Caernarfon Castle
Location
Between north Wales and Anglesey
Southern end of Menai Strait at the mouth of the Afon Seiont (River Seiont)
Location (cont.)
Chronology of Major Events at Caernarfon
Early History
The area around Caernarfon has been fortified since the time of the Romans, where they had a fort and settlement called Segontium.
Early History (Cont.)
After the Norman conquest of England, a motte-and-bailey fort was constructed at the location of the current Castle. While nothing remains of the wooden fort, the motte was used to raise up the eastern section of Caernarfon.
Conquest of Wales
In 1282, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd led a rebellion against Edward I, he was killed later that year in Snowdonia. His brother took over leadership but was defeated and executed in 1283.
Iron Ring
With Wales conquered and under direct English rule, Edward I wanted to assert his dominance and secure his position in Wales. So he set about building a series of new castles and fortified towns to settle with Englishmen, creating bastions of support throughout Northern Wales.
Construction
Architect: Master James of Saint George d'Esperance
Born in Savoy, 1230, apprenticed with his father, who was also a master mason and architect.
Initially served Count Peter II of Savoy, Edward I’s uncle.
Construction (cont.)
Construction was believed to have started on June 24 1283, with a ditch separating the construction site from the rest of the town.
By 1285, the outer walls of the city were built, including the southern walls of the castle.
Architecture
Since Caernarfon was the administrative capital of Wales, Edward I and Master James wanted the castle defending it to be the most imposing and glorious.
Wanting to legitimize Edward’s conquest of Wales, they wanted to invoke the power and legends of Rome and King Arthur.
The polygonal towers and color banded walls are reminiscent of the walls of Constantinople.
Eagle Tower
On the western edge of the castle sits the Eagle Tower, the grandest tower of the entire castle.
When first built it was adorned with statues of eagles, which have since eroded away.
The tower could be resupplied by sea and used as a last resort if the rest of the castle had been captured.
Defenses
Two towers on the northern side known as the King’s Gate
Entrance defended by up to six portcullises
Arrowslits
Strategic location near sea
Cost
By the time construction ended in about 1330, between £20,000 and £25,000 was spent on the castle and the city walls.
In today’s money, £20,000 is about £12,590,000.00. But you take that same £20,000 and look at it as a share of GDP, its modern value is closer to £5,773,000,000.00.
1294 Rebellion
Led by Madog ap Llywelyn
Raised taxes and a request for troops to campaign in France pushed Wales into revolt
Captured the town in September of 1294, north side of the castle was only defended by a ditch and a wooden barricade, and the castle was easily overrun and burned.
Glyndŵr Rising
After the death of Richard II, the Welsh rebelled again.
Caernarfon was sieged by the Welsh in 1401, which culminated in the indecisive Battle of Tuthill.
It was again sieged in 1403 and 1404 by the forces of Welshman Owain Glyndwr, but the castle held out.
The castle was defended by only about 30 men.
English Civil War
Despite being in disrepair, Caernarfon was occupied by Royalist forces in about 1642 during the Civil War.
It was besieged three different times by Parliamentary Forces, but never fell.
The commander, John Byron, surrendered in 1646, and was the last time Caernarfon ever saw combat.
Restoration
Centuries of neglect after the English Civil War
Repairs were made in the late 19th century
Extra Tidbits
Legend states that Merlin was born in a cave just outside the town
In 1284, King Edward I presented his first born son the Welsh announcing, “A prince born in Wales, who did not speak a word of English”, this produced the tradition of naming the first in line for the throne, Prince of Wales.
Caernarfon has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site
London Plans
Ben:
Mason:
Annotated Bibliography
Alchin, Linda. "Master James of St George." Master James of St George. SiteSeen Ltd., June 2015. Web. 13 May 2016. This source included information about James of Saint George, the architect of Edward's Caernarfon.
Bremner, Ian. "Wales: English Conquest of Wales C.1200-1415." BBC. BBC, 2014. Web. 13 May 2016. This gave insight into the history of the conquest of Wales in 1200-1415.
"Caernarfon Castle." North Wales Historic Attraction. Wales Tourist Information, n.d. Web. 13 May 2016. This is Caernarfon's official tourism site and gave a broad introduction to the castle, including its strategic location, unconventional design, and importance in history.
"Caernarvon Castle." TimeRef. TimeRef.com, n.d. Web. 13 May 2016. This webpage described some of the main components of Caernarfon Castle and provided a timeline of the major events that transpired at Caernarfon over the years.
"History of Britain." History of Britain. WordPress, 13 Oct. 2013. Web. 13 May 2016. This site depicts the history of Caernarfon Castle, discussing its development, battles, and fun facts.
Mersey, Daniel. "Caernarfon Castle." Caernarfon Castle. Castles of Wales Website, 2009. Web. 13 May 2016. This site spoke in depth about the building phases of Caernarfon during Edward's time and the defenses the castle was equipped with.
Officer, Lawrence H., and Samuel H. Williamson. "Measuring Worth - Purchase Power of the Pound." Measuring Worth. MeasuringWorth, 2016. Web. 13 May 2016. This site converted the cost of Caernarfon Castle to modern cash value.
Smith, J. B. "Llywelyn Ap Gruffudd." Llywelyn Ap Gruffudd. Oxford University Press, Jan. 2008. Web. 13 May 2016. This source describes Llywelyn ap Gruffudd's life and his resistance against Edward I.
"Welcome to Caernarfon." Welcome to Caernarfon. Crown, 2013. Web. 13 May 2016. This source made an important connection between the design of Caernarfon and that of Constantinople, the imperial power of Rome
Further Reading
The Age of Conquest, Wales 1063-1415 by RR Davies (OUP, 1987)
Coldstream, Nicola (2003), "Architects, Advisers and Design at Edward I's Castles in Wales", Architectural History 46: 19–36
Questions?