ABSTRACT
The typical castle, however, was the dwelling of some figure in the feudal order. A castle was likely to be the administrative centre of its owner’s estate, and like all but the least substantial manor-houses, it served as a court-house for the local tenants. In war, a castle’s main duty consisted in the holding of territory. When a castle was captured, its lord lost his hold on his local property, and so did his sovereign. The Welsh learned the use of castles from the Anglo-Normans early in the twelfth century; thereafter, English and Welsh strove for a mastery which could only be understood in terms of castles, with which the local divisions, the units of conquest and reconquest, were closely identified. Castles, in fact, were built to hold territory; if they could interfere with the movements of a hostile army, that would be something of an uncovenanted mercy.
