Finance          Automotive          Computers          Health          Shopping          Sports         News          Reference           Print Facts in English - BCUZ.COMlos hechos en Español

Principality of Wales



At the end of the twelfth century, beginning of the thirteenth century, Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, Llywelyn Fawr, Llywelyn the Great, utilized the promontory to build a royal home, known as Ty Hir, the Long House, in later documents. To the east was the newly endowed Cistercian Monastery of Aberconwy; to the west the cathedral city of Bangor. Between Garth Celyn and the shore, the fertile farmland, provided food for the royal family and the members of the court. The sea and the river had fish in abundance and there was wild game to be hunted in the uplands. In 1211 King John of England brought an army across the river Conwy, and occupied the royal home for a brief period; his troops went on to burn Bangor. Llywelyn's wife, John's daughter Joan, also known as Joanna, negotiated between the two men, and John withdrew. Joan died at Garth Celyn in 1237; Dafydd ap Llywelyn died there in 1246; Eleanor de Montfort, Lady of Wales, wife of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, died there on 19 June 1282, giving birth to a baby, Gwenllian of Wales

[

Population, culture and society

The 13th century Principality of Wales encompassed three quarters of the surface area of modern Wales; "from Anglesea to Machen, from the outskirts of Chester to the outskirts of Cydweli," wrote Davies.[13][14] By 1271, Prince Llywelyn II could claim a growing population of about 200,000 people, or a little less than three fourths of the total Welsh population.[13][3]

The population increase was common throughout Europe in the 13th century, but in Wales it was more pronounced.[13] By Llywelyn II's reign as much as 10 per cent of the population were town-dwellers.[13] Additionally, "unfree slaves... had long disappeared" from within the territory of the principality, wrote Davies.[13] The increase in men allowed the prince to call on and field a far more substantial army.[13]

A more stable social and political environment provided by the Aberffraw administration allowed for the natural development of Welsh culture, particularly in literature, law, and religion.[14][15] Traditon originating from The History of Gruffydd ap Cynan attributes Gruffydd I as reforming the orders of bards and musicians[5] Welsh literature demonstrated "vigor and a sense of commitment" as new ideas reached Wales, even in "the wake of the invaders", according to historian John Davies.[5] Contacts with continential Europe "sharpened Welsh pride", wrote Davies in his History of Wales.[5]

[

Economy and trade

Drawing of a falconer from Peniarth 28 manuscript. Wales exported hawks.
Drawing of a falconer from Peniarth 28 manuscript. Wales exported hawks.

The increase in the Welsh population, especially in the lands of the principality, allowed for a greater diversification of the economy. The Meirionnydd tax rolls give evidence to the thirty-seven various professions present in Meirionnydd directly before the conquest.

Of these professions, there were eight gold-smiths, four bards (poets) by trade, twenty-six shoemakers, a doctor in Cynwyd and a hotel keeper in Maentwrog, and twenty-eight priests; two of which were university graduates. Also present were a significant number of fishermen, administrators, professional men and craftsmen.

With the average temperature of Wales a degree or two higher then it is today, more Welsh lands were arable for agriculture, "a crucial bonus for a country like Wales," wrote historian Dr John Davies[16].

Of significant importance for the principality included more developed trade routes, which allowed for the introduction of new energy sources such as the windmill, the fulling-mill, and the horse collar (the horse collar doubled the efficiency of horse-power).

The principality traded cattle, skins, cheese, timber, horses, wax, dogs, hawks, and fleeces, but also flannel (with the growth of fulling mills). Flannel was second only to cattle among the principality’s exports. In exchange, the principality imported salt, wine, wheat, and other luxuries from London and Paris. But most importantly for the defense of the principality, iron and specialized weaponry were also imported.

Welsh dependence on foreign imports was a tool that England used to wear down the principality during times of conflict between the two countries

[

Principality today

 Please help improve this article or section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (March 2008)

The term principality is sometimes used in a modern sense to denote all of Wales and Cornwall (territorial duchy) as a tightly related state. This state did not use the modern flag of Wales (which was officialised in 1959) however historians usually agree that a flag with a dragon variant was in wide usage in Wales (and England before the Anglo-Saxon conquest) since post-Roman times. The House of Tudor added the green and white field some time before or after the annexation of this state as it was their own personal livery colours.

[

Sources

[

References

  1. ^ Davies, John A History of Wales, Penguin, 1994, ISBN 0-14-014581-8, Aberffraw vassalizes Welsh lords pg 138
  2. ^ Lloyd, J.E., A History of Wales; From the Norman Invasion to the Edwardian Conquest, Barnes & Noble Publishing, Inc. 2004 ISBN 0-7607-5241-9, "vertual parliament" pg 199
  3. ^ a b The emergence of the principality of Wales
  4. ^ a b Davies, John, A History of Wales, Penguin, 1994, emerging defacto statehood pg 148
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Davies, John, A History of Wales, Penguin, 1994, Aberffraw primacy pg 116, patron of bards 117, Aberfraw relations with English crown pg 128, 135
  6. ^ Lloyd, J.E. A History of Wales; From the Norman Invasion to the Edwardian Conquest, Barnes & Noble Publishing, Inc. 2004, Aberffraw primacy pg 220
  7. ^ a b Davies, John, A History of Wales, Penguin, 1994 Llywelyn I relations with English crown pg 136]
  8. ^ a b c d Davies, John, A History of Wales, Penguin, 1994 English policy in Wales pg 136, Hangs Welsh hostages pg 137
  9. ^ Davies, John, A History of Wales, Penguin, 1994, Welsh law succession pg 136
  10. ^ a b c Davies, John, A History of Wales, By John Davies, Penguin, 1994 Welsh lords pg 135-136
  11. ^ Davies, John, A History of Wales Penguin, 1994 Relations with France pg 136
  12. ^ a b c Davies, John A History of Wales, Penguin, 1994, Tribute to England pg 129, Treasury pg 153
  13. ^ a b c d e f Davies, John, A History of Wales, Penguin, 1994, Aberffraw stablilty and effects on population, town-dwellers, decline in slavery, page 151
  14. ^ a b Lloyd, J.E., A History of Wales; From the Norman Invasion to the Edwardian Conquest, Aberffraw stability pg 219, 220
  15. ^ Lloyd, J.E., A History of Wales; From the Norman Invasion to the Edwardian Conquest, Barnes & Noble Publishing, Inc. 2004, Recovers Gwynedd, Norman invasion, Battle of Anglesey Sound, pgs 21-22, 36, 39, 40, later years 76-77
  16. ^ Davies, John, A History of Wales, Penguin, 1994, agriculture pg 150



BCUZ.com FACTS Encyclopedia content is licensed under the GFDL as approved by Wikipedia.
For more information review our copyright contact and privacy policy.
© 1996 - BCUZ.COM - We have all the FACTS you need about Small Business Financing, Behavior Disorder, Having Too Many Bills, Needing Cash Fast, Structured Settlements, Frequent Flier Programs, Top Steak Houses, The Mayan Indians, Norfolk and Suffolk England, Growing Longer Hair and a full reference English Encyclopedia and Spanish Encyclopedia.Privacy Policy