Kings of England :
Henry II 1154-89
Richard I 'Lionheart' 1189-99
Background information :
In 1181 Hugh Mortimer died and his estates were temporarily taken over by the Crown, his son Roger being in prison at the time. Still smarting from the murders of various of their leaders and Kings by the Normans, the Welsh revolted again in 1182 under Rhys ap Gruffydd, getting their revenge on William Braose (II) and Ralph le Poer, sheriff of Hereford, at the battle of Dingestow nr Monmouth. Le Poer was killed and Braose narrowly escaped the defeat. The Welsh again overan New Radnor and occupied the castle. At about this time Roger Mortimer was released from prison and restored to the family estates possibly as a result of the worsening Welsh situation. In 1184 King Henry met again with Rhys ap Gruffydd and

agreed terms for a cessation of hostilities which would involve the return of some of the lands and castles now under Welsh control, including New Radnor and Cymaron to the W. There was one problem. The castles were being held by the sons of Einion Clud and Cadwallon and they had no intention of giving them up. Their continuing occupation is shown by the recorded itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin of Canterbury who was looking to recruit support for the Third Crusade. He met Rhys ap Gruffydd and Einion o'r Porth at New Radnor in 1188 and though they and other Welsh Princes signed up, the Crusade was delayed repeatedly so that by the time it finally happened they had all changed their minds. Henry II died in 1189 and was succeeded by Richard I, The Lionheart and a period of infighting in the territories of the Welsh followed.