archaicwonder:

Dinefwr Castle, Wales

Dinefwr was the ancient capital of Deheubarth from the early 10th century, from the time of Hywell ap Cadell (Hywell the Good). Rhys ap Tewdwr (d. 1093), a descendent of Hywell, was the last true king of Deheubarth. Rhys’s grandson, Rhys ap Gruffudd (Lord Rhys), took control of Dinefwr around 1160 and probably refortified the earlier fortress. Lord Rhys’s third son, Rhys Gryg, successfully challenged his elder brother Gruffudd for control of Dinefwr. Gruffudd’s son Rhys Ieunc launched an unsuccessful attack on Dinefwr in 1213.

Shortly after, however, Llewelyn ap Iorwerth marched south to enforce the terms of the Peace of Worcester, which would have made the Princes of Deheubarth vassals of King Henry III of England. Rhys Gryg refused to submit, and destroyed his own ancestral seat at Dinefwr as an act of defiance. In a remarkably quick turnabout, Rhys altered his stance only a few days later, and not only agreed to submit to Llewelyn, but became a vassal of Henry III and one of his staunchest supporters. Sometime between 1220 and Rhys’s death in 1234 Dinefwr was rebuilt, with the main addition being a strong round keep at the east end of the inner bailey. A later hall stands on the north side of the inner ward.

After the Battle of Bosworth in 1483, Henry VII gave Dinefwr to one of his most trusted supporters, Sir Rhys ap Thomas, who carried out extensive rebuilding. In 1531 his grandson was executed for treason and the castle was confiscated by the crown, though the family were later able to recover it. Around 1600, Newton House was built nearby and the castle keep was modified to be a summer house. The remains of the large windows can be seen at the top of the keep, but the house burned down in the 18th century.