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History of the Welsh Language, Part 2

© Sarah Stevenson

Our look at the history of the Welsh language continues today with a tour of the pivotal events between the Roman takeover of Britain and the triumph of Edward I over Wales. This is the beginning of an exciting time in the history of Wales as a nation, and the fortune of the language rose and fell as the country weathered the upheaval of invading Germanic tribes, Norman colonization, and failed defense against the English. I owe particular thanks to Britannia.com and Insight Guide: Wales, which I consulted religiously throughout the writing of today's article and which were invaluable sources of historical information.

The Aftermath of the Roman Invasion.
Though the Celtic territory was vast, the fact that it was inhabited by numerous different tribes made it susceptible to defeat by the well-armed and disciplined Roman legions. But although the Romans occupied what is now Wales for a few hundred years, the native language of the region remained mostly intact. However, the influence of Latin over the centuries following the Roman occupation can be seen in various borrowed words still common in modern Welsh: pont (bridge) and tarw (bull) are clear examples.

The Birth of Welsh.
The Romans were not destined to keep their strongholds in Wales forever, and by the 4th century AD the Irish were invading from the west and Germanic tribes such as the Saxons were slowly taking over the east. In AD 410 the Romans withdrew from Britain, leaving it prey to the Dark Ages and the waves of Saxon invaders. There are few records from the next two centuries of conflict between the Celts and the Saxons, but during this time the border between Wales and England was created, and the Welsh language itself began to emerge.

It was also during this time that a crucial though temporary victory was won at Mount Badon--possibly, some say, by the legendary chieftain Arthur. But the Welsh were not destined to prevail, and were defeated by the Saxons at the Battle of Chester in 616. After that Wales began to be more isolated as a territory, and the people began to think of themselves as a nation, despite the chaos of different kingdoms within its borders. This allowed the Welsh language to develop. The earthen boundary Offa's Dyke--named after its builder Offa, King of Mercia--was constructed at this time, and the earliest examples of the Welsh language and literature date from around the 7th and 8th centuries as well. These include Cyfraith Hywel (The Law of Hywel) and bardic poems from Taliesin and Aneirin. The word llan (church) also appeared earlier in this period, as Celtic saints traveled the land preaching Christianity during the Age of Saints.

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