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 336 Mediceval Military Architechtre. CARDIFF CASTLE, GLAMORGAN. THE castle of Cardiff, though not unknown to border fame, has been the theatre of no great historical event, nor does it present any very striking peculiarities of position, scenery, or struc- ture. Its claim to more than local interest rests upon the character and fortunes of the great barons whose inheritance and occasional residence it was from the nth to the 15th century, from the reign of Rufus to that of Henry VI. Probably a Roman castrum, and certainly a hold of the local British princes, it was won, in 1090, by the sword of Robert Fitzhamon, lord of the Honour of Gloucester, and by him constituted the "caput " of his newly acquired seignory of Morgan and Glamorgan. Mabel, the heiress of Fitzhamon, conveyed his possessions, with her hand, to Robert Consul, Earl of Gloucester, bastard son of Henry I., and the reputed builder of the Norman parts of the castle. They were succeeded by their son William, Earl of Gloucester, who died 11 73, leaving daughters only; the inheritance was then for a time held by King John, then Earl of Moreton, by marriage with Isabel, the youngest co-heir; and on her divorce, soon after 11 99, by Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex, who died, 12 16. Isabel's third husband was Hubert de Burgh, she died childless. Upon this, Almaric d'Evreux, who married Mabel, the elder co-heir, became Earl of Gloucester ; but Mabel's issue also failed. Amice, the second co-heir, had married Richard, head of the powerful house of De Clare ; and their son Gilbert, Earl of Hertford, thus finally became Earl of Gloucester, lord of that honour, and possessor of the castle of Cardiff. He died 1229. Four earls of the race of Clare possessed Cardiff Castle for nearly a century ; and though chiefly resident at Clare and Tonbridge, did much to adorn the castle and consolidate the seignory. In 1320, Eleanor, the elder co-heir of the last De Clare, was married to Hugh le Despenser the younger, the minion of Edward II. During the minority or attainder of their son, Hugh d'Audley who had married the second co-heir, had the earldom, and possibly held Cardiff at his death in 1347. The Despensers then reappeared in the person of Thomas, son of Edward, who was son of Hugh and Eleanor de Clare. This Thomas was created earl of Gloucester in 1397, and attainted and beheaded in 1400. His son Richard, who succeeded, died a minor and childless, in 1414. The earldom of Gloucester was not revived, but, including the first Hugh, five members of this unfortunate race held the seignory and castle for ninety-four years. Isabel le Despenser, sister of Richard, and the final heiress, was born at Cardiff Castle, which she did much to strengthen and embellish. She married the cousins, Richard Beauchamp, earl of