Harlech Castle
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We’re all fascinated by and drawn to medieval castles. Whether, like Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire, they’re still intact (albeit much “improved” over the centuries) or (like Harlech in Wales) simply some dramatic ruins that have us wishing to see their original complete selves in whichever period interests us the most. But although we see many…
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Here’s a tale of treachery and the cowardly theft of a throne. Such a shame though, because Powis Castle today is extraordinarily beautiful. I lament that Tudor‘s invasion with his foreign army didn’t take him into a particularly gluey and bottomless Welsh bog, or over a cliff on to jagged rocks in the middle of…
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Men of Harlech
“Men of Harlech”, Barmouth, Dafydd ab Ifan ab Einion, Denbigh, Earl of Pembroke, Edward I, Edward IV, France, Harlech Castle, Hedgeley Moor, Henry VI, Hexham, Hundred Years War, Jack Cade, Jasper “Tudor”, John Oxenford, Margaret d’Anjou, Matthew Gough, Northampton, Richard III, Rouen, Scotland, siege of harlech, Sir Richard Herbert, Sir Richard Tunstall, Towton, Wales, Wars of the Roses, William Herbert Earl of Huntingdon
In March 1461, the Lancastrian forces of King Henry VI were decisively thrashed at Towton, the Yorkist army of King Edward IV winning the day after a bitter and close-fought battle. After that, England fell into the hands of the first Yorkist king. At least, that is what Edward would have liked. In truth, repeated…
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Edmund Mortimer 5th Earl of March
Anne Stafford, Battle of Shrewsbury, Constance of York, Earl of Northumberland, Earldom of March, Edmund Mortimer, Edmund of Langley, Harfleur, Harlech Castle, Henry IV, Henry V, Humphrey of Gloucester, Ian Mortimer, Iolo Goch, Ireland, John Holland, King’s Council, Mortimers, Normandy, Owain Glyn Dwr, Pevensey Castle, plot, Richard Earl of Cambridge, Richard II, Roger Mortimer, Sir Hugh Waterton, Sir John Mortimer, Sir Thomas Grey, Southampton, Thomas Earl of Surrey, Thomas of woodstock, Tripartite Alliance, Wales, Windsor CastleEdmund Mortimer, later 5th Earl of March, was born on 6 November 1391. His parents were Roger Mortimer, Earl of March (1374-1398) and his wife, the well-connected Alianore Holland, daughter of Thomas Earl of Kent. In the view of many people, including the Westminster Chronicler, and the Welsh poet Iolo Goch (c1320-1398) Earl Roger was…
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After the fall of Harlech Castle in February 1409, various members of Owain Glyndwr’s family were taken to the Tower. Among them was his grandson, Lionel ap Edmund (or Lionel Mortimer) the young son of Sir Edmund Mortimer and his wife Catrin ferch Owain. This boy cannot have been older than six at the uttermost,…
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