On 16th March 1647 - Harlech Castle, the last Royalist stronghold of the English Civil War, surrendered to Parliament's forces after a 10-month siege.

Harlech Castle rests upon part of the Harlech Dome, a spur of rock almost 200 ft high, from which the land falls away sharply on the north and west, and a ditch cut into the rock protects the remaining approaches to the castle, it has been described as one of  the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe.  

In mythology, the site of Harlech Castle  is associated with the legend of Branwen, a Welsh princess written of in the Mabinogion and it is thought that the site was later a Llys (Welsh royal court) which later became a castle of Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffydd.

1282   After Edward I's successful campaign in North Wales, he ordered the construction of a castle at Harlech

1289   Harlech Castle completed

1294   Harlech Castle besieged by Madog ap Llywelyn during a Welsh uprising, but the castle held out

1404   The castle was taken by Owain Glyndwr and became his residence and military headquarters for four years

1405   Owain Glyndwr held his second parliament at Harlech Castle

1408   English forces under the command of the future Henry V placed Harlech Castle under siege.

1409   Harlech Castle fell to the English.

1460   During the Wars of The Roses, Queen Margaret of  Anjou fled to the castle and it was held by her Lancastrian supporters as their headquarters for the region.

1468   Harlech Castle was taken by the Yorkists after a month's siege, which is thought to be the inspiration for the song "Men of Harlech".

1644   Prince Rupert appointed a local Royalist, Colonel William Owen, as the castle's constable, and Owen was entrusted with repairing the fortifications.

1647   The castle was surrendered to Parliamentary forces after a 10-month siege, the last royal fortress to surrender in the war and Parliament ordered it's slighting to make the castle unusable, however, the orders were only partially carried out and it was not totally demolished.

1986  Harlech Castle gained World Heritage Status.

Born this day, 1751 in Orange County Virginia of Welsh descent

James Madison,  the fourth President of the United States.

At the outbreak of the American War of Independence, Madison devoted to politics and afterward took a leading role in drafting what would become the basis of the U.S. Constitution, which led to him being called the “Father of the Constitution”.

On Thomas Jefferson's election as President in 1800, Madison became Secretary of State and oversaw the acquisition of Louisiana  from France, which nearly doubled the size of the United States.

Madison was himself elected president in 1808 and his presidency was occupied with trade disputes between the United States, Britain, and France, which resulted in a war against Britain in 1812.

 Madison left office in 1817 and  although he had been a slaveholder, he campaigned for the anti-slavery cause and also helped Thomas Jefferson to found the University of Virginia.  

The Royal Welch Fusiliers were founded on 16th March 1689

They were originally formed to oppose James II  in the Williamite War in Ireland, fighting at the Battles of the Boyne and Aughrim.  It was one of the oldest regiments in the regular army, hence the archaic spelling of the word  Welch .  Soldiers of this regiment were distinguishable by the five overlapping black silk ribbons on the back of the uniform, which was a legacy of the time when soldiers wore pigtails.  

The regiment merged with the Royal Regiment of Wales on 1st March 2006, to form the Royal Welsh.   

Born this day, 1834 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania ( the son of Welsh immigrants )

William Farrand Prosser, who was a Union colonel in the American Civil War, and later served in the United States House of Representatives.

Born this day, 1906 in Cardiff

Maurice Turnbull, who was the only person to have played cricket for England and rugby for Wales. A talented all-round sportsman, he also represented Wales at field hockey and was squash champion for South Wales.

During the Second World War, he was a Major in the First Battalion of the Welsh Guards and was killed instantly by a sniper's bullet during intense fighting for the French village of Montchamp after the Normandy landings in 1944.

Born this day, 1977 in the Rhondda Valley

Steve Jones, who is a television presenter, best known as the host of The X Factor USA