hi @kaixin
Yes, you have spotted a small error in my text as king John certainly would have commissioned Beeston Castle to be built before his death. The important factor is that the Earl Ranulf was always loyal to the crown, and Henry III who came after king John. During the following years (after King John's death) there was much civil war in England, and Ranulf remained loyal to the last, even when being offered the recency (kingship) by a group of barons and clerics, he refused. However, Ranulf was and remained one of, or even the most, powerful Earl and landowner amoung England's nobility in a time of strife and war. Do perhaps it was a clever decision, as when France invaded the French king courted various nobels tho join him. And although there was certainly danger in being a nobel (this word describes the various nobel land owning upper classes it's the time, Earls, Barons etc) if you were looked on as disloyal, at this time of civil war and afyer invasion from France it was maybe more dangerous to be the king 😂
On John's death in 1216, Ranulf's influence increased further. There was an expectation at Gloucester that Ranulf would contend the regency for the young Henry III. Events moved quickly at Gloucester, where William Marshal and the young king were, in Ranulph's absence. The Marshal was put forward and offered the regency by the nobility and clerics gathered at Gloucester before the arrival of Ranulph. There was concern that Ranulph might object to the decision, but when he arrived (29 October 1216) he stated that he did not want to be regent, so any potential conflict vanished.
source wiki
Anyway, Ranulf remained loyal to the English crown throughout both those wars and he picked the winning side. By doing so he cleverly cemented his power, and that of his heirs, increasing his lands and stature as a nobel.
Thanks for pointing out these inaccuracies in my dates though as i will edit the post to remove them 👍