XIX.—Cardiff Castle: its Roman Origin

Extract

Cardiff Castle can hardly be classed with the better-known English castles, nor has its history been a particularly stirring one. Nevertheless its position in Norman and Plantagenet times was one of considerable importance, for it was the seat of the chief lords of Glamorgan, or to use the ancient and more correct term, Morganwg. Its medieval history, however, scarcely concerns the present paper, which has to do with sundry remains of an earlier period; but should its perusal demand some reference to that phase of the subject, the concise history of this castle in the late Mr. George T. Clark's Mediæval Military Architecture in England may be consulted with advantage. It is, however, necessary to bear in mind that its definite history begins with the Norman Conquest of G-went and Morganwg in the eleventh century and the immediate circumstances which led to it. Prior to this event, the light of history gives place to shadowy tradition, and archaeology becomes our only safe guide.