Hertford Castle

Part of Speed's Map of 1610 showing The Castle

Henry's successor, Edward I 1272-1307, was a just and progressive ruler and as such brought stability to the country. Consequently, the Castle's military role became secondary to it's use as a Royal Residence and in 1299 Edward gave it to his second wife Margaret.

Following the death of his father, Edward II 1307-1327 was crowned king and shortly after the castle was in the hands of his French wife, Queen Isabella, sometimes known as the She-Wolf of France for her violent temperament. Edward was not a good king and Isabella took a lover - Roger Mortimer - and plotted against her husband, eventually deposing him and putting her 14 year old son on the throne. However, because of his youth, Isabella and Roger effectively ruled as Regents for three years. The former King, meanwhile, was eventually murdered at Berkeley Castle.

Edward III 1327-77, otherwise known as The Black Prince, took control in 1331. Realising the treachery of his mother and lover, he had Isabella imprisoned and Mortimer tried and hung. Isabella was eventually freed and spent many of her remaining years at the Castle. Edward too spent much time in Hertford and in 1332 he had the Castle and Brough surveyed to assess its value.

In 1337, war broke out with France - The Hundred Years War - and Hertford Castle was used to detain prisoners of royal and noble rank. One of the first was King David II of Scotland, whose country aligned itself with France. This wasn't so much imprisonment, more confinement, for the King had his own quarters and was allowed to hunt and hawk. He also received noble visitors and was allowed to spend his wealth freely. Another detainee was King John of France, who arrived in April 1359, although his confinement at Hertford lasted only four months.

The following year the Castle was granted to Edward's third son, John Of Gaunt, who had married his cousin, Blanche, the only child of The Duke Of Lancaster. John spent much time at the residence, using it as his chief country home when not abroad on campaigns. The defences were repaired and stengthened again at this time, for there was social and economic stress, bourn out of the continuing war with France.

The death of Edward III brought to the throne Richard II 1377-99. Two years later, the ugly mood of the country gave rise to The Peasants Revolt, led by Wat Tyler. There is no evidence of disturbances in Hertford, but in St.Albans there was roiting. Eighteen peasants from the town were imprisoned in the castle dungeons.

Richard despised and distrusted his uncle, John of Gaunt, and briefly confiscated the castle from him, only to return it having asserted himself. However, it was John's son, Henry Bolingbroke, who presented a greater threat and in 1398 he was banished from the country. The following year, John Of Gaunt died and Richard seized all the Lancastrian Estates, including Hertford Castle. Here he installed his new wife, the eight year old Princess Isabella. Richard was by now a wholly unpopular king. In the latter years of his rule he became a tyrant who murdered his opponents and rode rough-shod over the rights of his people and parliament. This was too much to bear for the banished Henry Bolingbroke and in 1399 he returned to England. His father's former tenants and the northern barons rallied to the cause and Richard was taken prisoner and induced to abdicate, following formal charges that were drawn up at Hertford Castle. A year later he was dead.

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