Battlefields›Lord Rhys Captures Llandovery Castle 1162
Medieval

Lord Rhys Captures Llandovery Castle 1162

1162
Wales
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Wales
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Norman garrison of Llandovery Castle (held by Walter de Clifford)
VS
Victor
Deheubarth under Rhys ap Gruffydd (Lord Rhys)
Outcome
Rhys ap Gruffydd captured Llandovery Castle and destroyed its wooden fortalice; the site remained undefended until refortification began in 1282.
The Battle

History & Significance

Lord Rhys Captures Llandovery Castle 1162 was a medieval siege, the investment of a fortified position, fought in Wales in 1162. Deheubarth under Rhys ap Gruffydd (Lord Rhys) prevailed over Norman garrison of Llandovery Castle (held by Walter de Clifford). Rhys ap Gruffydd captured Llandovery Castle and destroyed its wooden fortalice; the site remained undefended until refortification began in 1282.

Confirmed battlefield location
The ground

The ground they fought on

The site of Lord Rhys Captures Llandovery Castle 1162 lies on Ashgill Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Ashgill. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.

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Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Lord Rhys Captures Llandovery Castle 1162

Llandovery Castle
Llandovery Castle
Scheduled monument · Medieval · ~0.2 mi

Llandovery Castle is a medieval fortification situated in the market town of Llandovery in Carmarthenshire, Wales. The castle was established in the late twelfth century as a Norman stronghold, with its distinctive circular keep representing a characteristic example of late Norman defensive archi…

Stuart Logan / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Llandovery Roman Site
Llandovery Roman Site
Scheduled monument · Roman · ~0.4 mi

Llandovery Roman Site is a Roman fort situated in Wales. Built during the Roman occupation of Britain, the fort exploited the natural topography of the surrounding landscape to command strategic position in the Welsh interior. The site lies upon Ashgill Rocks of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone,…

Jaggery / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Dolau-Hirion Bridge
Dolau-Hirion Bridge
Scheduled monument · Post Medieval/Modern · ~1 mi

Dolau-Hirion Bridge is a post-medieval to modern bridge located in Wales and protected by Cadw as a scheduled monument under reference CM005. The structure spans terrain underlain by Ashgill rocks, a foundation of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone formed during the Ashgill epoch of the late Ordov…

Philip Halling / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Dolauhirion, section of Roman road N of
Dolauhirion, section of Roman road N of
Scheduled monument · Roman · ~1.2 mi

Dolauhirion is a section of Roman road located in Wales and protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw. The route forms part of the network of military and civilian highways that connected Roman settlements across the province of Britain, facilitating troop movements, trade and administrative cont…

Cefn Pal Defended Enclosure
Cefn Pal Defended Enclosure
Scheduled monument · Prehistoric · ~3 mi

Cefn Pal Defended Enclosure is a prehistoric fortified settlement situated in Wales, protected as a scheduled monument under Cadw reference CM379. The site occupies ground underlain by Llandovery rocks—a mixed sequence of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone formed during the Llandovery period—which…

Alan Richards / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Roman Fortlet 300m SW of Gallt yr Adar Fawr
Roman Fortlet 300m SW of Gallt yr Adar Fawr
Scheduled monument · Roman · ~3.2 mi

Roman Fortlet 300m SW of Gallt yr Adar Fawr is a small Roman military installation situated in the upland terrain of Wales. The site occupies bedrock of Ashgill formation—mudstone, siltstone and sandstone deposits of Ordovician age—which would have presented both practical challenges and defensiv…

Roger / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Ynys-y-Borde Earthwork
Scheduled monument · Prehistoric · ~1.5 miles
Roman Road c. 150m NW of Tal-y-Pal
Scheduled monument · Roman · ~2.5 miles
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Battles near Lord Rhys Captures Llandovery Castle 1162

Edward IV Estates Commission in Wales 1471
1471
~0.3 miles away
Battle of Irfon Bridge (1282)
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~11.4 miles away
Battle of Llandeilo Fawr
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Battle of Cadfan
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