Kingdom of Gwynedd (Guynet)

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. Ca...

The Aberffraw family's Llywelyns (also Llewelyn) in the 13th century; Grandfather, grandson, cousin. The Welsh Princes of Wales, and subsequent  internal  factions against fellow Welsh, and external rebellions against England. Then the eventual  demise of the Royal House of Aberffraw (Wikipedia links used). The Royal family of Aberffraw through warfare had controlled all of Gwynedd and most of North Wales by the 12th century. After the emergence of the Normans in Wales in the 11th century, the neighbouring kingdoms throughout Wales could not protect their lands as effectively as the Kingdom of Gwynedd had done. Deheubarth , Morgannwg , and Powys , the other three of the big 4 kingdoms lost swathes of land to the invaders. But, Gwynedd grew in size, reaching south along the coast into Meirionydd and Ceredigion and west north Wales to Powys. However, the gains were not achieved through peace but through war.  As well as the Aberffraw Llywelyns (anglicised as Leolinus...