Editing Raglan Castle (section)

===15th to 16th centuries===
[[File:Raglan Reconstruction.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.0|Reconstruction of Raglan Castle around 1620]]

The current Raglan Castle was begun by [[William ap Thomas|Sir William ap Thomas]], the lesser son of a minor Welsh family who rose through the ranks of mid-15th century politics, profiting from the benefits of the local offices he held.<ref>Kenyon (2003), p.4; Emery (2006), p.281.</ref> William married first Elizabeth, a wealthy heiress, and then Gwladus, another heiress who would prove to be a powerful regional figure in her own right.<ref>Johnson, p.88; Kenyon (2003), p.6.</ref> In 1432, [[Sir]] William purchased the manor of Raglan, where he had already been staying as a tenant, for 1,000 [[Mark (money)|mark]]s (£666 13s 4d) and commenced a programme of building work that established the basic shape of the castle as seen today, although most of it—with the exception of the South Gate and the Great Tower—was later built over.<ref name=Kenyon2003P7>Kenyon (2003), p.7.</ref>{{#tag:ref|It is difficult to accurately compare 15th century and modern prices or incomes. For comparison, an average baron in 1436 enjoyed an annual income of £500.<ref name=P148>Pounds, p.148.</ref>|group="nb"}}

Sir William's son dropped the Welsh version of his name, calling himself [[William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1423–1469)|William Herbert]].<ref name=Kenyon2003P7/> He continued to rise in prominence, supporting the [[House of York]] during the [[War of the Roses]], fighting in the [[Hundred Years War]] in France but making his fortune from the [[Gascony|Gascon]] wine trade.<ref>Kenyon (2003), p.9.</ref> He was also closely associated with Welsh politics and status; he was the first Welshman to be made an earl and was described by contemporary poets as the "national deliverer" who might achieve Welsh independence.<ref>Johnson, p.88; Kenyon (2003), p.9.</ref> In the 1460s William used his increasing wealth to remodel Raglan on a much grander scale.<ref>Kenyon (2003), p.10.</ref> The symbolism of the castle architecture may have reflected the Welsh family roots: historian Matthew Johnson has suggested that the polygonal towers were possibly designed to imitate those of [[Caernarfon Castle]], whose architecture carries numerous allusions to the eventual return of a Roman Emperor to Wales.<ref>Johnson, p.89.</ref> Historian Anthony Emery has described the resulting castle as one of the "last formidable displays of medieval defensive architecture".<ref>Emery (2006), p.281.</ref>

There was an important link between Raglan Castle and the surrounding [[Medieval deer park|parkland]], in particular the Home Park and the Red Deer Park.<ref name=Kenyon2003P11/> Historian Robert Liddiard suggests that on the basis of the views from the castle at this time, the structured nature of the parks would have contrasted with the wilderness of the mountain peaks framing the scene beyond, making an important statement about the refinement and cultured nature of the castle lord.<ref>Liddiard, p.113.</ref> In the 15th century there were also extensive orchards and fish ponds surrounding the castle, favourably commented upon by contemporaries.<ref name=Kenyon2003P11/>

[[File:Raglan Castle Gatehouse and library.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|The state apartments (left), library (centre) and gatehouse (right)]]
William Herbert was executed as a Yorkist supporter in 1469 after the [[Battle of Edgecote Moor]]. Building work may have stopped for a period under his son, also called [[William Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke|William Herbert]], before recommencing in the late 1470s.<ref>Kenyon (2003), p.12.</ref> By 1492, the castle passed to [[Elizabeth Somerset, Baroness Herbert|Elizabeth Somerset]], William Herbert's daughter, who married Sir [[Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester|Charles Somerset]], passing the castle into a new family line.<ref name=Kenyon2003P13>Kenyon (2003), p.13.</ref>

Sir Charles Somerset was politically successful under both [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]] and [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]], being made the [[Earl of Worcester]].<ref name=Kenyon2003P13/> His son, [[Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester|Henry Somerset]], died shortly after inheriting Raglan, but not before using [[lead]] reclaimed from [[Tintern Abbey]] to help the building work at Raglan Castle during the [[dissolution of the monasteries]].<ref name=Kenyon2003P13/> His son and grandson, [[William Somerset, 3rd Earl of Worcester|William Somerset]] and [[Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester|Edward Somerset]], proved to be what John Kenyon describes as "wealthy, brilliant and cultured men".<ref name=Kenyon2003P13/> William rebuilt much of the Pitched Stone Court, including the hall, adding the Long Gallery and developing the gardens into the new [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]] style.<ref>Kenyon (2003), p.14.</ref> The Somerset family owned two key castles in the region, Raglan and [[Chepstow Castle|Chepstow]], and these appeared to have figured prominently as important status symbols in paintings owned by the family.<ref>Kenyon (2003), p.17; Strong, p.41.</ref>