A Short History of Wales [35]
(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
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