Caernarfon Castle: Ghosts of the Welsh Conquest

Caernarfon Castle is the mightiest of Edward I’s “Iron Ring” of fortresses, built to cement English control over Wales after the conquest of 1282-1283. Its distinctive polygonal towers and banded stonework were designed to echo the walls of Constantinople, declaring Edward’s imperial ambitions. But within these walls, the spirits of conquered Wales refuse to rest.

The History

The Conquest of Wales

In 1282, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales, was killed. Edward I moved swiftly to consolidate his victory, constructing a chain of massive castles across North Wales. Caernarfon was the grandest, intended as the seat of English administration and the official residence of the new English-born Prince of Wales.

Edward’s son, the future Edward II, was born in the castle in 1284—the first English Prince of Wales.

Welsh Resistance

The castle has witnessed several Welsh uprisings:

• Madog ap Llywelyn’s revolt (1294-1295) saw the town burned
• Owain Glyndŵr attacked in 1401 and 1403-1404
• The castle never fell to Welsh forces but remained a symbol of oppression

The Hauntings

Llywelyn’s Ghost

The shade of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd himself is said to walk the battlements on the anniversary of his death (December 11):

• A noble figure in Welsh royal garments
• Gazing sadly over the land he lost
• Sometimes accompanied by other medieval figures

The Phantom Army

Multiple witnesses have reported seeing a ghostly Welsh army approaching the castle walls:

• Ranks of armed men in medieval dress
• Battle cries in the Welsh language
• The army fades when the castle walls are reached

Some believe these are the spirits of those who died in the failed uprisings, eternally attempting to reclaim their land.

The Brown Lady

A woman in brown Tudor-era clothing has been seen in the King’s Gate:

• She appears distressed
• Wringing her hands
• Vanishes into stone walls

Her identity is unknown, but she may be connected to executions carried out in the castle.

The Child Prince

A small boy in medieval royal clothing has been seen in the Eagle Tower:

• Playing with unseen toys
• Speaking in Norman French
• This may be an echo of the infant Edward II

Sounds of the Past

Visitors frequently report:

• Welsh singing echoing from empty towers
• Clash of swords and battle sounds
• Footsteps on the wall walks
• Chains rattling in the dungeons

Modern Activity

The castle remains charged with supernatural energy:

• Electronic equipment frequently malfunctions
• Tour guides report cold spots that move
• Photographs show unexplained figures
• Visitors experience sudden waves of emotion—grief, anger, defiance

Visiting

Caernarfon Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site managed by Cadw, the Welsh historic monuments agency. It is one of Wales’s most visited attractions and the site of the investiture of the Prince of Wales.

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Edward I built Caernarfon to crush Welsh independence forever. But the spirits of Wales remain, undefeated in death, their presence a reminder that conquest never truly ends.