AN OUTLINE OF WELSH POLITICAL HISTORY
INFLUENCES UNDER WHICH THE HISTORY OF WALES WAS FORMED
1. The nature of its rocks - Igneous, Cambrian, Silurian, Old Red Sandstone, Limestone, Coal - all belonging to the Primary Period. Its rocks
(a) explain its scenery;
(b) explain its wealth, the richest part of Britain in minerals.
2. The configuration of its surface.
(a) It is isolated, its mountains being surrounded by the sea, or
rising sharply from the plains. It is part of the range of mountains
which runs along the whole of the west coast of Britain; but the
range is broken at the mouth of the Severn and at the mouth of the
Dee.
(b) It is divided, its valleys and roads radiating in all
directions. So we have in its history
A. Wars of Independence.
B. Civil War.
THE PEOPLE WHO CAME INTO WALES
1. The Iberians - a general name for the short dark people who still form the greater part of the nations. They had stone weapons, and lived in tribes; they became subject to later invaders, but gradually became free. Their language is lost.
2. The Celts - a tall fair-haired race, speaking an Aryan tongue. It was their migration that was stopped by the rise of Rome. Four groups of mountains, four nations (Celtic and Iberian), four mediaeval kingdoms, and four modern dioceses can be remembered thus:
i. Snowdonia Decangi Gwynedd Bangor ii. Berwyn Ordovices Powys St Asaph iii. Plinlimmon Demetae Dyved St David's iv. Black Mountains Silures Morgannwg Llandaff
3. The Romans. They made roads, built cities, worked mines.
50-78. The Conquest. The Silures were defeated in 50, the Decangi
in 58, the Ordovices in 78.
80-200. The Settlement. Wales part of a Roman province including
Chester and York.
200-450. The struggle against the new wandering nations. The
introduction of Christianity.
450- The House of Cunedda represents Roman rule.
4. The English.
577. Battle of Deorham. Wales separated from Cornwall.
613. Battle of Chester. Wales separated from Cumbria.
I. THE WALES OF THE PRINCES
Isolated after the battles of Deorham and Chester, mediaeval Wales begins to make its own history. The House of Cunedda represents unity, the other princes represent independence. English, Danish, Norman attacks from without.
1. 613-1063. The struggle between the Welsh princes and the English provincial kings. From the battle of Chester to the fall of Griffith ap Llywelyn.
(a) Between Wales and Northumbria, 613-700; for the sovereignty of
the north. Cadwallon, Cadwaladr v. Edwin, Oswald, Oswiu.
(b) Between Wales and Mercia, 700-815; for the valley of the Severn.
Rhodri Molwynog and his sons v. Ethelbald and Offa.
(c) Between Wales and the Danes, 815-1000. Rhodri the Great and
Howel the Good.
(d) Between Wales and Wessex, 1000-1063; for political influence.
Griffith ap Llywelyn v. Harold.
2. 1063-1284. The struggle between the Welsh princes and the central English kings.
(a) 1066-1137. The Norman Conquest. Norman barons v. Griffith ap
Conan and Griffith ap Rees.
1063. Bleddyn of Powys tries to unite Wales.
1070. William the Conqueror at Chester. Advance of Norman barons
from Chester, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Gloucester.
1075. Death of Bleddyn; succeeded by Trahaiarn.
1077. Battle of Mynydd Carn. Restoration of House of Cunedda -
Griffith ap Conan in the north; Rees, followed by his son Griffith,
in the south.
1094. Norman castles dominate Powys, Gwent, Morgannwg, and Dyved.
Gwynedd and Deheubarth threatened.
1137. Death of Griffith ap Conan and Griffith ap Rees, after setting
bounds to the Norman Conquest.
(b) 1137-1197. The struggle against Henry II. and his sons.
1137. The accession of Owen Gwynedd and of the Lord Rees of the
Deheubarth.
1157. Henry II. interferes in the quarrel of Owen and Cadwaladr.
1564. The Cistercians at Strata Florida.
1164. Meeting of Owen Gwynedd, the Lord Rees, and Owen Cyveiliog at
Corwen, to oppose Henry II.
1170. Death of Owen Gwynedd.
1188. Preaching of the Crusades in Wales.
1189. Death of Henry II.
1197. Death of the Lord Rees.
(c) 1194-1240. The reign of Llywelyn the Great.
1194-1201. Securing the crown of Gwynedd.
1201-1208. Alliance with King John.
1208-1212. War with John.
1212-1218. Alliance with barons of Magna Carta.
1218-1226. Struggle with the Marshalls of Pembroke.
1226-1240. Unity of Wales: alliance with Marshalls.
(d) 1240-1284. The Wars of Independence.
1241. David II. does homage to Henry III.
1244. Death of Griffith, in trying to escape from the Tower of
London.
1245. Fierce fighting on the Conway.
1254. Edward (afterwards Edward I.) Earl of Chester.
1255. Llywelyn ap Griffith supreme in Gwynedd.
1263. Alliance with the English barons.
1267. Treaty of Montgomery; Llywelyn Prince of Wales.
1274. Llywelyn refuses to do homage to Edward I.
1277. Treaty of Rhuddlan; Llywelyn keeps Gwynedd only.
1278. Llywelyn marries Eleanor de Montfort.
1282. Last war. Battle of Moel y Don. Llywelyn's death.
1284. Statute of Wales.
3. 1284-1535. The rule of sheriff and march lord.
1287. Revolt of Ceredigion.
1294. Revolts In Gwynedd, Dyved, Morgannwg.
1315. Revolt of Llywelyn Bren.
1349. The Black Death in Wales.
1400. Rise of Owen Glendower.
1402. Battles of the Vyrnwy and Bryn Glas.
1404. Anti-Welsh legislation.
1455. The Wars of the Roses.
1461. Battle of Mortimer's Cross.
1468. Siege of Harlech.
1469. Battle of Edgecote.
1478. Court of Wales at Ludlow.
1485. Battle of Bosworth and accession of Henry VII.
1535. Act of Union. All Wales governed by king through sheriffs.
II. THE WALES OF THE PEOPLE.
In 1535 the march lordships were formed into shires, and a reign of law began.
1535-1603. Period of loyalty to Tudor sovereigns - for equality
before law and political rights.
1536. The march lordships become shire ground. Wales given a
representation in Parliament, and its own system of law courts - the
Great Sessions of Wales.
1539. Welsh passive resistance to the Reformation.
1567. Sir Thomas Middleton opens silver mines of Cardiganshire.
1588. Bishop Morgan's Welsh Bible.
1593. Execution of John Penry.
Results 1. Destruction of power of barons.
2. Anglicising of gentry.
3. A Welsh Bible.
1603-1689. Struggle between new and old ideas.
1618. Coal of South Wales attracts attention.
1640. First Civil War.
1644. Brereton and Myddleton win North Wales, Laugharne and Poyer
win South Wales, for Parliament.
1648. Second Civil War: siege of Pembroke.
1650. Puritan "Act for the better Propagation of the Gospel in
Wales."
1670. Vavasour Powell dies in prison.
1689. Abolition of the Court of Wales.
1689-1894. Rise of the Welsh democracy.
1719. Copper works at Swansea.
1730. Griffith Jones' circulating schools.
1750. Iron furnaces at Merthyr Tydvil.
1773. Death of Howel Harris.
1814. Death of Charles of Bala.
1830. Abolition of Great Sessions of Wales.
1832. First Reform Bill.
1839. Chartism at Llanidloes and Newport.
1867. Second Reform Bill.
1872, 1883, 1884. University Colleges.
1884. Third Reform Bill.
1888. County Council Act.
1889. Secondary Education Act.
1894. Local Government Act. University of Wales.
THE HOUSE OF CUNEDDA
TABLE I
CUNEDDA WLEDIG (Dux Britanniae).
MAELGWN GWYNEDD
CADWALADR
|
Idwal
|
Rhodri Molwynog
|
Conan Tindaethwy
|
Esyllt=Mervin
|
RHODRI THE GREAT
|
+ - - -+ - - - - + - - - - - - - -+
| | |
Anarawd Cadell Mervin
| HOWEL THE
Idwal the GOOD
Bald |
| |
Iago Owen
| ? + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
Conan {6} Einion |
(See Table | Meredith
II.) Cadell |
| LLYWELYN AB SEISYLLT=Angharad*=Cynvyn
Tewdwr {6} | |
(See Table + - - - - - -+ + - - -+ - - -+
III.) | | |
GRIFFITH BLEDDYN Rhiwallon
(See Table IV.)
TABLE II - GWYNEDD
GRIFFITH AP CONAN
|
+ - - - - - - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - +
| | |
OWEN GWYNEDD Cadwaladr Gwenllian=G. ap Rees
|
+ - - - - - - - - - - +
| |
Iorwerth DAVID I.
|
LLYWELYN THE GREAT
|
+ - - - - - - - - - - +
| |
Griffith DAVID II.
|
+ - - - - - -+ - - - - - + - - - - - - + - - - - - +
| | | |
Eleanor de=LLYWELYN Owen David Rhodri
Montfort | THE LAST the Red |
| Thomas
Gwenllian |
Owen of Wales
TABLE III - DYNEVOR
REES AP TUDOR
|
+ - - - - - - - - -+ - - - - - - - - - +
| |
GRIFFITH Nest
|
THE LORD REES
|
+ - - - - - - - - - - +
| |
GRIFFITH Rees the Hoarse
TABLE IV - POWYS
BLEDDYN AP CYNVYN
|
+ - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - - - +
| | |
MEREDITH CADWGAN
IORWERTH
| |
+ - - - - - - - - - - - + Owen of Powys
| |
MADOC OWEN CYVEILIOG
| |
Griffith Maelor GRIFFITH
| |
Madoc GWENWYNWYN
|
Griffith of Bromfield
|
+ - - - - - - - - - - - +
| |
Madoc Griffith Vychan
|
Madoc
|
Griffith
|
Griffith Vychan
|
OWEN GLENDOWER.
TABLE V - MORTIMER
LLYWELYN THE GREAT
|
Gladys the Dark=Ralph Mortimer of Wigmore
|
Roger Mortimer=Matilda de Braose
|
+ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +
| |
Edmund Roger of Chirk
|
Roger, first Earl of March EDWARD III.
| |
Edmund + - - - - - - -+ - - - - - - - - +
| | | |
Roger, second Earl Lionel of John of Edmund of
of March Clarence Gaunt York
| |
Edmund, third Earl of March=Philipa |
| |
+ - - - - - - - - - -+ - - - - - - - - - - - - + |
| | |
Roger Edmund=d. of Glendower |
| |
+ - - - - - - + + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+
| | |
Edmund Anne=Richard, Earl of Cambridge
|
Richard, Duke of York
(killed at Wakefield, 1460)
|
+ - - - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +
| |
EDWARD IV RICHARD III
| (killed at Bosworth, 1485)
Henry VII.=Elizabeth
|
HENRY VIII
TABLE VI - TUDOR
EDWARD III.
|
John of Gaunt
|
+ - - - - - - - - - +
| |
HENRY IV. John Beaufort I.,
| Earl of Somerset
| |
Owen Tudor=Catherine of France=HENRY V. John Beaufort II.,
| | Duke of Somerset
| HENRY VI.
|
Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond=Margaret Beaufort
|
HENRY VII.
|
HENRY VIII.
|
+ - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - +
| | |
EDWARD VI. MARY ELIZABETH
APPENDIX A - PARLIAMENTARY REFORM IN WALES
By the Act of 1535. By the Act of 1832.
GLAMORGAN 1 County Member 2 County Members
1 Member for Cardiff 1 Member for Cardiff,
Cowbridge, and
Llantrisant
1 Member for Swansea,
Loughor, Neath, Aberavon,
and Kenfig.
1 Member for Merthyr
Tydvil.
MONMOUTH 2 County Members 2 County Members
1 Member for Monmouth 1 Member for Monmouth
CARMARTHEN 1 County Member 2 County Members
1 Member for Carmarthen 1 Member for Carmarthen
and Llanelly
PEMBROKE 1 County Member 1 County Member
1 Member for Pembroke 1 Member for Pembroke,
1 Member for Tenby, Wiston, Milford
Haverfordwest. 1 Member for Haverfordwest,
Narberth, Fishguard
CARDIGANSHIRE 1 County Member 1 County Member
1 Member for Cardigan 1 Member for Cardigan,
Aberystwyth, Adpar,
and Lampeter
BRECONSHIRE 1 County Member 1 County Member
1 Member for Brecon 1 Member for Brecon
RADNORSHIRE 1 County Member 1 County Member
1 Member for Radnor 1 Member for Radnor,
Knighton, Rhayadr,
Cefnllys, Knucklas,
Presteign
MONTGOMERYSHIRE 1 County Member 1 County Member
1 Member for Montgomery 1 Member for Montgomery,
Llanidloes, Machynlleth,
Newtown, Welshpool,
Llanfyllin
MERIONETHSHIRE 1 County Member 1 County Member
DENBIGHSHIRE 1 County Member 2 County Members
1 Member for Denbigh 1 Member for Denbigh,
Ruthin, Holt, Wrexham
FLINTSHIRE 1 County Member 1 County Member
1 Member for Flint 1 Member for Flint,
Rhuddlan, St Asaph,
Mold, Holywell,
Caerwys, Caergwrle,
Overton
CARNARVONSHIRE 1 County Member 1 County Member
1 Member for Carnarvon 1 Member for Carnarvon,
Conway, Bangor, Nevin,
Pwllheli, Criccieth
ANGLESEY 1 County Member 1 County Member
1 Member for Beaumaris 1 Member for Beaumaris,
Llangefni, Amlwch,
and Holyhead
Footnotes:
{1} Mihangel=Michael. Llan Fihangel = Si Michael's.
{2} Mair=Mary. Llan Fair=St Mary's.
{3} About 1291 the abbeys of Aberconway and Strata Marcella had over
a hundred cows each, Whitland over a thousand sheep, and Basingwerk
over two thousand.
{4} According to the census of 1901 the population per square mile
of Glamorgan is 758, Monmouth 427, Carmarthen 141, Brecon 73, Radnor
49, Cardigan 88, Montgomery 68, Merioneth 74, Denbigh 197, Carnarvon
217, Flint 319, Pembroke 143, Anglesey 183.
The rate of increase per cent. between 1891 and 1901 are - Wales 13.3;
England 12.1; Scotland 11.1; Ireland - 5.2.
{5} In 1801 the population of Cardiff was 1870, and coal was brought
down from Merthyr on donkeys. In 1901 the three ports of Cardiff,
Newport, and Swansea exported nearly as much coal as all the great
English and Scotch ports put together.
{6} The links between the House of Cunedda and the three ruling
families after the Norman Conquest rest on the authority of tradition
rather than on that of records.