第三代約克公爵約克的理查在1425年繼承城堡,玫瑰戰爭時它是約克黨人的象征。理查的兒子爱德华四世繼承王位之後,城堡成為英格蘭君主的產業。15至17世紀,它成為威爾士和邊境議會(Council of Wales and the Marches)的行政中心,也就是實際上的威爾士首都。17世紀時的城堡裝飾富麗堂皇,舉行過許多重大的文化活動。英格蘭內戰爆發後,它於1646年被圓顱黨人佔領,城堡內的家具被賣掉。
它由諾曼貴族沃爾特·德·拉西(Walter de Lacy,1085年去世)建於1075年左右[3]。他隨第一代赫特福德伯爵威廉·菲茨奧斯本(William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford)在1066年抵達英格蘭[4]。菲茨奧斯本獲封第一代赫特福德伯爵後,在赫特福德郡和威爾士交界處修建了不少城堡[4]。沃爾特是菲茨奧斯本手下得力幹將,曾獲賜9個郡內的163座莊園,其中91座位於赫特福德郡境內。[4]
斯蒂芬與玛蒂尔达皇后爆發內戰,作為皇后的支持者,吉尔伯特·德·拉西佔領了城堡[14]。斯蒂芬將西比爾嫁給威爾士邊境的地主、騎士喬希·德·迪南(Joce de Dinan),並許諾將來把拉德洛城堡也賜給他,換取了對方的支持[15]。在多次交鋒後,城堡1139年又被斯蒂芬奪回,順便救下了被抓的蘇格蘭的亨利[16]。吉爾伯特仍不死心,他和迪南又打了一仗[17],最後在1153年再次奪下城堡[18]。吉爾伯特最後出國前往黎凡特,城堡先是傳給他的長子羅伯特,後來又傳給幼子休(和祖先同名)。[19]
沃尔特的孙女莫德(Maud)和马格利特(Margaret)是沃尔特的合法继承人,但她们当时都没有结婚,因此很难持有自己名下的产业[30]。亨利私下把城堡判给了莫德,将她许配给自己的亲信彼得·德·日内瓦(Peter de Geneva),并放弃追究沃尔特遗留的债务问题[31]。彼得在1249年去世,莫德改嫁给爱德华亲王的朋友乔弗里·德·日内瓦(Geoffrey de Geneville)[32]。1260年,亨利正式分割沃尔特的产业,令乔弗里保留城堡。[33]
喬弗里和莫德的长孙女琼(Joan de Geneville)在1301年嫁给了罗杰·莫蒂默,后者因此成为城堡的主人[38]。1320年左右,罗杰建造了在原来的大堂(Great Hall)和起居室旁边建造了Great Chamber[39]。1321年至1322年间,莫蒂默参与德斯潘赛战争,战败被爱德华二世俘虏,囚禁于伦敦塔,但后来设法逃至法国[40]。
歐文·格林杜爾叛乱时,拉德洛城堡由亨利四世掌管[49],他任命了一些军官前去镇守城堡,其中包括托马斯·博福特[50]。罗杰·莫蒂默的弟弟埃德蒙(并非第五代边境伯爵,而是第三代伯爵之子)在1492年从城堡出发前去平叛,但在布林格拉斯战役(Battle of Bryn Glas)中被俘[50]。亨利拒绝支付赎金,最后埃德蒙娶了格林杜尔的女儿,1409年死在哈莱克城堡围城战中。[50]
玫瑰战争中,拉德洛城堡几乎沒有被战火波及[57],只有1459年小规模的卢德福德桥战役(Battle of Ludford Bridge)发生于拉德洛镇外[58]。第二代什鲁斯伯里伯爵约翰·塔尔伯特和爱德蒙·德·拉·马尔(Edmund de la Mare)曾短暂地宣告对城堡的所有权,理查则在1460年战死。不过爱德华次年继位之后就夺回了城堡。[59]
爱德华四世经常住在城堡中,不过没有怎么进行扩建,只有城堡北部的高塔(Great Tower)可能被他改建过[60]。1473年,他把自己的儿子,即未来的爱德华五世及约克公爵什鲁斯伯里的理查送到城堡中居住,而此时的城堡也是刚成立的威尔士边境议会(Council in the Marches of Wales)所在地[61]。此时的拉德洛城堡已经失去军事用途,基本是作为居住型的城堡存在[62]。爱德华五世在1483年去世,亨利七世在1485年即位后也很看重这座城堡,1493年把城堡赐给他的儿子亚瑟·都铎。[63]
1901年,外交官亚历山大·史蒂芬(Alexander Condie Stephen)租用外城,进行了一定的改建,花费800镑[112]。1903年,威廉·圣约翰·霍普(William St John Hope)和霍华德·布拉克斯比尔(Harold Brakspear)在城堡里进行过考古发掘[113]。1915年,英国将城堡列为“古迹”(Ancient monument),由波伊斯伯爵的基金会运营、维护。[114]
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