The castle, as seen from the gatehouse

Kenilworth Castle is in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England. Historically the Castle was contained within the Forest of Arden. Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1407 KB)Kenilworth Castle as seen from the gatehouse. ... Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1407 KB)Kenilworth Castle as seen from the gatehouse. ... Map sources for Kenilworth at grid reference SP295715 Kenilworth is a town in Warwickshire, England. ... Warwickshire (pronounced either /ˈwɔːɹɪkˌʃə/ or /ˈwɔːɹɪkˌʃɪə/) is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in central England. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st UK... Arden is a district in Warwickshire, England, near Stratford-upon-Avon. ...

A fortification has existed on the site from Saxon times. But the current ruin is of Norman origin, a great square stone tower was built by Geoffrey de Clinton, Treasurer and Chief Justice of England to Henry I, in about 1125. Henry II took control of the castle during the rebellion of 1173-1174, giving the Clintons another castle in Buckinghamshire by way of compensation. A map showing the general locations of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms circa 600 CE. The Anglo-Saxons were culturally-related Germanic tribes from Angeln, a peninsula in what is now Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany. ... Rocky landscape with ruins, by Nicolaes Berchem, ca. ... The Normans (adapted from the name Northmen or Norsemen) were a mixture of the indigenous people of France and the Viking invaders under the leadership of Hrolf Ganger, who adopted the French name Rollo and swore allegiance to the king of France (Charles the Simple). ... Geoffrey de Clinton was a Norman noble, prominent in the reign of King Henry II of England. ... Henry I of England (c. ... Events May 23 - Lothair of Saxony becomes Holy Roman Emperor on the death of Henry V. War ends between Toulouse and Provence. ... Henry II (5 March 1133 – 6 July 1189) ruled as Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, and as King of England (1154–1189) and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland, eastern Ireland, and western France. ... Events Canonization of Saint Thomas a Becket, buried at Canterbury August 9th - Construction starts on the Leaning tower of Pisa Castle at Abergavenny was seized by the Welsh. ... Events Vietnam is given the official name of Annam by China. ...

Henry II began work on improving the defensive qualities of the castle. Work continued during the reign of Henry III which turned the castle into one of the strongest in the Midlands. The properties of water defences had long been known but at Kenilworth a great lake was created to defend three sides of the castle. Covering over 100 acres (0.4 km²) it was an expensive endeavour, but the value in keeping siege engines further away and as a barrier to assault or mining was immense. Henry III (1 October 1207 – 16 November 1272) is one of the least-known British monarchs, considering the great length of his reign. ... In general, the midlands of a territory are its central regions. ...

Kenilworth Castle's ruined hall

However after all the work to improve the castle Henry III gifted it in 1244 to Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester. Simon de Montfort became a leader in the Second Barons' War (1263-1267) against Henry III, Kenilworth was the centre of his operations and Prince Edward, Henry's heir, was briefly imprisoned at Kenilworth before escaping. De Montfort was killed in battle near Evesham on August 4, 1265 facing Edward. In 1266, the rebels under the leadership of Henry de Hastings, used the castle as a refuge when Lord Edward surrounded Kenilworth. The siege of Kenilworth Castle in 1266 is the longest in English history at almost a year. The extensive water defences proved their worth, despite Edward targeting the weaker north wall, defended by only a double moat, employing huge siege towers and even attempting a night attack by barge. The siege was ended on easy terms for the defenders with the Dictum of Kenilworth. The experience gained in water defenses at Kenilworth was put to good effect at later castles built in Wales, notably Caerphilly. Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 820 KB)Kenilworth Castle hall ruins. ... Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 820 KB)Kenilworth Castle hall ruins. ... Events Sultan Malik al-Muattam razes city walls. ... From the Chamber of the United States House of Representatives Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester (1208 – August 4, 1265) was the principal leader of the baronial opposition to King Henry III of England. ... The Second Barons War (1264–1267) was a civil war in England between the forces of a number of rebellious barons lead by Simon de Montfort, against the Royalist forces led by Prince Edward (later Edward I of England). ... Events Detmold, Germany was founded. ... For broader historical context, see 1260s and 13th century. ... Edward I (June 17, 1239–July 7, 1307), popularly known as Longshanks because of his 6 foot 2 inch frame and the Hammer of the Scots (his tombstone, in Latin, read, Hic est Edwardvs Primus Scottorum Malleus, Here lies Edward I, Hammer of the Scots), achieved fame as the monarch... August 4 is the 216th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (217th in leap years), with 149 days remaining. ... For broader historical context, see 1260s and 13th century. ... For broader historical context, see 1260s and 13th century. ... For broader historical context, see 1260s and 13th century. ... The Dictum of Kenilworth issued in October 1266, was the terms of the supporters of Simon de Montfort for ending their resistance to Henry III of England. ... for a more detailed article on Caerphilly Castle see Caerphilly Caerphilly Castle is a Norman castle that dominates the centre of the town of Caerphilly in south Wales. ...

Kenilworth Castle's keep from the south

Edward I bestowed the castle upon his youngest son Edmund Crouchback. The castle was inherited by his grandson Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, which then passed to his son-in-law John of Gaunt. Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1261 KB)Kenilworth Castle keep from the south. ... Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1261 KB)Kenilworth Castle keep from the south. ... Edward I (June 17, 1239–July 7, 1307), popularly known as Longshanks because of his 6 foot 2 inch frame and the Hammer of the Scots (his tombstone, in Latin, read, Hic est Edwardvs Primus Scottorum Malleus, Here lies Edward I, Hammer of the Scots), achieved fame as the monarch... Edmund Crouchback (January 16, 1245 - June 5, 1296) was the second surviving son of Eleanor of Provence and King Henry III of England. ... Henry of Grosmont, Duke of Lancaster (c. ... John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (June 24, 1340 - February 3, 1399), the third surviving son of King Edward III of England, gained his name because he was born at Ghent in 1340. ...

From 1364 John of Gaunt began the castle's conversion from a pure fortress into something more liveable, work that continued with his grandson, Henry V. The castle remained in royal hands until it was given to John Dudley in 1553, following his execution Elizabeth I gave it to her favourite Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester in 1563. Dudley further transformed the castle to suit the tastes of Elizabeth, adding the Leicester building, a large apartment and a residential block overlooking the lake. Elizabeth was expensively and lavishly entertained at Kenilworth for a month in 1575. Local legend states that Elizabeth actually gave birth to an illegitimate child during this time, and that most old Kenilworth families are thus descended from Elizabeth. The castle returned to the Crown on Dudley's death. Centuries: 13th century - 14th century - 15th century Decades: 1310s 1320s 1330s 1340s 1350s - 1360s - 1370s 1380s 1390s 1400s 1410s Years: 1359 1360 1361 1362 1363 - 1364 - 1365 1366 1367 1368 1369 See also: 1364 state leaders Events Foundation of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków The Breton War of Succession... Henry V, (August 9 or September 16, 1387 – August 31, 1422), King of England (1413-1422), son of Henry IV by Mary de Bohun, was born at Monmouth, Wales, in August or September 1386 or 1387. ... John Dudley (1501-1553) was a Tudor nobleman and politician, executed for high treason by Queen Mary I of England. ... // Events June 26 - Christs Hospital in London gets a Royal Charter July 6 - Edward VI of England dies July 10 - Lady Jane Grey is proclaimed Queen of England - for the next nine days July 18 - Lord Mayor of London proclaims Queen Mary as the rightful Queen - Lady Jane Grey... Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603 ) was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. ... Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (also referred to as Lord Leycester such as at the Lord Leycester Hospital. ... Events February 1 - Sarsa Dengel succeeds his father Menas as Emperor of Ethiopia February 18 - The Duke of Guise is assassinated while besieging Orléans March - Peace of Amboise. ... Events February 13 - Henry III of France is crowned at Reims February 14 - Henry III of France marries Louise de Lorraine-Vaudémont June 28 - Oda Nobunaga defeats Takeda Katsuyori in the battle of Nagashino, which has been called Japans first modern battle. ...

Sequoiadendron giganteum (Giant Sequoia) at Kenilworth Castle

In the Civil War the castle was stormed and looted by troops fighting for Parliament. Battlements and the great water defences were destroyed in 1656. Download high resolution version (700x933, 170 KB)A decorative Sequoiadendron giganteum in the grounds of Kenilworth Castle. ... Download high resolution version (700x933, 170 KB)A decorative Sequoiadendron giganteum in the grounds of Kenilworth Castle. ... Binomial name Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl. ... // Events Mehmed Köprülü becomes Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire. ...

In 1660 Charles II gave the castle to Sir Edward Hyde, whom he created Baron Kenilworth and Earl of Clarendon. The castle remained the property of the Clarendons until 1937 before passing into the possession of John Davenport Siddeley, 1st Baron Kenilworth. The family presented the castle to Kenilworth in 1958 and English Heritage has looked after it since 1984. Events Expulsion of the Carib indigenous people from Martinique by French occupying forces. ... Charles II (29 May 1630–6 February 1685) was the King of England, King of Scots, and King of Ireland from 30 January 1649 (retrospectively de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. ... Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon (February 18, 1609–December 9, 1674) was an English historian and statesman. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... John Davenport Siddeley (Baron Kenilworth) was a captain of the automobile industry in the United Kingdom. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... English Heritage is a United Kingdom government body with a broad remit of managing the historic environment of England. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 2005 English Heritage announced that after archaeological investigations revealed more details of the original garden, it will be restoring the garden more closely to its Elizabethan form. A fountain and aviary will be reconstructed. The project is scheduled for completion in 2007 [1]

References

Christopher Candy, For the Sake of a Keep: The Siege of Kenilworth, 1267

External links

• Page on English Heritage's website