In Welsh mythology Harlech is forever associated with the legend of Branwen, the daughter of Llyr, whose story is recorded in the masterpiece of Medieval Welsh literature, The Mabinogion. "Bendigeidfran son of Llyr ... was at Harlech in Ardudwy, at his court. And they were seated upon the rock of Harlech overlooking the sea..."

On this rugged promontory, a spur of the Harlech Dome (one of the oldest known geological rock formation in the world) now stands the architectural grandeur of Harlech Castle. The castle, now a World Heritage listed site was one of Edward 1's "iron ring" of fortresses, built in the 13th century to subdue the newly conquered lands of North Wales.

Harlech Castle was prominent in Welsh history several times. Owen Glendower captured it and held a parliament there in the early 15th century. Queen Margaret took refuge there in 1460, when her husband, Henry VI, was captured. In 1647, during the English Civil War, Harlech Castle was the last Welsh fortress surrendered to the Parliamentary armies.

In 1404 the Castle was captured by Owain Glyndwr during the great national uprising of the Welsh. Harlech became Glyndwr's official residence and court and the place to which he summoned parliaments of his supporters. It was here that he was formally crowned as Prince of Wales, witnessed by envoys from Scotland, France and Spain. The Castle was recaptured by the English in 1409 under the command of Harry of Monmouth, the future King Henry V and victor of Agincourt. Sixty years later Harlech was one of the last Lancastrian strongholds during the Wars of the Roses.
Photograph copyright © 1992 Jeffrey L Thomas.

"Kyng Edward", wrote the Chronicler John Warkworth, "was possessed of alle Englande excepte a castelle in Northe Wales called Harlake." The Castle gave shelter to Henry VI's Queen, Margaret of Anjou before finally surrendering after a fierce and lengthy resistance to the Yorkist seige in 1468. It was from this seige that the song "Men of Harlech" is said to originate. For lyrics, information and to hear the tune click here.   During the Civil War Harlech was defended for the king and was the last Royalist castle to fall. Its surrender to the beseiging Parliament forces in March of 1647 marked the end of the Civil War and brought Oliver Cromwell to the region.