turn sometimes turn on themselves and fight their own kin over succession issues. Norman-built castles such as Gaer Penrhôs and Mold Castle were invaded by Gruffudd ap Cynan's sons and occupied by the Welsh who built new castles on the Norman-built sites; Mold would change sides 5 times over the 12-13th centuries between Welsh and English control, including the castle and the surrounding countryside. Often the Norman castles were destroyed and rebuilt during occupation by the Welsh.

Through rebellions and battles, members of the House of Aberffraw would use Norman estates as personal residences. The Norman castle in Aberlleiniog, Anglesey, was used by Aberffraw Princes, although it was constructed in 1088 by the Earl of Chester. Another example of a Norman castle occupied by the Welsh was Aberystwyth Castle, the Norman stone-built castle was built and inhabited by the Norman Marcher Lord of Ceredigion, Gilbert De Clare. The estate was captured in battle by Owain Gwynedd and his brother Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd in 1121, they invaded Norman-controlled Ceredigion and took 5 castles in the province in the lead-up to the Norman defeat by Welsh forces over a decade later at the battle of Crug Mawr. Aberystwyth was destroyed and later rebuilt by Llywelyn the Great, until it was taken back once more by the Normans and rebuilt by Edward I. In the same year of 1136, after Crug Mawr, Gwynedd and his brother took possession of Cardigan Castle, ousting the 'French and Flemish' people who occupied the castle, and taking spoils of war and prisoners. Despite Owain's bloodthirsty reign, he managed to continue the resistance his father started against the English Crown and was praised by many contemporary writers such as Gerald of Wales for his rule in Wales. His ambition to go to battle successfully meant Wales would keep their independent status. Owain would become the first King of Gwynedd to be styled as Prince, as agreed upon by Henry II of England, he is also considered one of the first Princes of Wales because of his territorial reach throughout the country and was one of the first Welsh leaders not to be seen as a Tribal chief, but as a feudal magnate in Britain. It was Owain's sons who were the first to build stone castles in Gwynedd.

During the reign of Llywelyn the Great, he would start a rebellion against his father-in-law, the King of England, and would take control of several Norman castles in Wales, including the castles of Carmarthen, Kidwelly (Cydweli), Llanstephan and Cardigan, (Trefdraeth castle was gifted to him by the family of Cemaes on Anglesey) also Cilgerran castle was given to Llywelyn, all in the year 1215. By the end of Llywelyn's expedition around Wales that year, he also acquired Senghenydd castle, St. Clare, and Laugharne (Talacharn). By 1218 the new King, Henry III of England, would confirm Llywelyn's possessions. Other castles taken by the Welsh from Norman possession during the 13th century include Newport, Loughor, Llandovery, Newcastle, Hawarden, and Morlais, while Carndochan was possibly built by Llywelyn the Great.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, attributed to Ham II, the ruins of Criccieth Castle, Gwynedd, Wales.

By the 13th century, the Princes of Gwynedd and members of the House of Aberffraw were granted the title Princes of Wales and were the first to build castles all over Wales. The only castles built by the Aberffraw dynasty still standing today are Dolbadarn and Dolwyddelan (Criccieth and Bere castles are partially intact) castles both constructed in 1221 by Llywelyn the Great, who was the most active Welsh castle builder. The other Welsh castles were constructed in the Kingdom of Gwynedd, and are now a part of the area of North West Wales. Those castles are; Criccieth, Castell Tomen, Deganwy, Castell Deudraeth (Castell Aber Ia), Carn Fadryn, Castell Pen y Garn, and Castell y Bere, all these castles mentioned (except Deganwy, which was first built in the 520s) was used by the House of Aberffraw and built between 1170-1280s (most between 1220 and 1230) within or near borders to the Kingdom of Gwynedd.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, attributed to Máel Milscothach, Dolbadarn castle, lake Padarn, North Wales.

Other stone castles were built by the Aberffraw dynasty outside of the Kingdom of Gwynedd from around the year 1150 until the mid to late 13th century. An example was, Castell Cynfael near Tywyn, built by Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd in 1147. A century later, there were Ewloe (started by Llywelyn the Great) and Dolforwyn, both of them built by Llywelyn II, then also Caergwrle Castle was built by his brother, Dafydd III on lands given to him by Edward I. Those three castles were part of the Welsh Marches on the English border within Wales' territory. Other important Welsh-made castles were built in the Kingdoms of Deheubarth and Powys and some in South Wales. These castles were used by members of the House of Aberffraw after victorious battles against their neighbours, which were fellow Welsh Kingdoms as well as Welsh marches Norman Lords (Cambro-Normans). Some castles would be invaded and captured by opposite forces several times over centuries until and after the end of the Aberffraw dynasty in 1283. As per architectural style, the English preferred a rectangular and round tower, while the Welsh would build the apsidal or D-shaped tower and a tower (keep) and an enclosure. This architectural design was consistent in Welsh castle builds. Today, some of these Norman built castles are still standing or have been redeveloped into bigger sites. A great example of a redeveloped site is Cardiff Castle, the grounds have been developed for over 2,000 years. Originally a Roman fort, then a millennium later (c. 1100) a Norman stone castle with motte and bailey were built nearby within the enclosure. Then, in the 19th century, a Victorian residence with halls, a clock tower, and surrounding walls were added by the Marquess of Bute. Each time the constructors incorporated the previous build into the design.

Image courtesy of Flickr, attributed to Clint Budd, aerial image of Cardiff castle. Image enhanced on Wiki Commons by Seth Whales.