Harlech Castle is steeped in a rich history which is more often than not coloured heavily by the conflict between the English and the Welsh which led to the Castle being under siege a number of times. Whilst these sieges have thrust the Castle into the historical spotlight, there are also a number of other interesting facts about Harlech Castle’s history that I'll share with you today.
1. The Song ‘Men of Harlech’ Comes from the Castle’s History.
The famous song/military march ‘Men of Harlech’ is said to have been based on one of the Castle’s many sieges. This particular siege took place between 1461 and 1468, whilst the Castle was under the control of Constable Dafydd ap Ieuan. The song features in the film Zulu, released in 1964. During this film, the Welsh soldiers sing the march in order to match that of the Zulu warriors.
However, some historians have suggested that the march is actually inspired by an earlier siege which took place in 1404. We have no way of knowing from which siege the song originates, nevertheless, given the Castle’s long history of siege warfare, the song can be taken as illustrative of the Castle’s general history
Some of the lyrics of the song 'Men of Harlch' translated into English are:
“Hark I hear the foe advancing,
Barbed steeds are proudly prancing,
Helmets in the sunbeams glancing,
Wales forever..."
2. The Castle was the Location of a Siege During the War of the Roses.
During the War of the Roses (1455-1487) Harlech Castle was held by those loyal to the Lancastrian family. They were at war with the York family because both claimed they held the right to the English throne.
The garrison was ordered by Parliament to surrender but they refused. The Castle was then surrounded by the Yorkist army and besieged. With time, the Yorkist army grew large enough to launch an attack on the Castle and the surrounding areas successfully
You can find out more about this siege in our full article about the history of Harlech Castle.
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3. It's Part of The Iron Ring of Castles.
Harlech Castle is part of what has become known as The Iron Ring of Castles. The Iron Ring is made up of a collection of castles built by Edward I in the 13th century.
Their purpose was to assert dominance over the King’s rival, the Kingdom of Gwynedd. The construction of these castles was overseen by the King’s master architect, James of St George. Because all the castles share the same architect they either look similar or share the same design features
4. The Queen of England Once Fled Here
Harlech Castle briefly hosted a queen. In 1460, Margaret of Anjou, the Queen of England was forced to flee to the Castle. She was forced to its door because of the Battle of Northampton where her husband King Henry VI had been captured.
On her way to see refuge in Wales, one of her own servants robbed her and threatened to kill her and the infant Prince Edward. She managed to flee with the Prince to Harlech while the servant was rummaging through her luggage.
5. The Castle Once Played Host to the Welsh Parliament
Despite its English origins, under the custodianship of Owain Glyn Dwr who was a Welsh leader in 1404 Harlech Castle played host to the Welsh Parliament. Owain had taken the Castle after a siege and declared himself Prince of Wales 1404-1415 and began a significant rebellion against English rule.
The Welsh forces were able to besiege the Castle because the original English garrison had been unable to receive supplies from the sea. This was because French and Breton ships patrolled the sea and they were loyal to the Welsh cause.
Unfortunately for Owain and his Welsh rebels, this arrangement did not last long and soon the Castle was back in the hands of the English. This was following yet another siege by forces led by the Crown, to be specific, the future King of England, Henry V. It took heavy bombardment from cannons in order to get the Castle to fall
6. The Castle Used to be Much Closer to the Shoreline than it Appears Today.
When Harlech Castle was originally constructed, it was much closer to the sea. Since then the sea has receded and the Castle now stands on its own on top of a rocky hill. There was also once a stairway which led down to the sea which meant in the case of a siege, supplies could be brought in via boat. There was also a dry moat of rock which could be accessed by a channel which connected to the sea.
7. The Castle is Now Recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site
After its reconstruction and renovation work during the 20th century by the Office of Works, the Castle was listed in 1986 as a World Heritage Site. This was alongside three other Castles built by Edward I.
Harlech and Beaumaris were selected because of their "unique artistic achievements for the way they combine characteristic 13th-century double-wall structures with a central plan, and for the beauty of their proportions and masonry"
A World Heritage Site is a site, area or structure which is deemed of outstanding international importance and its protection and preservation must therefore be ensured. Today, you can visit Harlech Castle to get a feel of what life was like during Medieval times by strolling along the castle walls or exploring the exhibition to learn more.
Published: 29 June 2022 · Last updated: 10 October 2023