Madog ap Llywelyn claimed the title Prince of Wales in 1294, seven years before Edward II received it. Caernarfon was an important target because of its spiritual and economic significance to English rule in the region. Madog's forces captured the town in September and badly damaged its walls. Only a ditch and temporary barricade separated the town from the unfinished castle, which was quickly taken and burnt. The intended mutual defence failed at the unbuilt barrier between the two positions. English forces retook Caernarfon in 1295 and spent about another thousand pounds repairing the town walls before resuming the castle works. The capture shows how much the defensive plan depended on completing that separation.
Chapter · 32:27-34:25
The 1294 capture and rebuild
Madog ap Llywelyn's 1294 rising exposes the unfinished gap between town and castle before an English counterattack retakes and refortifies Caernarfon.