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About the Great Map

Great Map Key

This map of medieval Wales shows castles built during the long power struggle between native Welsh Princes and the Norman Kings and Marcher Lords.There are hundreds of castle and abbey ruins in Wales. This map shows 125 of them.

  • Yellow castles were built by the Norman 'Marcher Lords' to hold south Wales
  • The castles with chevrons are featured in the ‘Lords of the Southern March’ story.
  • Red castles were built by the native Welsh Princes to resist invasion. The castles with crowns are featured in the ‘Princes of Deheubarth’ story.
  • Purple castles were used by Anglo-Norman Kings to exert royal authority. The castles with helmets were part of Edward I’s invasion of north Wales.
  • White castles were built by other leaders or at other times. The castles with helmets were part of Edward I’s invasion of north Wales.
  • Crosses represent significant religious buildings or ruins. The four Norman medieval cathedrals and the three abbeys built by the Princes of Dehuebarth are named.

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