Editing Cardiff Castle (section)

{{Short description|Grade I listed castle in Cardiff, Wales}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name = Cardiff Castle
|partof = 
|location = [[Castle Quarter (Cardiff)|Castle Quarter]], [[Cardiff]], [[Wales]]
|image2 = [[File:Cardiff Castle logo.jpg]]
|caption2 = Logo of Cardiff Castle
|map_type = Wales Cardiff
|coordinates = {{coord|51.4823|-3.1812|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
|map_size = 280
|map_caption = Cardiff Castle shown within Cardiff
|type = 
|gridref = {{gbmapping|ST179766}}
|code = 
|built = Late 11th century; current appearance the result of [[Victorian era]] renovations
|builder = 
|materials = 
|height = 
|used = Tourist attraction
|demolished = 
|condition = 
|ownership = [[Cardiff Council]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cardiffcastle.com/contact-us/ | title=Contact Us | access-date=2 September 2014 | author= Cardiff Castle | publisher= Cardiff Castle }}</ref>
|open_to_public = Yes
|controlledby = 
|garrison = 
|current_commander =  
|commanders = 
|occupants = 
|battles = 
| embedded = {{Infobox designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Scheduled monument      
| designation1_offname = Cardiff Castle and Roman Fort<ref name=Scheduled>{{Cadw|uid=3388|class=SM|num=GM171|desc=Cardiff Castle and Roman Fort|access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref>  
| designation1_date =   
| designation1_number = GM171<ref name=Scheduled/>  
| designation2         = UK Grade I
| designation2_offname = Cardiff Castle<ref name=Listing>{{Cadw|num=13662|desc=Cardiff Castle|access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref>  
| designation2_date    = {{Start date and age|1952|02|12|df=yes}}<ref name=Listing/>   
| designation2_number  = 13662<ref name=Listing/>
| designation3           = Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales  
| designation3_free1name  = Listing
| designation3_free1value = Grade I<ref name="G1"/>
| designation3_offname = Cardiff Castle and Bute Park<ref name="G1"/>
| designation3_date    = {{Start date and age|2022|02|01|df=yes}}<ref name="G1"/>      
| designation3_number = PGW(Gm)22(CDF)<ref name="G1">{{NHAW|uid=213|desc=Cardiff Castle and Bute Park|class=HPG|num=PGW(Gm)22(CDF)|access-date=2022-06-10}}</ref>
}}
|events = [[Norman invasion of Wales]]<br> [[Despenser War]]<br> [[Glyndŵr Rising]]<br>[[English Civil War]]<br>[[Second World War]]
|image = Aerial view of Cardiff Castle.jpg
|caption = Aerial view of Cardiff Castle

}}

'''Cardiff Castle''' ({{langx|cy|Castell Caerdydd}}) is a [[medieval]] castle and [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] [[Gothic revival]] [[mansion]] located in the [[Cardiff city centre|city centre]] of [[Cardiff]], [[Wales]]. The original [[motte and bailey]] castle was built in the late 11th century by Norman invaders on top of a 3rd-century [[Roman fort]]. The castle was commissioned either by [[William the Conqueror]] or by [[Robert Fitzhamon]], and formed the heart of the medieval town of Cardiff and the [[Marcher Lord]] territory of [[Glamorgan]]. In the 12th century the castle began to be rebuilt in stone, probably by [[Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester|Robert of Gloucester]], with a [[shell keep]] and substantial defensive walls being erected. Further work was conducted by the [[Richard de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester|6th Earl of Gloucester]] in the second half of the 13th century. Cardiff Castle was repeatedly involved in the conflicts between the Anglo-Normans and the Welsh, being attacked several times in the 12th century, and stormed in 1404 during the [[Glyndŵr Rising|revolt of]] [[Owain Glyndŵr]].

After being held by the de Clare and Despenser families for several centuries, the castle was acquired by the [[Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick|13th Earl of Warwick]] in 1423. Warwick conducted extensive work on the castle, founding the main lodgings on the west side of the castle, dominated by a tall octagonal tower. Following the [[Wars of the Roses]], the status of the castle as a Marcher territory was revoked and its military significance began to decline. The Herbert family took over the property in 1550, remodelling parts of the main lodgings and carrying out construction work in the [[outer bailey]], then occupied by Cardiff's Shire Hall and other buildings. During the [[English Civil War]] Cardiff Castle was initially taken by a [[Roundheads|Parliamentary]] force, but was regained by [[Cavaliers|Royalist]] supporters in 1645. When fighting broke out again in 1648, a Royalist army attacked Cardiff in a bid to regain the castle, leading to the [[Battle of St Fagans]] just outside the city. Cardiff Castle escaped potential [[slighting|destruction]] by Parliament after the war and was instead garrisoned, probably to protect against a possible Scottish invasion.

In the mid-18th century, Cardiff Castle passed into the hands of the Stuart dynasty, [[Marquess of Bute|Marquesses of Bute]]. The [[John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute|1st Marquess of Bute]] employed [[Capability Brown]] and [[Henry Holland (architect)|Henry Holland]] to renovate the main lodgings, turning it into a Georgian mansion, and to landscape the castle grounds, demolishing many of the older medieval buildings and walls. During the first half of the 19th century the family became extremely wealthy as a result of the growth of the coal industry in Glamorgan. However, it was the [[John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute|3rd Marquess of Bute]] who truly transformed the castle, using his vast wealth to back an extensive programme of renovations under [[William Burges]]. Burges remodelled the castle in a [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic revival]] style, lavishing money and attention on the main lodgings. The resulting interior designs are considered to be amongst "the most magnificent that the gothic revival ever achieved".<ref>{{harvnb|Aldrich|1994|pp=93, 211}}</ref> The grounds were re-landscaped and, following the discovery of the old Roman remains, reconstructed walls and a gatehouse in a Roman style were incorporated into the castle design. Extensive landscaped parks were built around the outside of the castle.

In the early 20th century, the [[John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute|4th Marquess of Bute]] inherited the castle and construction work continued into the 1920s. The Bute lands and commercial interests around Cardiff were sold off or nationalised until, by the time of the [[Second World War]], little was left except the castle. During the war, extensive [[air raid shelter]]s were built in the castle walls; they could hold up to 1,800 people. When the 4th Marquess died in 1947, the castle was given to the City of Cardiff. Today the castle is run as a tourist attraction, with the grounds housing the "[[Firing Line: Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh Soldier|Firing Line]]" [[regimental museum]] and interpretation centre. The castle also serves as a venue for events, including musical performances and festivals.