Europe · United Kingdom · Powys
Montgomery Castle
The story
History of Montgomery Castle
Montgomery Castle (Welsh: Castell Trefaldwyn) is a stone castle looking over the town of Montgomery in Powys, Mid Wales. It is one of many Norman castles on the border between Wales and England.
United Kingdom · Powys
- Built
- 14th century
- Era
- Medieval
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Powys
- UNESCO
- —
- Coordinates
- 52.563, -3.150
In depth
The fuller history
When the First English Civil War began in August 1642, Mid Wales was largely Royalist and the castle held for Charles I by the elderly Lord Herbert of Cherbury. In September 1644, he surrendered to Parliamentarian troops commanded by Sir Thomas Myddelton and Thomas Mytton. On 18 September, a Royalist attempt to retake the castle was repulsed in what was the biggest battle of the war in Wales and a major victory for Parliament. However, the new Parliamentarian governor Sir John Pryce, a Royalist defector, switched sides again in May 1645.
Key dates
- 1071The original motte and bailey is now known as Hen Domen and was built at the order of Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury, sometime between 1071 and 1074.
- 1214The de Boulers (later known as Bowdler) family held the castle until 1214, when it was destroyed by Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth of the Royal House of Aberffraw.
- 1227Montgomery was granted a royal charter in 1227, making it the oldest borough in Wales, and in 1267 hosted negotiations for the Treaty of Montgomery, where Henry III granted Llywelyn ap Gruffudd the title of Prince of…
- 1402The walled town of Montgomery was attacked by the forces of Owain Glyndŵr in 1402 and sacked and burned.
- 1644In September 1644, he surrendered to Parliamentarian troops commanded by Sir Thomas Myddelton and Thomas Mytton.
- 1857Hungarian poet Janos Arany's ballad The Bards of Wales, written in 1857, retells the legend of the 500 Welsh bards allegedly burned at the stake by Edward I of England for refusing to sing his praises during a banquet…
Historical summary drawn from Wikipedia. Read the full article.
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