Montgomery: Family
Roger of Montgomery (d.1094) was appointed earl of Shrewsbury before 1071 by William I to control the middle range of the Welsh frontier (he was one of three earls so appointed, the others being William fitz Osbern to the south and Hugh of Chester to the north). His lordship of Shropshire was not absolute, for others also held manors and land there, including Roger Mortimer in the Teme valley.
Roger's first step was to organize Shropshire on feudal lines, granting land units to his personal followers and providing cover for settlers on the eastern side of the Dyke. Then he looked to extend west of the Dyke to areas which had once been under Mercian control. By the Domesday survey of 1086 there had been considerable inroads made into Powys: the commote of Iâl had been seized; Edeirnion and Cynllaith were subdued and annexed to the Oswestry fief (though along the Severn there was little change as yet. Some were granted to Roger's military tenants (such as the Says at Clun, the Corbets at Caus and others).
Roger established a castle which he named after his Norman home of Montgomery: this is usually called "Hen Domen" ("the old mound". See below)) to distinguish it from the later castle built at Montgomery by Hubert de Burgh. This was a key point in the line of communications into mid-Wales and from Montgomery Ceri, Cedewain and Arwystli were threatened. From Montgomery the Normans moved swiftly up the valley, building a string of mottes as far as Moat Lane near Llandinam. After the battle of Mynydd Carn and the fall of Trahaearn Arwystli was unable to withstand him. In 1093 Roger used Arwystli as a base from which to launch an assault on Ceredigion. Roger of Montgomery died in 1094 and was succeeded by his sons: the eldest, Robert de Bellême, succeeded to his estates in Normandy; the second son, Hugh, succeeded as earl of Shrewsbury; the youngest son , Arnulf became earl of Pembroke. Hugh was responsible for the defence of the northern March against the Welsh revolt which broke out 1094-98. In 1098 Hugh joined the earl of Chester in an invasion of Anglesey and was killed by a Scandinavian raiding party under Magnus Barefoot of Norway. Robert de Bellême therefore succeded to the English estates as well.
Robert took a less aggressive role in Welsh politics (his construction of the castle of Carreghofa to command the valleys of the Tanat and Vyrnwy is his only recorded action against the Welsh before his fall in 1102) and allowed Cadwgan ap Bleddyn to be re-established in Powys; indeed, Robert became Cadwgan's patron and formed an alliance with him and his brothers Iorwerth and Maredudd. But Henry I saw the dangers of this and detached Iorwerth from the alliance with extravagant promises (which he later failed to keep).
Robert and his brother Arnulf had both been supporters of Ranulf Flambard's rebellion in favour of Henry's brother Robert of Normandy in 1101. Although a general amnesty had been declared Henry still found ways of getting his enemies on other offences. When Robert de Bellême was indicted in 1102, therefore, he knew what to expect, and put his castles in a state of defence. Henry took to the field himself and secured the surrender of each castle in turn. Finally Robert was forced to submit at Shrewsbury and was banished to Normandy (where he embarked on a reign of terror). That was the end of the house of Montgomery. Henry I granted the castlery of Montgomery to one of his confidants, Baldwin de Bollers, c. 1110. [G.R.]
[R.R. Davies, Lloyd, Walker]
Roger's first step was to organize Shropshire on feudal lines, granting land units to his personal followers and providing cover for settlers on the eastern side of the Dyke. Then he looked to extend west of the Dyke to areas which had once been under Mercian control. By the Domesday survey of 1086 there had been considerable inroads made into Powys: the commote of Iâl had been seized; Edeirnion and Cynllaith were subdued and annexed to the Oswestry fief (though along the Severn there was little change as yet. Some were granted to Roger's military tenants (such as the Says at Clun, the Corbets at Caus and others).
Roger established a castle which he named after his Norman home of Montgomery: this is usually called "Hen Domen" ("the old mound". See below)) to distinguish it from the later castle built at Montgomery by Hubert de Burgh. This was a key point in the line of communications into mid-Wales and from Montgomery Ceri, Cedewain and Arwystli were threatened. From Montgomery the Normans moved swiftly up the valley, building a string of mottes as far as Moat Lane near Llandinam. After the battle of Mynydd Carn and the fall of Trahaearn Arwystli was unable to withstand him. In 1093 Roger used Arwystli as a base from which to launch an assault on Ceredigion. Roger of Montgomery died in 1094 and was succeeded by his sons: the eldest, Robert de Bellême, succeeded to his estates in Normandy; the second son, Hugh, succeeded as earl of Shrewsbury; the youngest son , Arnulf became earl of Pembroke. Hugh was responsible for the defence of the northern March against the Welsh revolt which broke out 1094-98. In 1098 Hugh joined the earl of Chester in an invasion of Anglesey and was killed by a Scandinavian raiding party under Magnus Barefoot of Norway. Robert de Bellême therefore succeded to the English estates as well.
Robert took a less aggressive role in Welsh politics (his construction of the castle of Carreghofa to command the valleys of the Tanat and Vyrnwy is his only recorded action against the Welsh before his fall in 1102) and allowed Cadwgan ap Bleddyn to be re-established in Powys; indeed, Robert became Cadwgan's patron and formed an alliance with him and his brothers Iorwerth and Maredudd. But Henry I saw the dangers of this and detached Iorwerth from the alliance with extravagant promises (which he later failed to keep).
Robert and his brother Arnulf had both been supporters of Ranulf Flambard's rebellion in favour of Henry's brother Robert of Normandy in 1101. Although a general amnesty had been declared Henry still found ways of getting his enemies on other offences. When Robert de Bellême was indicted in 1102, therefore, he knew what to expect, and put his castles in a state of defence. Henry took to the field himself and secured the surrender of each castle in turn. Finally Robert was forced to submit at Shrewsbury and was banished to Normandy (where he embarked on a reign of terror). That was the end of the house of Montgomery. Henry I granted the castlery of Montgomery to one of his confidants, Baldwin de Bollers, c. 1110. [G.R.]
[R.R. Davies, Lloyd, Walker]
Montgomery: Ffridd Faldwyn hillfort
Ffridd Faldwyn occupies a prominant hilltop in the angle of the rivers Severn and Camlad. Like Hen Domen and the later castle at Montgomery (see above) it commands the ford at Rhyd Whyman and routeways down the Severn valley. The stronghold seems to have started in the early Iron Age as a simple enclosure with a double timber palisade. Later developments on the site saw stronger timber-framed ramparts replace this defensive line and en extra outer ring of defences added which made a defensive enclosure outside the southern gates. Further outer works were added around the fort in a later phase again making this one of the most prominant Iron Age defensive sites along the whole Welsh march.
[CPAT; Haslam; MC]
[CPAT; Haslam; MC]
Montgomery: Hen Domen
Plan by kind permission of Powysland Club
A motte-and-bailey earth and timber castle about a mile from the town of Montgomery. The Domesday Book records that Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury since 1070, had built a castle and called it Montgomery after his home in Normandy. This makes Hen Domen the first "Montgomery" Castle. It guards the ford of Rhyd Whyman on the River Severn and it became the forward base for Roger's conquest of Central Wales. Archaeological excavation of the site revealed that this first military phase of occupation came to an end with the loss of the newly conquered territories to a Welsh resurgance. The site was re-established as a Marcher Lordship held by the de Boulers (or de Bollers) family. Less powerful than most other Marcher families, they held just this one castle. Under their control Hen Domen became a manor house as well as a castle and archaeology indicates more activity of a domestic nature on the site. Local tenants provided a garrison and hunting attendants, as well provisioning the castle. The family defended their part of the border from Welsh incursion but also married among the local welsh nobility in more peaceful times. In 1207 the family line died out and the estates passed to the crown. The Sheriffs of Shropshire maintained the castle until the area passed into Welsh hands and it was abandoned.
In 1223 Henry III launched a new campaign against the Welsh and he chose a new site on the rock of Montgomery for a castle in this part of the border. All later references to Montgomery Castle are to this new stone built castle. Archaeological evidence shows that Hen Domen was reoccupied as a garrison controlling the ford and thus had a third purely military phase until it was finally abandoned around 1300. During this last period there was a contraction the built-up area within the bailey with much re-building. (The site has been extensively excavated in recent years under the direction of Philip Barker.)
For a reconstruction of the castle of Hen Domen, click here.
[Haslam; Philip Barker and Robert Higham: Timber Castles]
In 1223 Henry III launched a new campaign against the Welsh and he chose a new site on the rock of Montgomery for a castle in this part of the border. All later references to Montgomery Castle are to this new stone built castle. Archaeological evidence shows that Hen Domen was reoccupied as a garrison controlling the ford and thus had a third purely military phase until it was finally abandoned around 1300. During this last period there was a contraction the built-up area within the bailey with much re-building. (The site has been extensively excavated in recent years under the direction of Philip Barker.)
For a reconstruction of the castle of Hen Domen, click here.
[Haslam; Philip Barker and Robert Higham: Timber Castles]
Montgomery: Treaty of
The treaty was made at Montgomery on 25 September 1267 between Llywelyn and Henry III, and represented the most favourable terms Llywelyn ever got from the Crown.
Llywelyn was recognized as prince of Wales and had the homage of all Welsh princes except Maredudd ap Rhys Grug of Deheubarth, who was allowed to render homage direct to the Crown. The Four Cantrefs were also confirmed as his. Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn was permitted to keep his lands as the king's ally but had to give up later conquests. Among other territories Llywelyn got Ceri, Cedewain (which he'd held since 1262), Builth, Gwrtheyrnion and Brecon. Maelienydd was recognized as an open question as both Llywelyn and Roger Mortimer had strong claims to the district. Llywelyn could have it if he could demonstrate his right to it but in the meantime Roger Mortimer was permitted to build a castle there. Elfael was not mentioned in the treaty but Llywelyn seems to have kept control of it (though not of its caput of Painscastle!).
There were certain aspects of the treaty which stored up trouble for the future. Llywelyn had to pay heavily for all these concessions. And the treaty was not a recognition of rights but a royal grant, which could always be revoked. In the lordship of Brecon Llywelyn's authority rarely stretched much further south than Brecon itself, and much of the rest of the district lay under English control. And Roger Mortimer's decision to rebuild his castle of Cefnllys in Maelienydd was seen by Llywelyn as breaking the spirit of the agreement. [G.R.]
[R.R. Davies, Lloyd, Walker]
Llywelyn was recognized as prince of Wales and had the homage of all Welsh princes except Maredudd ap Rhys Grug of Deheubarth, who was allowed to render homage direct to the Crown. The Four Cantrefs were also confirmed as his. Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn was permitted to keep his lands as the king's ally but had to give up later conquests. Among other territories Llywelyn got Ceri, Cedewain (which he'd held since 1262), Builth, Gwrtheyrnion and Brecon. Maelienydd was recognized as an open question as both Llywelyn and Roger Mortimer had strong claims to the district. Llywelyn could have it if he could demonstrate his right to it but in the meantime Roger Mortimer was permitted to build a castle there. Elfael was not mentioned in the treaty but Llywelyn seems to have kept control of it (though not of its caput of Painscastle!).
There were certain aspects of the treaty which stored up trouble for the future. Llywelyn had to pay heavily for all these concessions. And the treaty was not a recognition of rights but a royal grant, which could always be revoked. In the lordship of Brecon Llywelyn's authority rarely stretched much further south than Brecon itself, and much of the rest of the district lay under English control. And Roger Mortimer's decision to rebuild his castle of Cefnllys in Maelienydd was seen by Llywelyn as breaking the spirit of the agreement. [G.R.]
[R.R. Davies, Lloyd, Walker]