Welsh History

Lesson 3: Consolidation of a Kingdom

In this lesson the student will examine the causes that: led to some kind of national unity for Wales before the Edwardian Conquest put an end to hopes of independence; a further revival of literature; and the reasons that the Welsh finally rebelled. Recommended reading: Struggle 24-41; Wales A to Y relevant entries: Intro to Lit 20-25.

Political Union

In the year 1200, Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, the grandson of Owain Gwynedd, became ruler of the kingdom of Gwynedd, and under his strong and determined leadership, Wales was once more united as a single political unit. Llywelyn was ultimately successful in resisting English influence in Wales, and the charismatic leader received homage from the other Welsh princes.

In 1216, Llywelyn was recognized as their nominal leader, a true Prince of Wales. Modern historians agree that entries in Brut y Tywysogion show Llywelyn’s power, influence and confidence. Known to the future as Llywelyn Fawr (Llywelyn the Great), the Welsh prince felt secure enough to pay his respects to the new English king Henry III at John's death in 1216.

Henry III was determined to show who was master in Wales, and despite all Llwyelyn’s achievements, the struggle for dominance began anew after his death. Quarrels between Llwyelyn's two sons, Dafydd and Gruffudd, undid practically all that their father had accomplished. The laments of the court poets who had enjoyed something of a cultural renaissance during the great prince's long reign, were also laments for the passing of the old bardic order that died with the death of their beloved patron.

For all intents and purposes, the Welsh were now leaderless. Despite their bravery and prowess in battle, their armies had to yield to superior forces. In 1247, at the Treaty of Woodstock, East Gwynedd was ceded to King Henry. In 1254 the English king granted control of all the Crown lands in Wales to his young son, Prince Edward.

Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the grandson of ap Iorwerth, did his best to restore the situation. Through military conquest, after imprisoning his brothers and taking the kingdom of Gwynedd for himself, Llywelyn was able to re-unite much of his country in order to assert his claim to be called Prince of Wales. The title was accorded him officially by Henry III in 1267 at the Treaty of Montgomery, recognizing the Welsh leader's claim.

The Welsh people now had their own prince, they governed their own territories under their own laws, and they were able to conduct their own affairs in their own language free from English influence. Edward the First's accession to the English throne in 1272 completely reversed the tide of affairs. The great struggle had to begin anew.

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