Dinerth Castle
Encyclopedia
The Castle of Dinerth is a Welsh castle located near Aberarth
, Ceredigion
, west Wales
(ca.1110).
The ruins of the medieval timber castle can be found on a hill about 1½ miles up the valley from the seaside town of Aberarth. The founder is thought to be one Richard de la Mare, a follower of Richard Fitz Gilbert
, Lord of Clare, an Anglo-Norman
lord, who, by the archaeological evidence, built it on top of a previous defensive position.
The castle was razed by Gruffydd ap Rhys
but probably rebuilt, as it is known to have been destroyed again by Owain Gwynedd
in 1136. The castle probably spent the next fifty years passing from one feudal ruler to another: from Hywel to Cadwaladr
in 1144, and then ceded to Roger de Clare, 3rd Earl of Hertford
in 1158, who garrisoned it. Destroyed by The Lord Rhys
in 1164, it came into the possession of Maelgwn ap Rhys
who lost it to, and recovered it from, his brother, Gruffudd ap Rhys
. Maelgwn dismantled it to prevent his lands being held by Llywelyn the Great
of Gwynedd
. As Llywelyn then captured and held all the territory from the River Arth
to the River Aeron
, he conferred Dinerth on the sons of Maelgwn's brother Gruffudd as was rightfully due. The site was abandoned soon after.
The supposed pre-Norman use of the site as a defensive position has led some historians to conjecture that the site may have some connection to the legendary King Arthur
and Camelot
. However although din means 'fort' in old Welsh and arth means 'bear', they are both common placename elements in Welsh and the name of the fortress is logically more likely to derive from the River Arth which flows close by rather than to mean 'Fort of the Bear'. The castle has also been called "Hero" castle (in Norse hiro means 'king's carl').
A receptaculi ursi is referred to by King Arthur's contemporary, Gildas
. This means 'lair or retreat of the bear' and is sometimes translated as 'Fort of the Bear'. However, it is more likely to refer to a different Dinerth - a sub-Roman
hillfort on Bryn Euryn above Llandrillo-yn-Rhos in Conwy county - because it is mentioned in connection with King Cynlas
of Rhos.
Aberarth
Aberarth, Ceredigion, Wales is a small seaside village situated towards the southern end of Cardigan Bay between Aberystwyth and Cardigan.As its name suggests it is at the mouth of the River Arth and is on the A487 coastal road.- History & Amenities :...
, Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, west Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
(ca.1110).
The ruins of the medieval timber castle can be found on a hill about 1½ miles up the valley from the seaside town of Aberarth. The founder is thought to be one Richard de la Mare, a follower of Richard Fitz Gilbert
Richard Fitz Gilbert
Richard fitz Gilbert , was a Norman lord who participated in the Norman conquest of England in 1066. He was also known as "de Bienfaite", "de Clare", and "de Tonbridge".-Biography:...
, Lord of Clare, an Anglo-Norman
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
lord, who, by the archaeological evidence, built it on top of a previous defensive position.
The castle was razed by Gruffydd ap Rhys
Gruffydd ap Rhys
Gruffydd ap Rhys was Prince of Deheubarth, in Wales. His sister was the Princess Nest ferch Rhys.-Early life:Following the death of Gruffydd's father Rhys ap Tewdwr in 1093, Deheubarth was taken over by the Normans, and Gruffydd spent much of his early years in exile in Ireland.In 1113 Gruffydd...
but probably rebuilt, as it is known to have been destroyed again by Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd , in English also known as Owen the Great, was King of Gwynedd from 1137 until his death in 1170. He is occasionally referred to as "Owain I of Gwynedd"; and as "Owain I of Wales" on account of his claim to be King of Wales. He is considered to be the most successful of...
in 1136. The castle probably spent the next fifty years passing from one feudal ruler to another: from Hywel to Cadwaladr
Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd
Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd was the third son of Gruffydd ap Cynan, King of Gwynedd, Wales and younger brother of Owain Gwynedd.-Appearance in history:...
in 1144, and then ceded to Roger de Clare, 3rd Earl of Hertford
Roger de Clare, 3rd Earl of Hertford
Roger de Clare was a son of Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare and Alice de Gernon. He succeeded to the earldom when his brother Gilbert died without issue. In 1164 he assisted with the Constitutions of Clarendon. From his munificence to the Church and his numerous acts of piety, Roger was called the...
in 1158, who garrisoned it. Destroyed by The Lord Rhys
Rhys ap Gruffydd
Rhys ap Gruffydd or ap Gruffudd was the ruler of the kingdom of Deheubarth in south Wales. He is commonly known as The Lord Rhys, in Welsh Yr Arglwydd Rhys, but this title may not have been used in his lifetime...
in 1164, it came into the possession of Maelgwn ap Rhys
Maelgwn ap Rhys
Maelgwn ap Rhys was prince of part of the kingdom of Deheubarth in south west Wales.Maelgwn was the son of Rhys ap Gruffydd by his wife Gwenllian ferch Madog, daughter of Madog ap Maredudd prince of Powys. He appears in the historical record for the first time helping at the siege of Tenby in 1187...
who lost it to, and recovered it from, his brother, Gruffudd ap Rhys
Gruffydd ap Rhys II
Gruffydd ap Rhys II was a prince of Deheubarth in south-west Wales.- Lineage :He was the son of Rhys ap Gruffydd and grandson of Gruffydd ap Rhys....
. Maelgwn dismantled it to prevent his lands being held by Llywelyn the Great
Llywelyn the Great
Llywelyn the Great , full name Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, was a Prince of Gwynedd in north Wales and eventually de facto ruler over most of Wales...
of Gwynedd
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Gwynedd was one petty kingdom of several Welsh successor states which emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain in the Early Middle Ages, and later evolved into a principality during the High Middle Ages. It was based on the former Brythonic tribal lands of the Ordovices, Gangani, and the...
. As Llywelyn then captured and held all the territory from the River Arth
River Arth
The River Arth is a small river that emerges in the hills near Bethania, Ceredigion, Wales, which runs west for and discharges its waters into Cardigan Bay at Aberarth....
to the River Aeron
River Aeron
The River Aeron is a small river in Ceredigion, Wales, that flows into Cardigan Bay at Aberaeron. It is also referred to on some older maps as the River Ayron.- Source :...
, he conferred Dinerth on the sons of Maelgwn's brother Gruffudd as was rightfully due. The site was abandoned soon after.
The supposed pre-Norman use of the site as a defensive position has led some historians to conjecture that the site may have some connection to the legendary King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
and Camelot
Camelot
Camelot is a castle and court associated with the legendary King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and eventually came to be described as the fantastic capital of Arthur's realm and a symbol of the Arthurian world...
. However although din means 'fort' in old Welsh and arth means 'bear', they are both common placename elements in Welsh and the name of the fortress is logically more likely to derive from the River Arth which flows close by rather than to mean 'Fort of the Bear'. The castle has also been called "Hero" castle (in Norse hiro means 'king's carl').
A receptaculi ursi is referred to by King Arthur's contemporary, Gildas
Gildas
Gildas was a 6th-century British cleric. He is one of the best-documented figures of the Christian church in the British Isles during this period. His renowned learning and literary style earned him the designation Gildas Sapiens...
. This means 'lair or retreat of the bear' and is sometimes translated as 'Fort of the Bear'. However, it is more likely to refer to a different Dinerth - a sub-Roman
Sub-Roman Britain
Sub-Roman Britain is a term derived from an archaeological label for the material culture of Britain in Late Antiquity: the term "Sub-Roman" was invented to describe the potsherds in sites of the 5th century and the 6th century, initially with an implication of decay of locally-made wares from a...
hillfort on Bryn Euryn above Llandrillo-yn-Rhos in Conwy county - because it is mentioned in connection with King Cynlas
Cuneglas
Cuneglas . He is recorded as a son of Owain Danwyn, a popular contender for an historical basis to the famous King Arthur...
of Rhos.