BattlefieldsNorman Seizure of Cardiff
Medieval

Norman Seizure of Cardiff

1091
Glamorgan, Wales
Also known as: Robert Fitz Hamon conquers Glamorgan c.1091 · Conquest of Glamorgan
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Glamorgan, Wales
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Welsh (Glamorgan)
Forces
Welsh forces: c.1,500–2,500.
VS
Victor
Normans (Robert Fitz Hamon)
Forces
Robert FitzHamon: c.2,000–3,500
Outcome
Norman conquest of Glamorgan; Cardiff castle established as centre of power
The Battle

History & Significance

Robert Fitz Hamon conquered Glamorgan in a rapid campaign, establishing Cardiff Castle as the centrepiece of his new lordship. The conquest was accompanied by the dispossession of Welsh lords and the installation of Norman sub-tenants. Fitz Hamon divided Glamorgan into marcher lordships and began the pattern of Norman castle-building that would transform south Wales. The Welsh inhabitants were pushed into the upland areas — the "Welshry" — while Normans occupied the lowland "Englishry."

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Glamorgan

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Glamorgan