Blaenllynfi Castle

Meanwhile, King John's successor, Henry III equally had trouble with his barons, his chief opponent being Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke.

The castle had probably never been adequately repaired after the siege by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, and at the time of Hugh's death, in 1326, it was nearly ruinous.

Rhys had taken a central role in the coup that year, against Hugh and Edward, being part of the search party who captured them, when they had tried to flee.

An inquisition by jury found many defects in the castle on 23 January 1337, although archaeological evidence shows that the defences were improved around this time.

[4] Philip's brother, Einion Sais (great-grandfather of Sir Dafydd Gam) was a prominent military supporter of the new king - Edward III - but the king (Edward II's son) allowed himself to be persuaded by the Lord of Brecknock (Humphrey de Bohun) that a place like Blaenllynfi should be ruled by a powerful magnate (like Humphrey, the Earl of Hereford), rather than a weak one (such as Philip), so Edward transferred the realm to Humphrey, re-unifying the Lordship of Brecknock.