The ward of Caernarfon Castle, showing (from left to right) the Black Tower, the Chamberlain's Tower, and the Eagle Tower.

Caernarfon Castle from the west

Caernarfon Castle was constructed at Caernarfon in North Wales by King Edward I of England, following his conquest of the country in 1283. Download high resolution version (2007x1482, 1022 KB)The courtyard of Caernarfon castle Photo by User:Gdr File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (2007x1482, 1022 KB)The courtyard of Caernarfon castle Photo by User:Gdr File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2574x1488, 917 KB) Caernarfon Castle from the west Caernarfon Castle from the west Author: User:Velela. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2574x1488, 917 KB) Caernarfon Castle from the west Caernarfon Castle from the west Author: User:Velela. ... Caernarfon (the original Welsh spelling is now almost always used in preference to the anglicised forms, Caernarvon or Carnarvon) is a royal town in north-west Wales. ... This article is about the country. ... Edward I (17 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), popularly known as Longshanks[1], also as Edward the Lawgiver because of his legal reforms, and as Hammer of the Scots,[2] achieved fame as the monarch who conquered Wales and who tried to do the same to Scotland. ...

Background

Edward I built castles and walled towns in North Wales to control the area following his conquest of the independent principality of Wales, in 1283. Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, prince of Wales, having rejected a bribe of one thousand pounds a year and an estate in England, if he would surrender his nation unreservedly to the king of England, had been lured into a trap on 11 December 1282, and put to death. His brother Dafydd ap Gruffudd had continued the struggle for continuing independence, but had been captured at Bera Mountain in the uplands above Garth Celyn, in June 1283. Edward surrounded and overshadowed Garth Celyn, the royal home and the headquarters of resistance to English domination, with Caernarfon and Conwy castles, and later Beaumaris Castle. The other fortress in the iron ring encirling Snowdonia was Harlech Castle. This article is about the country. ... For broader historical context, see 1280s and 13th century. ... Arms used by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Llywelyn ap Gruffydd or Gruffudd (c. ... The Prince of Wales Feathers. This Heraldic badge of the Heir Apparent is derived from the ostrich feathers borne by Edward, the Black Prince. ... Dafydd ap Gruffydd (c. ... Garth Celyn, Aber Garth Celyn, now Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd, the home in the thirteenth century of Llywelyn Fawr, Dafydd ap Llywelyn and LLywelyn ap Gruffudd, Tywysog Cymru Aber Garth Celyn, now known as Abergwyngregyn or Aber, is a settlement of great antiquity and on the north coast of Gwynedd. ... Garth Celyn, Aber Garth Celyn, now Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd, the home in the thirteenth century of Llywelyn Fawr, Dafydd ap Llywelyn and LLywelyn ap Gruffudd, Tywysog Cymru Aber Garth Celyn, now known as Abergwyngregyn or Aber, is a settlement of great antiquity and on the north coast of Gwynedd. ... Conwy (formerly anglicised as Conway) is a town in Conwy county borough in North Wales, which faces Deganwy across the river Conwy. ... Beaumaris Castle and moat. ... Tryfans north ridge (seen on the left in this picture) in Snowdonia. ... The main gatehouse of Harlech Castle. ...

The site selected for Caernarfon was strategically important, located on the banks of the River Seiont where it flows into the Menai Strait. It had been the site of a Roman fort, and a later Motte and Bailey castle built c. 1090 by Hugh D'Avaranches. The Menai Strait (in Welsh Afon Menai, the River Menai) is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water about 14 miles (23 km) long, which separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales. ...

Construction

Begun in 1283 after Snowdonia- the heartland of Gwynedd- had been overrun by the massive army, it reached something like its current state in 1323. It was never completed, and even today there are joints visible in several places on the internal walls ready to accept further walls which were never built. Contemporary records note that the castle's construction cost some £22,000 – an enormous sum at the time, equivalent to more than a year's income for the royal treasury. The castle's linear design is sophisticated by comparison with earlier British castles, and the walls are said to have been modelled on those of Constantinople, Edward being a keen Crusader. The castle dominates the Menai Strait. For broader historical context, see 1280s and 13th century. ... Events Canonization of Saint Thomas Aquinas Lithuania: Vilnius becomes capital August 12 - The Treaty of Nöteborg between Sweden and Novgorod (Russia) is signed, regulating the border for the first time Pharos of Alexandira Lighthouse (one of the Seven Wonders of the world) is destroyed by a series of earthquakes... A linear castle is a castle that was designed to confront attackers with a series of barriers/impediments in a line (hence the name). ... The Walls of Constantinople surrounded the Roman and Byzantine city of Constantinople (today Istanbul in Turkey). ... The Menai Strait (in Welsh Afon Menai, the River Menai) is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water about 14 miles (23 km) long, which separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales. ...

History

Edward II of England was born here, during the initial stages of the castle's construction in 1284. Edward II, (25 April 1284 – 21 September? 1327), of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until deposed in January, 1327. ... // Events War and politics King Charles II of Naples is captured in a naval battle off Naples by Roger of Lauria, admiral to King Peter III of Aragon. ...

In the uprising of 1294–1295, Caernarfon was taken by the forces of Madog ap Llewellyn, but recaptured in 1295 and its defenses brought nearer to completion. In 1403 and 1404 it withstood sieges by the forces of Owain Glyndŵr. During the English Civil War its Royalist garrison surrendered to Parliamentary forces in 1646. For broader historical context, see 1290s and 13th century. ... Events Mongol leader Ghazan Khan is converted to Islam, ending a line of Tantric Buddhist leaders. ... Madoc ap Llywelyn or Prince Madoc was from a junior branch of the House of Cunedda and a distant relation of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (King Llywelyn III of Gwynedd) the last recognised native Prince of Wales. ... Events July 21 - Battle of Shrewsbury. ... Events June 14 - Owain Glyndwr of Wales allies with the French against the English and the Henry of Lancaster. ... Seal of Owain Glyndŵr The Banner of the Arms of Owain Glyndŵr showing his parentage Owain Glyndŵr [], sometimes anglicised as Owen Glendower (1359–c. ... The English Civil War consisted of a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians (known as Roundheads) and Royalists (known as Cavaliers) between 1642 and 1651. ... 1646 (MDCXLVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Ceremonial Usage

Queen Elizabeth II formally invests The Prince of Wales with the Prince of Wales crown at Caernarfon Castle

• The tradition of investing the heir of the monarch of Britain with the title of "Prince of Wales" began in 1301, when King Edward I of England, having completed the conquest of Wales, gave the title to his heir, Prince Edward (later King Edward II of England). According to a famous legend, the king had promised the rebellious Welsh natives that he would name "a prince born in Wales, who did not speak a word of English" and then produced his infant son to their surprise (and presumable chagrin); but the story may well be apocryphal, as it can only be traced to the 16th century. However, Edward II certainly was born at Caernarfon while his father was campaigning in Wales, and like all infants, could not at the time speak English. (Indeed, growing up in the royal court over the succeeding years his first language may well have been Norman French, not English.)

• The castle was used again in 1911 for the investiture of the then Prince of Wales, the future Edward VIII of the United Kingdom, because of its past associations with the English crown. This set a precedent which was to be repeated in 1969 with the investiture of Charles, Prince of Wales.

Image File history File links [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Crown of Charles, Prince of Wales was the crown used by Charles, Prince of Wales at his investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Prince of Wales Feathers. This Heraldic badge of the Heir Apparent is derived from the ostrich feathers borne by Edward, the Black Prince. ... Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; later The Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972) was King of Great Britain, Ireland, the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India from the death of his father, George V (1910–36), on 20... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George[2]; born 14 November 1948), is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ...

Present Day

The castle houses the regimental museum of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and is part of the World Heritage Site "Castles and Town Walls of King Edward I in Gwynedd". Official name The Royal Welch Fusiliers Colonel-in-Chief HM Queen Elizabeth II Colonel Major-General Brian Peter Plummer CBE Nicknames Motto Nec Aspera Terrent Anniversaries St. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State...

In 2007, a copy of the Eagle Tower was recreated on the boulevard of the coastal town of Zandvoort in the Netherlands. The sandsculpture, made entirely out of sand and water, was carved out by a team of professionals and measures up to 5 meters/15 feet.

External links

• Official CADW page for Caernarfon Castle
• http://www.castlewales.com/caernarf.html
• http://www.llywelyn.co.uk

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