Blogs
These four best books about Wales are all distinctly different, yet each one is a rich and immersive journey in its own way. After choosing from The Mabinogion, Pigeon, A History of Wales, and Owen, prop up the pillows and make yourself comfy because you might be up past your bedtime.
Each of the four best books about Wales listed below will give you a deeper look at this fascinating country and make you feel closer to it. Why is Wales so important? Cymru (Wales) is important for retaining its unique Welsh culture and traditions. Some customs are more modern, while others trace back to the Celts and even earlier to the Beaker folk (like cawl!). Wales also boasts breathtakingly beautiful castle ruins and wilderness.
In addition to all of that, Welsh is the oldest language in the British Isles that has been spoken continuously since its inception. It’s a Celtic language that began as Insular Celtic, then became Brythonic, and eventually, with many changes, became Cymraeg (Welsh) as we know it today. Wales has also kept certain mystical elements from its folklore, some richly preserved in The Mabinogion.
What is the most famous thing about Wales? Wales is famous for many things, but some of the most notable are its beautiful flag with the red dragon on a green field, having the most castles per square mile anywhere in the world, and the Welsh language, which is the oldest in the UK. You might be interested in learning that Cymraeg (Welsh) traces back to its Brythonic beginnings around 4,000 years ago.
What Welsh town is famous for books?
Hay-on-Wye (known as Hay or “Y Gelli” in Welsh) is also called “Town of Books.” Located in Powys, which is situated in Mid Wales and borders England, it dates back to the Middle Ages.
Here are the four best books about Wales in no particular order. They are all completely different, and each is excellent for a unique reason.
Best Books About Wales: A History of Wales by John Davis
Undoubtedly, it is one of the best Welsh history books in existence. While it isn’t a concise history of Wales and is not for the casual reader, it’s well worth the time spent immersed in its pages for the author’s expert knowledge and detailed descriptions.
A History of Wales takes the reader on a colorful journey that begins in Wales’ distant past in the Ice Age. From there, Davis takes you forward from a time when woolly mammoths roamed the frozen plains through the Beaker culture to the days of the Celts and their hill forts. He explores the Roman Occupation, the Reformation, and the Industrial Revolution. You’ll learn how mining, with its hardships and toil, became a part of Welsh culture. The book shows how the Welsh people have been able to endure and keep their spirit no matter the changes that come their way.
Davis’ incredible book also explains how the English conquered and subjugated the Welsh in several stages after the Normans had already partially conquered Wales. The first occurred when Edward I defeated Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (“Llywelyn the Last”) in 1282. Two hundred and fifty years later, Henry VIII’s Act of Union incorporated Wales into England and made English its official language. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 saw the Catholic King James II overthrown and changed England from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. New commercial opportunities opened that would eventually lead to the Industrial Revolution. This more modern era brought good and bad changes for Wales, especially regarding mining. However, for a time, the country became a leading producer of coal, copper, slate, and iron.
What makes A History of Wales one of the best books about Wales?
Davis isn’t overly sentimental but tells it like it is. Yet, he still succeeds in portraying the Cymry (Welsh people) as the proud, strong folks they are. He also goes into more recent politics, including Plaid Cymru, a nationalist party. One of their main goals is to make Wales an independent state within the European Union. In A History of Wales , you’ll also find many little-known facts and a few interesting rumors. For example, America may have been discovered by a Welshman, Prince Madog, in the 15th century.
Novels About Wales: Pigeon by Alys Conran
Pigeon is a heartbreaking and beautifully written story about hardship. While not a young adult novel due to some of the mature issues it deals with, it’s definitely a coming-of-age story. The story is set in a small Welsh town near Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. The main character, Pigeon (not a nickname but his real one), loves storytelling and words in general. The story centers around him and his best friend, Iola. They live in their own make-believe world to try to escape the realities of growing up in broken homes. Iola was raised by her older sister after her mother and grandmother died. Pigeon has it even worse. He’s been living in the garden shed ever since his abusive stepfather began making life at home unbearable.
What makes Pigeon one of the best books about Wales?
Although a fiction novel, Pigeon paints a picture of the challenging dynamic between the Welsh and the English. Despite Welsh being Pigeon’s first language, we learn how he sometimes has a complex relationship with his native tongue and his identity. The story also shows us some of the challenges in modern Wales.
Another aspect of the book that stands out to me is how it shows the power of our words and what they can do, both good and bad. Stories and imagination can heal and inspire; sometimes, our tales can have devastating consequences.
This poignant novel won the Wales Book of the Year award in 2017 and has even been made into a play. Not many have heard of it outside of Wales, making it an underrated book—another gem waiting for you to read it and discover a brilliant author! The book is also available in Welsh on Amazon UK .
Books on Welsh Mythology
The Mabinogion (Oxford World’s Classics) Illustrated Edition by Sioned Davies
If you want to learn about Welsh mythology, reading The Mabinogion is the best way to start. If you’ve never heard of this and don’t know what the title means or what it is, I’ll explain. The book is a famous collection of eleven mythology stories from Wales’ past. Although compiled in the Middle Ages, the tales of gods, goddesses, and folklore pre-date Christianity.
The book’s title is from the word “Mabinogi,” which comes from the word “mab.” In earlier days, it meant “youth” or “boyhood.” However, over time, it evolved to mean “tale of a hero’s boyhood” and eventually was shortened to simply “a tale.” Lady Charlotte Guest, the first to translate the tales into English in the mid-nineteenth century, incorrectly called the entire body of work “The Mabinogion,” thinking that “Mabinogion” was the plural of “Mabinogi.”
We still don’t know who the original authors of The Mabinogion were. These anonymous writers gave us 11 tales comprising the book’s four branches. The four branches are Pwyll, Branwen, Manawydan, and Math. These are the names of the “main characters,” if you will, the people whose lives form the foundation of the world depicted within. You’ll learn of Gwydion, the shape-shifter who brings a maiden named Blodeuwedd to life from flowers; of dragons, witches, and giants; of Arthurian romance, kings and heroes, quests to the Otherworld and back again; stories of love, revenge, and royalty. Through these tales of Celtic mythology, we also see the Welsh people fighting to keep their independence as a nation.
What makes The Mabinogion one of the best books about Wales?
Davies’ translation is lively and engaging, and she formatted the book in shorter paragraphs. She’s also included notes in the back that explain specific phrases and give the reader context. A lot has changed in the many centuries since the stories were first told by the ancient Welsh. Davies ensures that modern readers can understand and enjoy the tales just as they did. The Mabinogion also preserves the pagan mythology of ancient Wales. It’s raw, powerful, and connected to all of nature, giving us a glimpse of how the Celts viewed life. While it may not be precise to classify it among books about Wales’ history, it still shows us aspects of it. The stories let us travel back in time, giving us a connection to the past we can feel.
Owen – Book One of the Tudor Trilogy by Tony Riches
One last book in case you’re looking for a fiction novel with romance! Welsh servant Owen Tudor falls in love with the English queen in 1422. The stunning Catherine of Valois, the warrior king Henry V’s widow, is lonely, and her son Henry VI, the future king, exhibits symptoms of the family’s insanity. Owen has to decide if he’s willing to sacrifice everything to keep her safe as the nation teeters on the verge of civil war. In Owen by Tony Riches, we find out how the Tudors created a dynasty and altered British history.
Why is Owen one of the best books about Wales?
It’s a great way to learn about some of the true history of the Tudor dynasty through fiction. The story is told from Owen’s perspective. He’s fallen in status after losing his rights as a Welsh nobleman’s son. Owen develops a strong romantic attachment to the Queen despite having an affair with Juliette, the Queen’s maid. After the young Prince Henry departs the household to begin training for the throne, Catherine notices the loyal Owen and starts showing him affection. They have a covert wedding and settle in the sleepy village of Much Hadham (about forty miles north of London). While filled with turmoil and complicated matters of state, the book also shows the romance between the couple and Owen’s early life. Definitely worth a read!
...
AmeriCymru: Care to introduce your novel 'Knight in the Scarlet Cloak' for our readers?'
Dan: Yes…set in late thirteenth-century Pembroke, Knight in the Scarlet Cloak takes an unusual approach for a Welsh novel by centering on an eighteen-year-old squire who is due to become a knight for the English crown. Young Robert, whose Anglo-Welsh family has benefitted from its position in the Welsh Marches, suddenly realizes the injustice of the local government when it expels the family of his close Welsh friend Iolo and his sister Angharad (whom Robert loves) from Pembroke for only a minor infraction.
Infuriated by the event, Robert leaves Pembroke and his pending knighthood behind to start life anew in North Wales, but, through a bizarre sequence of events, ends up joining the biggest Welsh rebellion ever against England until he is eventually captured and brought to Hereford’s Pleshey Castle. From there, Robert must navigate his tricky new role as a highly valued prisoner, even winning the heart of the Lady of the Castle, before making his daring attempt to escape.
The story is based heavily on real events and people, including my own ancestors, among whom is the actual Robert of Pembroke, born in 1275.
AmeriCymru: Care to tell us a little more about Madog ap Llewelyn who figured prominently in the novel'?
Dan: Prince Madog was essentially the Welsh William Wallace, who rebelled against Edward Longshanks’ control of Wales just a couple of years before the Wallace rebellion in Scotland began. Branding himself ‘Prince of Wales,’ Madog united virtually all of Wales against England and was every bit as difficult for King Edward to handle as was Wallace, for Madog ravaged many English-controlled towns and disrupted English supplies before he was finally captured. Unlike Wallace, however, Madog lived out his days in captivity, never being executed. While Madog’s time in the novel itself is brief, the rebellion he started and which Robert joins sets Robert on a path that carries through the rest of the novel.
AmeriCymru: Where can readers buy the book online?
Dan: Currently, Knight in the Scarlet Cloak is available only on Amazon (in Kindle and paperback format), but I hope to make it available on other outlets soon.
AmeriCymru: You are a fluent Welsh speaker. How did you go about learning the language?
Dan: I began by watching skits from the Big Welsh Challenge that were once available on the BBC Wales website. I was obsessive and watched the skits over and over, reading and translating every word of the Welsh subtitles until I could perfectly understand the skits without looking at the subtitles at all. I then went to the same website and listened to the Welsh radio soap opera, Ysbyty Brynaber , which, to its credit, presented Welsh characters of various dialects and who spoke at native speed, forcing me to keep up and truly develop my Welsh. I went over the skits there as well until I understood every word. After spending over a year listening to the episodes, my Welsh was good enough to where I began to listen to shows on BBC Radio Cymru (which I still do today) and try my best to comprehend them, replaying segments that I don’t fully understand and looking up words that are unfamiliar to me. It has paid off tremendously. I now speak only Welsh to my six-year-old son Evan.
AmeriCymru: Care to recommend any resources for other aspiring learners?
Dan: I would gladly recommend the BBC Big Welsh Challenge resources, but they are no longer available. However, I also spent a little time listening to the free items on Say Something in Welsh (which has a website), but as I was financially very poor, I stopped after the free lessons. Nonetheless, I benefited greatly from the lessons that I was able to go through, impressing the people who run the site with how fast I learned them. Anyone who has a little money to buy the remaining lessons would, no doubt, benefit tremendously. If one’s Welsh has advanced enough, regularly listening to BBC Radio Cymru on its podcast, which allows one to pause and replay segments as often as needed, will keep one’s abilities nicely honed.
AmeriCymru: Are there any Welsh authors and/or titles that you particularly admire and would like to recommend?
Dan: I have gotten into reading the Della Arthur mysteries by the lovely and humorous Gwen Parrott, who takes it upon herself to write her own Welsh and English versions of each book, refusing to leave it up to a translator. Her devotion to producing Welsh-language literature is an inspiration. I am in the middle of reading Cyw Melyn y Fall , a Welsh-edition book in Gwen’s Della Arthur series, and I highly recommend her more recent novel Dead White . Reading a Welsh-language novel can be tedious for someone new to Welsh, but the immersion is very helpful for developing one’s grasp of the language.
AmeriCymru: What's next for Dan Rhys? Any new projects in the pipeline?
Dan: In all honesty, it depends on how successful Knight in the Scarlet Cloak turns out to be over the next two years. If it is successful, I would like to do one or two more stories focusing on Robert. If not, I will either try a standalone novel with an entirely new character or continue on my Bob Kelton series, which focuses on a Welsh-American college professor who gets into very bizarre situations. My only published Kelton story reached the semifinals of the Chanticleer Book Review ‘Clue Awards’ in 2018. If I am successful, I do not plan to keep churning out novels. Instead, I would like to give back to the community that helped me and do all I can to bring attention and prosperity to Wales.
AmeriCymru: Any final message for the readers and members of AmeriCymru?
Dan: While I applaud and celebrate all efforts to enjoy and preserve every element of Welsh culture, I think if one can learn the language and pass it down to someone, that is perhaps most important of all. A language truly is a window into a culture’s ‘soul’, as they say, and I certainly feel more a part of Welsh culture having learned the Welsh language and passed it down to my son. Welsh almost went out altogether forty years ago, and after all of the efforts by England to erase it and the Welsh to keep it alive, I believe it is our duty to build on the work done to preserve it. I am thankful that I am playing a part in its preservation, and I thank you for giving me this opportunity to talk about my novel to your audience. I hope it spurs its own movement towards a more self-governing Wales.
Disclaimer - I would like to add, with regard to the cover of Knight in the Scarlet Cloak , that the individual I hired to create the image chose to add the modern Flag of Wales to it in order to make clear the story’s association with Wales. Since some may find the modern flag asynchronously on medieval attire offensive, I want to clarify that it was an honest oversight by the illustrator and that the novel itself accurately describes the banner that would have been used to represent Wales in the thirteenth century. Diolch yn fawr!
After the Romans withdrew from Wales, the Welsh tribes became more autonomous. Now free from outside government, chieftains ruled over small parts of Cymru. Territories became kingdoms. Gruffudd ap Llewelyn was the only ruler of all the ancient kings of Wales who united the country as a whole.
The story of the ancient kings of Wales begins with the Roman departure from Britain in 383 AD. Celtic tribal chieftains, freed from the yoke of Roman rule, fought amongst themselves to keep or establish control over their lands and defend their territory from invaders. These territories eventually became kingdoms.
The most important of these realms were Ceredigion (later known as Gwynedd), Seisyllwg (later Powys), Dyfed (later Deheubarth), and Morgannwg (formed of Glywysing and Gwent). Welsh kings and princes ruled their kingdoms until the Middle Ages when King Edward I of England overthrew Wales’ last ruler, Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, in 1282—over 200 years after Gruffudd ap Llewelyn’s death.
Known as “Llewelyn the Last,” like some other Welsh rulers, Llewelyn ap Gruffydd went by the title of “Prince” and not “King.” Why? The truth is that the Welsh used both titles at different times and for different reasons. One reason may have been to distinguish themselves from other independent rulers in Wales and set themselves apart from the English king. After Edward I conquered Llewelyn and gained control of the land, Edward gave his son the title “Prince of Wales.” Since then, the heir apparent to the English and British throne has always inherited the title.
Another reason Welsh rulers often used the title of “Prince” instead of “King” was that the kingdoms weren’t united—there was no “King of the Britons.” A single ruler seldom led them, and when he did, it wasn’t for long. The last Welsh ruler to hold the title of King was Gruffudd ap Llewelyn in the 11th century. Today, we sometimes refer to him as “the first and last king of Wales.” Not only did he unify Wales, but he also conquered some of the border lands the English had previously controlled. When Gruffudd was killed in 1063, the remaining Welsh leaders called themselves princes again.
While we hear more about Llewelyn ap Gruffydd in the 13th century, the last ruler of Wales before the English subdued it, Gruffudd ap Llewelyn (200 years earlier) was a key figure in history as the last of the ancient Welsh kings. By that, we should clarify that we’re referring to the title used more than how the rulers functioned. The princes in ancient Wales acted very much like kings in their capacities. They often ruled subkingdoms, smaller kingdoms within larger ones such as Gwynedd or Powys.
Gruffudd ruled as the King of Wales from 1055 – 1063. Something worth noting here is that Gruffudd’s given name also frequently appears with the spelling “Gruffydd.” In this article and throughout this website, we’re using “Gruffudd” as the spelling. Michael Davies and Sean Davies, the authors of the exceptional book The Last King of Wales: Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, c. 1013-1063 , have listed the king’s name as above.
The Life of Gruffudd ap Llewelyn in the Ancient History of Wales
Historians believe Gruffudd was born a prince in 1010 or 1011 AD in Rhuddlan, in the Kingdom of Powys, North Wales. Although history hasn’t left us much about Gruffudd’s childhood, we know a bit from the stories of Walter Map, a writer and the courtier of King Henry II of England. Map said that Gruffudd was slow, downcast, and generally without direction in his youth. However, later in life, he became ambitious and took on responsibilities. It didn’t take long until his aspirations soared higher than anyone could have guessed!
In 1039, after Iago ab Idwal, the King of Gwynedd, was killed by his own men, Gruffudd took the lead and became king of both Powys and Gwynedd. He then took on the Saxons of Mercia, the neighboring kingdom to Welsh borders. He and his fighters achieved a victory in the battle of Rhyd-y-groes on the Severn River. As the Welsh kingdoms had been fighting the Saxons for hundreds of years, Gruffudd gained favor immediately among the Welsh people .
The Welsh Marches
Gruffudd’s victory over Mercia made the borderland between Wales and England known as the “Welsh Marches” safe for his people. Not only did this bring the Welsh more security, but it instantly boosted Gruffudd’s status and influence with his subjects. Quelling the Saxons gave him the support he needed to take the other Welsh kingdoms by force or bring them under his rule through diplomacy. By about 1055, Gruffudd ap Llewelyn had united all of Wales.
Alliance with Mercia
A critical reason that Gruffudd succeeded in solidifying his rule of the Welsh kingdoms was that he allied with Aelfgar, the Saxon King of Mercia. As Mercia was a neighboring English kingdom, this alliance only increased the security Gruffudd achieved with his victory over the Marches. How was this possible, especially since Wales and England had been enemies for centuries, and it was the Mercians who Gruffudd had defeated at Rhyd-y-groes? Aelfgar had his own enemies he needed help with—the Godwine family in Northumbria.
When Aelfgar was exiled, he recruited an Irish mercenary fleet. Gruffudd also gathered a vast army, and together, he and Aelfgar attacked the Saxons and Normans under Earl Ralf. With Gruffudd and Aelfgar’s forces victorious, they set the town of Hereford afire. Aelfgar was later able to return to his own lands. Gruffudd then married Aelfgar’s daughter, Ealdgyth. The alliance of Gruffudd’s Wales and Aelfgar’s Mercia eventually culminated in a peace treaty with Edward the Confessor of Wessex in 1056.
The Death of Gruffudd ap Llewelyn
Unfortunately, Aelfgar’s death late in 1062 gave discontent members of the Godwine family the opportunity they’d been looking for. Harold Godwinesson, the Earl of Wessex, attacked Gruffudd’s court without warning. He then turned some of Gruffudd’s own compatriots against him. Not all the princes and other lords of Wales agreed with Gruffudd’s rule, so Harold used these rivalries to his advantage. In 1063, Gruffudd ap Llewelyn, the last king of Wales, was slain by his own men. The traitors then sent the earl Gruffudd’s head.
Gruffudd’s death left England and Wales vulnerable to the Norman rule that soon followed. For a brief time, of all the ancient kings of Wales, he had brought his country together in a way like no one before him. Gruffudd may have given the people of his time more than any other leader had. He brought vision, identity, and alliance with Anglo-Saxon England. We’ll always remember Gruffud ap Llewelyn’s story among famous Welsh kings and as a founding father of Cymru.
Ancient Kings of Wales in Order
Here is an ancient kings of Wales timeline showing the leaders of the kingdoms in Cymru in the order they ruled. While we don’t know the exact dates for many of these kings and princes, we do have a good idea of their approximate times of leadership based on historical records. Larger kingdoms, like Gwynedd, often had a king with princes ruling over sub-kingdoms within it. This king of Wales list includes some rulers of petty kingdoms, cantrefs, and commotes (subdivisions of cantrefs).
Kingdom of Gwynedd
| King of Gwynedd | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Cunedda Wledig ap Edern | 370 | |
| Einion Yrth ap Cunedda | Einion the Impetuous | 410 |
| Cadwallon Lawhir ap Einion | Cadwallon Long Hand | 440 |
| Maelgwn Hir ap Cadwallon | Maelgwn the Tall, Maelgwn Gwynedd | died 547 |
| Rhun Hir ap Maelgwn | Rhun the Tall | 500 |
| Beli ap Rhun | ||
| Iago ap Beli | died approx. 616 | |
| Cadfan ap Iago | 565 | |
| Cadwallon ap Cadfan | died 634 | |
| Cadafael ap Cynfeddw | Cadfael the Battle-Shirker | |
| Cadwaladr Fendigaid ap Cadwallon | Cadwaladr the Blessed | died 664 |
| Idwal Iwrch ap Cadwaladr | Idwal Roebuck | 660 |
| Rhodri Molwynog ap Idwal | Rhodri the Bald and Gray | died 754 |
| Caradog ap Meirion | died 798, Prince of Rhos | |
| Cynan Dindaethwy ap Rhodri | died 816 | |
| Hywel ap Caradog | ||
| Merfyn Frych ap Gwriad | died 844 |
Kingdom of Dunoding (Sub-kingdom)
| Princes of Dunoding | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Dunod ap Cunedda Wledig | 400 | |
| Eifion ap Dunod ap Cunedda | 430 | |
| Dingad ap Eifion | 470 | |
| Meurig ap Dingad | 500 | |
| Eifion ap Meurig | 530 | |
| Issac ap Eifion ap Meurig | 570 | |
| Pobien Hen ap Isaac | 600 | |
| Pobddelw ap Pobien Hen | 630 | |
| Eifion ap Pobddelw | 670 | |
| Brochwel ap Eifion | 700 | |
| Eigion ap Brochwel ab Eifion | 730 | |
| Ieuanawl ab Eigion | 770 | |
| Caradog ap Ieuanawl | 800 | |
| Blieddud ap Caradog | 830 | |
| Cuhelyn ap Bleiddud | 870 |
Kingdom of Rhufoniog (Sub-kingdom)
| Princes of Rhufoniog | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Rhufon ap Cunedda Wledig | 400 | |
| Breichiol of Rhufoniog | 830 | |
| Mor ap Breichiol | 870 | |
| Aeddan ap Mor | 900 | |
| Morudd ap Aeddan | 930 | |
| Mor ap Morudd | 970 |
Kingdom of Dogfeiling (Sub-kingdom)
| Princes of Dogfeiling | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Dogfael ap Cunedda Wledig | 410 | |
| Elno ap Dogfael | 440 | |
| Glas ap Elno | 470 | |
| Elgud ap Glas ap Elno | 500 | |
| Elaeth ab Elgud | 530 | |
| Meurig ap Elaeth | 570 |
Kingdom of Rhos (Sub-kingdom)
| Princes of Rhos | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Owain Ddantgwyn ap Einion Yrth | 440 | |
| Cynlas Goch ab Owain Gwyn | 470 | |
| St Einion (Llŷn) ap Owain | 470 | |
| Maig ab Owain ap Cynlas | 500 | |
| Cadal Crysban | 560 | |
| Idgwyn ap Cadwal Crysbyn | 590 | |
| Einion ab Idgwyn | 620 | |
| Rhufon ap Einion ap Idgwyn | 650 | |
| Hywel ap Rhufon | 680 | |
| Meirion ap Hywel ap Rhufon | 710 | |
| Hywel ap Caradog | 825 |
Ancient Kings of Wales: Kingdom of Dyfed
| Kings and Princes of Dyfed | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Triffyn Farfog | 430 | |
| Aergol Lawhir | 460 | |
| Vortiporius | ||
| Cloten ap Nowy ap Arthur | Also called “Gwlyddein” | 600 |
| Maredudd ap Tewdwr | died 796 | |
| Rhain ap Maredudd | died 808 | |
| Owain ap Maredudd | died 811 | |
| Triffyn ap Rhain | died 814 | |
| Hyfaidd ap Bleddri | died 893 | |
| Llywarch ap Hyfaidd | died 904 | |
| Rhodri ap Hyfaidd | died 905 |
Kingdom of Morgannwg
Kingdom of Ewyas (Sub-kingdom)
The Kingdom of Ewyas (also spelled “Ewias”) was a regional kingdom existing in what is now Wales and Herefordshire, England.
| Kings of Ewyas | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Clydog ap Clydwyn | Grandson of Brychan | 400 |
Kingdom of Ergyng (Sub-kingdom)
| Kings of Ergyng | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Peibio Clafrog ap Erb | 525 | |
| Cynfyn ap Peibio | 550 | |
| Gwrfoddw | ||
| Gwrgan Fawr ap Cynfyn | 650 |
Kingdom of Glywysing (Sub-kingdom)
| Kings of Glywysing | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Glywys ap Solor | 430 | |
| Pawl Penychen | 465 | |
| Mechwyn | ruler of Gorfynydd, which was possibly a cantref of Glywysing | |
| Ithel ap Morgan | ruled from 710–745 | |
| Hywel ap Rhys | died around the year 886 | |
| Gruffydd ab Owain | King of Gower | died in 934 or 935 |
| Cadwgan ab Owain | King of Margam | died 949 |
| Hywel ab Owain | King of Glad Forgan – Glamorgan | died 1043 |
| Prince of Glywysing | ||
| Athrwys ap Meurig | 620 |
Cantref of Gwynllŵg
Gwynllŵg was a cantref (a medieval land division similar to a county) in Glamorgan (Gwent).
| Rulers of Gwynllŵg | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Gwynllyw ap Glywys | ruler of Gwynllwg, cantref of Glywysing | 460 |
| Saint Cadoc | son of Gwynllyw, ruler of Gwynllwg | 495 |
Kingdom of Gwent (Sub-kingdom)
| Kings of Gwent | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Ynyr Gwent | 450 | |
| Caradoc ap Ynyr | 480 | |
| Ffernfael ab Idwal | ||
| Ithel ap Hywel | ||
| Ffernafael ab Ithel ap Morgan | 775 | |
| Meurig ap Hywel | ||
| Ffernfael ap Meurig | ||
| Brochwel ap Meurig | 830 | |
| Arthfael ap Hywel | 860 | |
| Ithel ab Athrwys ap Ffernfael | died 848 | |
| Arthfael ap Noe | 930 | |
| Rhodri ab Elise | ||
| Gruffudd ap Elise | ||
| Edwyn ap Gwriad | 1020 |
The Kingdom of Morgannwg (Sub-kingdom)
The Kingdom of Morgannwg was sometimes an independent kingdom, and at other times, it was formed from the two Kingdoms of Morgannwg and Gwent.
| Kings of Morgannwg | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Ithel ab Athrwys ab Meurig | 650 | |
| Owain | King of Morgannwg | 930 |
| Morgan Hen ab Owain | died 974 | |
| Owain ap Morgan Hen | 974 |
The Kingdom of Ceredigion
| Kings and Princes of Ceredigion | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Ceredig ap Cunedda | possibly 410 | |
| Usai ap Ceredig | 450 | |
| Serwyl ab Usai | 490 | |
| Boddw ap Serwyl | 530 | |
| Arthfoddw ap Boddw | 570 | |
| Arthlwys ab Arthfoddw | 610 | |
| Clydog ab Arthlwys | 650 | |
| Seisyll ap Clydog, | King of Seisyllwg, Ceredigion, and Ystrad Tywi | 690 |
| Arthen ap Seisyll | died 807 | |
| Dyfnwallon ab Arthen | 750 | |
| Meurig ap Dyfnwallon | 780 | |
| Gwgon ap Meurig | died 872 |
Kingdom of Powys
| Kings of Powys | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Vortigern | High-King Gwrtheyrn. Ruled Buellt and Gwrtheyrnion | 365 |
| Cadeyern Fendigaid | Also called Cateyrn ap Gwrtheyrn | 400 |
| Rhuddfedel Frych | ||
| Morgan ap Pasgen | Also called Mawgan ap Pascen | 430 |
| Cadell Ddyrnllwg | son of Cadeyern | 430 |
| Cyngen Glodrydd | son of Cadell | 460 |
| Pasgen ap Cyngen | ||
| Brochwel Ysgithrog | 490 | |
| Cynan Garwyn | 520 | |
| Selyf ap Cynan | Also called Selyf Sarffgadau | 550 |
| Manwgan ap Selyf | Also called Mael Myngan ap Self Sarffgadau | 580 |
| Eiludd Powys | ||
| Beli ap Eiludd | son of Manwgan/Myngan | |
| Elisedd ap Gwylog | 680 | |
| Brochfael ap Elisedd | Also called Brochwel ap Elise | 705 |
| Cadell ap Brochfael | Also called Cadell ap Brochwel ap Aeddan | |
| Cyngen ap Cadell | Also called Cyngen ap Cadell ap Brochwel | died 855 |
| Merfyn ap Rhodri | Son of Rhodri the Great (Rhodri Mawr) | died 904 |
| Llywelyn ap Merfyn | Grandson of Rhodri the Great | 870 |
Kingdom of Pengwern (Petty Kingdom)
Pengwern was a petty kingdom located in what is now the Midlands. It was possibly near the Wrekin, a hill in Shropshire, England.
| Kings of Pengwern | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Cyndrwyn | 535 | |
| Cynddylan ap Cyndrwyn | alive during 642 |
Kingdom of Brycheiniog
| Kings of Brycheiniog | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Anlach mac Cormac | ||
| Brychan Brycheiniog ap Anlach | 400 or 470 | |
| Tewdwr ap Rhain | 700 | |
| Nowy | 725 | |
| Gruffudd ap Nowy | 750 |
Ancient Kings of Wales: Welsh Regional Kingdoms
All of Wales
| Gruffudd ap Llywelyn | Ruler of all of Wales by 1055 | 1039–1063 |
North Wales
Gwynedd and Powys
| Kings and Princes of Gwynedd and Powys | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Iago ab Idwal | died 942 | |
| Bleddyn ap Cynfyn | died 1075 | |
| Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn | died 1070 |
South Wales
| Cadell ap Rhodri | 878–910 |
Cantref of Buellt and Commote of Gwrtheyrnion
Note: A “commote” is a territorial division under a cantref.
| Kings and Princes of Buellt and Gwrtheyrnion | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Pasgen ap Gwrtheryn | Also called Pascent. Son of Vortigern | 400 |
| Pawl ap Mepurit | 510 | |
| Eldog ap Pawl | 550 | |
| Eldad ab Eldog ap Paul | 590 | |
| Morudd ab Eldad | 630 | |
| Pasgen Buellt ap Gwyddaint | 700 | |
| Tewdwr ap Pasgen | 730 | |
| Gloud ap Pasgn Buellt | 730 | |
| Ffernfael ap Tewdwr | 760 |
Deheubarth and Gwynedd
Regions: West and Northwest of Wales.
| Kings of Deheubarth, Gwynedd | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Maredudd ab Owain | Owain ap Hywel’s son | died 999 |
| Aeddan ap Blegywryd | died 1018 | |
| Llywelyn ap Seisyll | died 1023 |
Ceredigion, Meirionnydd, Gwynedd
Regions: Kingdom of Gwynedd when it encompassed a larger area, including Ceredigion (Deheubarth), Meirionnydd, and Dyffryn Clwyd, making the king’s realm Northwest and West Wales. He also ruled Rhos and Rhufoniog.
| Gruffudd ap Cynan | King of Gwynedd | 1081–1137 |
Deheubarth, Gwynedd, Powys
Regions: North and Mid to Southwest Wales.
| Kings of Dyfed, Brycheiniog | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Cathen ap Gwlyddein | 625 | |
| Cadwgon ap Cathen | 650 | |
| Rhain ap Cadwgan | Also called Cadwgon. Also ruled Ystrad Tywi in Southwest Wales. | 675 |
| King of Deheubarth, Gwynedd, Powys | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Rhodri Mawr | 872–878 |
| King of Dyfed, Gwynedd, Powys, Seisyllwg | ||
| Hywel Dda | Hywel the Good. King of all of Wales, except for Gwent and Morgannwg in the south. | died 950 |
Ergyng, Gwent
Region: Southeast of Wales
| King of Ergyng, Gwent | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Erb | 500 |
Glywysing, Gwent
Region: Southeast of Wales
| Kings of Glywysing, Gwent | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Tewdrig | Glywysing and Gwent | 575 |
| Meurig ap Tewdrig | Glywysing and Gwent | 590 |
| Morgan ab Athrwys | Glywysing and Gwent | 650 |
| Meurig ab Ithel | born approx.. 720, reign 745–775 | |
| Arthfael Hen ap Rhys | Arthfael the Old | 760 |
| Owain ap Hywel | 860 | |
| Caradog ap Gruffydd | died 1081 | |
| Iestyn ap Gwrgan | Lord of Glamorgan. Also called Iestyn ap Gwrgant. | 1081–1093 |
Gwent, Morgannwg
Regions: South and Southeast of Wales
| Kings of Gwent, Morgannwg | Title, Notes | Approx. Year Began Rule, AD |
| Meurig ap Hywel | Gwent and Morgannwg | |
| Cadwgan ap Meurig | Gwent and Morgannwg |
Who Is the King of Wales Now?
No one has held the title “King of Wales” since Gruffudd ap Llewelyn. However, Charles III held the title “Prince of Wales” for 64 years. He acceded to the British throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Since then, Charles III has been the king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The UK consists of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland (but not the Republic of Ireland).
If you’d like to see an ancient kings of Wales map, this one on Britain Express shows the major kingdoms of Cymru from 500 to 700 AD .
Welsh love spoons, slate gifts, and Welsh Lady dolls are heartwarming keepsakes that can last a lifetime. Knowing the history behind these three popular Welsh gifts will make them even more special to you, whether you’re the giver or the receiver.
Three popular Welsh gifts given throughout the years in Wales are Welsh love spoons, Welsh slate gifts, and gifts featuring the Welsh Lady—a woman wearing the traditional Welsh costume of a woolen dress with an apron, neckerchief, stockings, red cloak, and tall black hat. Before the early 1800s, Wales didn’t have a national dress for women. We’ll explore its origin and the woman who popularized it.
Did you know that love spoons aren’t unique to Wales? However, crafters of the love spoon in Cymru brought their own style, skillfulness, and attention to detail virtually unmatched anywhere else, truly bringing the Welshness factor into what we know as Welsh love spoons.
The history of slate in Wales goes back over 1,800 years. People in North Wales began quarrying slate in Roman times. When the Industrial Revolution swung into high gear in Wales in the 1800s, the Welsh slate industry boomed. Slate in Wales is around 500 million years old and is the highest quality worldwide. A gift of slate from Cymru is a gift of the land itself.
The Welsh Lady (Welsh National Costume)
You may have seen small dolls in Wales dressed in a particular manner or an image of a woman wearing a tall, black hat painted on ornaments or other decorative items. This woman has become known as the “Welsh Lady.” She represents the Welsh National Dress, the traditional clothing women in rural parts of Cymru wore in the early 1800s.
What does this traditional costume consist of, and why has it become a symbol of Welsh identity? The outfit is comprised of a loose-fitting dress (also called a “bedgown”) made of wool and worn over a corset. Underneath this, ladies wore an undergarment called a “petticoat,” which is a shorter skirt and was usually also made of wool. Women wore aprons over their bedgowns and also put on knitted stockings, a neckerchief, and a red cloak. They finished off the look with a tall black hat. The iconic black hat has become known as the “Welsh Hat.”
Before the 19th century, Wales did not have a specific cultural dress, although women who lived in remote parts of Cymru did wear wool dresses. Ladies drew inspiration for their gowns from 18th-century fashions, but beyond that, they didn’t have a national costume.
How Did the “Welsh Lady” Identity Turn into Popular Welsh Dolls?
Augusta Hall (born Augusta Waddington [March 21, 1802 – January 17, 1896]) popularized the idea of a Welsh national costume. Also known as “Lady Llanover,” as her family was from Llanover, Monmouthshire, she was well educated and had traveled all over Britain and Europe. In 1823, Lady Llanover married Benjamin Hall, an MP (member of parliament) for 22 years. Among his other contributions, he’s remembered as the person in government who oversaw the construction of Big Ben in Westminster. Yes, if you were wondering if the clock is nicknamed after Benjamin Hall, indeed it is! Its official name is “Elizabeth Tower,” after the Queen.
Lady Llanover was busy with her own worthy endeavors of promoting Welsh folk culture and the Welsh language. She was one of the leading proponents of the triple harp as Wales’ national instrument. She also ensured that Welsh was taught in two schools and assisted in starting a women’s Welsh language magazine called “Y Gymraes” (“The Welsh Woman”).
Lady Llanover was also responsible for forming the foundations of the Welsh national dress. At the Eisteddfod in Cardiff in 1834, she submitted an essay under her bardic name, “Gwenynen Gwent.” (A “bardic name” is a fictitious name used by artists and poets in Cornwall, Brittany, and Wales.) The essay was entitled “The Advantages Resulting from the Preservation of the Welsh Language and National Costumes of Wales.” It won Best Essay in the competition. Her dress ideas took hold, and women accepted them throughout the country. One might say that Lady Llanover was the original Welsh Lady! While the traditional costume is now only worn on St. David’s Day or by performers at eisteddfodau (festivals of music or poetry), the Welsh Lady is very much alive as a cultural symbol in art, gifts, and the cute dolls we see.
Welsh Love Spoons
People began giving Welsh love spoons as gifts in the 1600s. They were made either from scratch or from large wooden kitchen spoons and carved with symbols and shapes, especially on the handles. The spoons began as a token of affection that a young man would create and give to the woman he loved, hoping she would accept his offer of a relationship. While he might also give her sweets or flowers, a love spoon was a highly personalized gift and went beyond merely a beautifully crafted woodwork. For one thing, he chose what symbols to place on the spoon, conveying a message only for his beloved. Secondly, the many hours of work he put into perfecting each little detail in the gift showed his commitment to her. And finally, the craftsmanship itself showed his skill and good qualities as a potential husband.
The Oldest Love Spoon in Wales
The custom of carving love spoons does not actually originate in Wales. They’ve been found all over Europe—especially in the Celtic areas. However, the Welsh people took this tradition and gave it their own style, creating some of the most intricate and unique love spoons in the world. The spoons carved in Cymru varied in every way, from size to the wood used to different degrees of intricacy. Each spoon was a unique creation with a separate and special meaning from every other spoon. Unfortunately, we don’t know who made the first love spoon in Wales. However, we do know of the oldest surviving love spoon from Cymru that a young suitor made in 1667. You can see it at St. Fagan’s National Museum of History .
Love and Marriage in Remote Parts of Wales
Another interesting aspect of the history of Welsh love spoons is that when people first began making them, couples in remote parts of Cymru rarely had a formal engagement or marriage ceremony. They merely started a relationship and later lived together as husband and wife. (This changed during the 1800s when the registry of marriages became mandatory in England and Wales.) The new wife would then proudly display her love spoon on the wall to symbolize the couple’s bond. Seen in this light, especially as many families were poor and couldn’t afford jewelry, the love spoon almost acts as a kind of wedding ring and token of their vows to one another.
In this post about Welsh Mother’s Day gifts , you can learn about some symbols on Welsh love spoons, their meanings, and the different types of wood used.
Welsh Slate Gifts
What makes slate so valuable? For one thing, it can last a very long time. On a roof, it can last for over a hundred years. Of course, depending on what builders use it for, slate can last far longer than that. For example, the Bronze Age ring cairn, Bryn Cader Faner in North Wales, could be as much as 4,000 years old! Much of it remains, and you can still visit this haunting ring of stones today.
One reason slate lasts so long is its low water absorption. This quality makes it resistant to damage from frost and erosion. In addition to that, unlike some materials, slate’s color only improves with time. That means that its rich hue only deepens rather than fades. Slate is also a dense stone, which makes it withstand lots of weather without cracking easily.
Slate has always been a part of life in Wales. The ancient Welsh used it since antiquity for various purposes, including burial sites, tools, and shelter, to name a few. The more “recent” history of Welsh slate goes back over 1,800 years to when the Romans built their military forts in Britain. They constructed Segontium, a fort in Caernarfon, using slate from the quarries in North Wales. The slate was also used in building castles, such as Conwy Castle, which King Edward I built. However, it wasn’t until the advancements of the Industrial Revolution that Wales’ slate industry boomed. Wales soon became the leading slate producer in the world!
While the last slate mines closed in the 1960s, people still prize Welsh slate for its beauty, durability, and high quality. It’s used in everything from roofs to buildings to ornaments, cutting boards, and keepsakes. As a gift, Welsh slate is a fun and unique way to connect with this intrinsic part of Wales’ past.
More Ideas for Sharing a Love of Cymru
For other ideas for Welsh gifts, check out the following posts:
- Welsh Gifts for Him: 9 Welsh Gifts for Him That Are Thoughtful and Fun
- Welsh Terrier Gifts: The Breed That Inspired the Cute Welsh Terrier Stuffed Animal
- Books About Wales: 7 Great Welsh Gifts for the Bookworm in Your Life
- Unusual Welsh Gifts: 5 Ways to Celebrate Memories and Connections With Unique Welsh Gifts
- Welsh Food Gifts: 7 Exciting Ideas for Giving Welsh Food Gifts
- Traditional Welsh Gifts: 7 Cute and Fun Ideas With Traditional Welsh Gifts
- Welsh Gifts for Her: 11 Welsh Mother’s Day Gifts Filled With Love and Joy
Ancient Welsh symbols trace back to the Celtic tribes of Wales, even before Welsh was spoken. They are closely tied to nature, spirits and deities, warriors and fighting, and the Otherworld. Some symbols, like the red dragon, have become well-known parts of Welsh culture in modern times.
Where do ancient Welsh symbols originate? Why are some of the traditional Welsh symbols we see today relatively new in comparison? Ancient symbols of Cyrmu come from the Celts who lived in Britain during the Iron Age. By 600 BC, they had established quite a presence on the island. They were pagans who believed in many deities intimately connected with the natural world. The Celts were also animists, which means they thought spirits lived in everything, even inanimate objects like stones or swords. These spiritual beliefs gave us the ancient Welsh symbols and their meanings.
As to the answer to the second question, when Christianity swept through Britain and replaced the earlier Celtic beliefs, symbols people held sacred also changed. Some symbols remained. Others fell away from widespread use or changed meaning. And other symbols appeared closer to modern times, such as the daffodil. The flower is closely tied to St. David, who spread Christianity throughout the Welsh tribes.
How old does something have to be to be considered “ancient?” Generally speaking, something is ancient if it is roughly 2,000 years old. However, it also depends on the subject matter. For example, in Wales, woodland is considered ancient if it contains trees dating back to the 1600s. In this post, we’ll cover ancient Welsh symbols that stay as close to being at least 2,000 years old or more as possible. So, as another example, the red dragon as a symbol of Wales (or Celtic tribes) traces as far back as Roman times. While it may not hit the 2,000-year mark precisely, it goes so far back that it predates the Welsh language.
Y Ddraig Goch: The Red Dragon
One of the most well-known ancient Welsh symbols is the red dragon or “y ddraig goch” in Welsh. We see it as the emblem on the Welsh flag, and people also refer to the flag itself as “Y Ddraig Goch.” This mythological beast as a symbol of Wales dates back to the 5th century. Legend has it that the red dragon defeated the white dragon in battle (the Welsh defeated the Saxons). This story comes to us from Arthurian legend. The terms “Red Dragon” and “White Dragon” also became metaphors for the Britons (who would later become the Welsh) and the Saxons (the English), mainly as conflict persisted.
While there is no proof that King Arthur existed (at least, not in the legendary way he is portrayed), his father, Uther Pendragon, may have been the Welsh king who brought the dragon into use as an icon. The name “Pendragon” is a Brythonic name. Brythonic is the branch of Insular Celtic that eventually evolved into Welsh, Cornish, and Breton. Pendragon means “Dragon Head” or “Chief Dragon.”
The legendary King Uther is said to have used the red dragon symbol not only on his banner but also on the ring he wore. During Uther and Arthur’s time, the red dragon came to stand for the Britons who fought the Anglo-Saxon invaders. The twist in the story is that Uther Pendragon may have originally got the dragon symbol from the Romans, whose standards bore the symbol. The theory is that after the Romans left Britain, some tribal chieftains may have adopted dragon symbols on their own banners, and this may be what inspired Uther to use the mythological beast as his own.
The Wild Boar in Ancient Welsh Culture
The ancient Celts revered the boar, and it became one of their sacred animals. Wild boars are known to be aggressive and downright vicious. They will defend themselves to the death, seemingly without fear. The Celtic tribes of ancient Wales admired these qualities. The boar represented characteristics such as strength, courage, danger, and fearlessness. Warriors often wore boar skin when going into battle. They also adorned their swords, helmets, and shields with images of boars. Additionally, statues of boars graced altars and burial chambers. They seem to urge the deceased into the Otherworld with strength and courage.
The boar is one of many important ancient Welsh symbols because of its occurrence and depiction in the Mabinogion. These stories are the earliest compilation of eleven Welsh tales handed down orally for centuries. While they weren’t written down until the Middle Ages, the stories go much farther back, as the beliefs and mythology present in their content clearly predate Christianity.
Twrch Trwyth is a monster boar that appears in the Mabinogion. It was first mentioned in Historia Brittonum, a story about British history from the 9th century. “Twrch Trwyth” means “the Boar Trwyth” in Welsh. Trwyth was once a prince. He was cursed and turned into a monstrous boar with venomous bristles covering his body.
Another reference to boar appears in the third branch of the Mabinogion. In the story of Pryderi and Manawydan, a shining white boar leads a hunting party into a trap in the Otherworld.
The Oak Tree
The oak was the most sacred tree to the Celts. They believed it was a gateway to the Otherworld and viewed it as a symbol of strength, endurance, and wisdom. The Druids, who were the Celts’ priests and scholars, paid particular reverence to the oak tree. While we don’t know the exact origins of the word “Druid,” it is believed to come from the old Irish-Gaelic word for oak tree, which was “doire” and meant “wisdom.”
This noble tree appears in the Mabinogion in the Story of Math. When Lleu Llaw Gyffes is struck with a spear, he transforms into an eagle and perches on an oak tree until he is rescued and turns back into a human.
The Celtic Tree of Life symbol shows an oak tree with its branches reaching towards the sky and a network of roots beneath the earth. An intricate weaving of Celtic knots often encircles the tree and connects the “above” to the “below.” While the precise meaning the Celts had for the Tree of Life is debatable, it may be showing the connection between the earth and the heavens. It also shows the repeating cycle of birth, life, and death.
Although the Tree of Life was a powerful symbol to the Celts in Wales, it predates them, and many cultures used it. Its origins go back to ancient Mesopotamia. The oldest Celtic Tree of Life ever found dates back to the Bronze Age. As for where the Celts adopted the ancient symbol, they may have borrowed it from the Norse culture.
Old Welsh Symbols
Other important Welsh symbols you may recognize are not necessarily ancient, but they have been with us for years and have become well-known emblems in Welsh culture.
The Leek
The leek became a symbol of Wales during the days of the Welsh kingdoms. There are several guesses as to why. According to one legend, King Cadwaladr of Gwynedd instructed his troops to wear leeks when engaging in combat with the Saxons. In another story, it was St. David who told the soldiers to put the plants in their helmets.
Another legend describes Edward the Black Prince’s victory over the French at the Battle of Crécy in 1346. In a field of leeks, the Welsh archers faced off against the French. As a reminder, the Welsh started wearing leeks in their caps on St. David’s Day every year.
The Daffodil
Compared to the leek, the daffodil is a newcomer on the scene. Wales had a surge in daffodil popularity during World War I thanks to the support of Welshman David Lloyd George. He was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the time. According to several media stories, he proposed that the daffodil be adopted as the Welsh national symbol. He also wore the flower to the Prince of Wales’ 1911 investiture (a formal ceremonial conferring a rank). The article “ Why is the daffodil a symbol of Wales? ” goes into detail about this bright yellow flower and how it was adopted as an emblem of Wales.
The Welsh Harp
Harps have been played in Wales as early as the 11th century. However, the national instrument, the triple harp (with three rows of strings instead of one), arrived in Cymru from Italy during the 1600s. A harp with this triple-string design became known as the “Welsh Harp.” Although other areas of Britain lost interest in the instrument by the 18th century, it thrived in Wales. The eisteddfodau (festivals) of music and poetry have been the perfect way for harpists to keep the love of the instrument alive.
Ancient Welsh symbols remind us of a powerful and unbreakable connection to the land and nature, and the resilient people descended from a turbulent yet vibrant past. The strength of the Celts lives on in the proud spirit and culture of the modern Welsh.
Mae’r arlunydd, cyflwynydd, bardd ac awdur Siôn Tomos Owen yn cyhoeddi ail gyfrol o straeon am fyw yn y Rhondda’r wythnos hon. Mae Y Fawr a’r Fach 2: Mwy o Straeon o’r Rhondda yn rhan o’r gyfres Amdani, ac mae llyfr Siôn yn addas ar gyfer dysgwyr lefel Sylfaen.
Mae Siôn yn wyneb cyfarwydd i wylwyr S4C, diolch i Pobol y Rhondda , cyfres oedd yn mynd ar daith trwy Gwm Rhondda, ac roedd ei gyfrol gyntaf o straeon ffraeth am ei blentyndod a’i arddegau yn boblogaidd iawn.
Meddai Siôn Tomos Owen:
“Pan sgwennes i’r gyfrol gyntaf nôl yn 2018 ges i lawer o hwyl ond ges i drafferth yn dewis pa storïau i’w cynnwys, ac o’n i’n gwybod byse rhaid i mi sgwennu ail lyfr rhywbryd! Ac ar ôl magu fy mhlant yn y cwm hefyd, mae gen i hyd yn oed mwy o straeon doniol i’w rhannu.
“Mae’r ymateb i’r gyfrol gyntaf wedi bod yn wych a dwi wedi siarad a gwneud ffrindiau gyda chymaint o ddysgwyr Cymraeg sydd wedi darllen fy llyfr – pobl o Brighton i Lithuania, Gwlad Pwyl a hyd yn oed Santa Barbara yng Nghaliffornia! Ac mae pawb yn dweud eu bod nhw’n mwynhau’r ffaith bod yna gartwnau yn cyd-fynd gyda’r straeon hefyd, sy’n gwneud i fi wenu.”
Cafodd Siôn Tomos Owen ei eni a’i fagu yn y Rhondda, ac mae e’n byw yno o hyd. Mae’r ail gyfrol yma yn dweud ei hanes yn tyfu’n ddyn a dod yn dad, ac am y lle mae’n ei garu – y Rhondda.
Mae lluniau du a gwyn Siôn yn cyd-fynd â phob un o’r 18 stori fer. Mae geirfa ar bob tudalen a rhestr eirfa yng nghefn y llyfr.
Meddai Siôn Tomos Owen:
“Un o fy hoff bethau am deithio yw cwrdd â phobl newydd ac mae’r niferoedd dwi wedi cwrdd â nhw yn ddiweddar sy’n dysgu Cymraeg mor galonogol. Yn ddiweddar, mae teulu ffrind fy merch wedi newid iaith y tŷ i’r Gymraeg ar ôl dysgu’r iaith – rwy’n sgwrsio gyda’r fam ar y ffordd wrth fynd â fy merch i’r ysgol bob dydd. Mae’r profiad yn gwneud i mi eisiau ysgrifennu mwy o lyfrau i ddysgwyr oherwydd y cynnydd yn y nifer o bobl sy’n dysgu ac mae brwdfrydedd dysgwyr i siarad Cymraeg yn anhygoel!”
Lansiwyd cyfres Amdani yn 2018, prosiect a welodd gweisg Cymru yn cydweithio gyda’r Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol a Chyngor Llyfrau Cymru i ddatblygu a chyhoeddi llyfrau darllen cyffrous yn arbennig at gyfer oedolion sy’n dysgu Cymraeg. Erbyn heddiw mae yna dros 40 o gyfrolau i gyd.
Mae cyfres Amdani eisoes yn boblogaidd ac wedi meithrin darllenwyr brwd. Y gobaith yw y bydd llyfrau fel straeon Siôn Tomos Owen yn annog darllenwyr hen a newydd i ddatblygu eu Cymraeg.
Bydd straeon Y Fawr a’r Fach 2 yn cael eu darllen bob diwrnod ar Faes D yn yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol am 2 o’r gloch.
Mae Y Fawr a’r Fach 2: Mwy o Straeon o’r Rhondda gan Siôn Tomos Owen ar gael nawr (£6.99, Y Lolfa).
Welsh Born Experimental Drone-Folk Duo 'Peiriant' New 'Can Idris' single Out Friday
By Ceri Shaw, 2024-08-01
BIOGRAPHY
ABOUT
'Peiriant' Online
The Boy From The Coach is a delight to read. If you have ever wondered how life is lived in the innumerable small pubs and Inns which dot the Welsh countryside this book is for you. The author,, J.A.S. ( Tony) Rees, was a frequent visitor to the pub in the late 40's and 50's when he stayed during the school summer holidays. The pub was owned and run by a relative of his mother, May Morgan, who greeted him every summer, "with a Craven A cigarette lodged at the center of her mouth" .The book provides an insight into many of the colorful aspects of rural village life in Wales at the time. The pub's plumbing arrangements are described in the following terms:-
"At the roadside, set against the wall of the Coach and with open access from the road was the 'Gents': a corrugated iron 'privacy' wall was all that sheltered participants from inquisitive eyes and from the weather (there was no roof)."
The village of Llangynidr stands at the confluence of the River Usk and the Afon Crawnon (see map below) . In a later chapter we learn that after heavy rainfall the water would be inundated with brown mud which contained many treats for the fish who would gather there:-
"The locals also took advantage of the opportunity presented. Fishing the Usk proper was only allowed by permit and fee paid, but not so for the Crawnon. So, with thanks for rain and flood, locals...., would crowd the lowest point on the Crawnon, just inches from the Usk , and fish, and fish, for hours. There was jovial local rivalry, and some comments about tangled lines not meant for youthful ears. In all it was a kind of rebellion against the control of fishing waters by the bailiff and the wealthy."
Although short this book offers an invaluable insight into the lighter side of Welsh village life in the post war period. The author's son, Matthew G Rees is a brilliant short story writer ( see linked interviews and reviews below ) and it is evident from the quality of the writing that literary talent runs in the family.
We unreservedly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the area or Welsh rural life in general.
The Coach & Horses, Llangynidr
Skäl release their raucous debut single 'All of The People' on Friday the 30th of August on Snowdonia Records
By Ceri Shaw, 2024-07-27
Skäl release their raucous debut single 'All of The People' on Friday the 30th of August on Snowdonia Records.
‘All Of The People’ is an urgent, infectious and exciting debut track from Skäl , that bursts out of the speakers on a wave of tremulous guitar hooks, grooving bass lines and quickfire drums, while Ev Kirwan's vocals hook you in with a swaggering confidence as the song spirals into a frenetic guitar anthem and a rollicking crescendo with fantastic carousel of guitar solos. It reminds one of the resplendent early sound of The Stone Roses, they call it a "cross between The Verve and The Replacements ". It's a frenetic union of anthemic melodies, floor filling grooves and uproarious rock, with an all for one attitude of all the best fledgling gangs possess. Engineered, produced and mixed by Jono Tringham, was recorded at Allo Sounds in Studio Widnes.
Skäl are an alternative five piece rock band from Winsford in Cheshire and a brand new signing to Snowdonia Records, the North Wales based record label that's home to Holy Coves, Sister Envy, Box of Trash, Subterrania . They are made up of Ev Kirwan on vocals, Jack Enty on guitar, Darcy Smith on guitar and backing vocals, Adam Latham on bass and Tom Giltrow on drums and backing vocals.
They cite bands like Smashing Pumpkins, The Verve, The Las, The Replacements, Pixies, Echo and the Bunnymen, Wunderhorse, High Vis and The Real People as an influences yet they are filtered through young magpie eyes of emerging musicians from their hometown of Winsford, with a knack for melodic shots of rock songs, with a burning ambition to be heard by as many people as possible. With a string of releases and shows in the works their unmissable debut single 'All Of The People' is a statement of intent.
Ev Kirwan - Vocals
Jack Enty - Guitar
Darcy Smith - Guitar / Backing Vox
Adam Latham - Bass
Tom Giltrow - Drums / Backing Vox
During the Iron Age and Roman Era, the Ordovices tribe lived in what is now south Clwyd and south Gwynedd in North Wales. In addition to parts of Clwyd and Gwynedd, the Ordovices tribes’ territory extended into parts of Hereford, Worcester, and western Shropshire in what is now England. They were great warriors and nearly wiped out an entire Roman regiment. However, even these brave fighters wouldn’t escape Rome’s organized military force by the end.
The Iron Age for Wales spans from 800 BC to 48 AD. During this time, Celtic tribal societies occupied the island of Britain. No king or chieftain ever organized the tribes under a single ruler. Additionally, they didn’t always get along or work well together—facts that didn’t improve matters when Roman troops first stepped foot on British soil in 43 AD.
To understand the Ordovices and what life was like at the time, we need to take a step back and look at how different things were in the British Isles when the Romans invaded. The Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Brittany, and Wales as we know them today didn’t exist. If you asked a tribesman if he spoke Welsh, he wouldn’t have known what you meant. Members of the Ordovices tribe spoke Brythonic, a branch of the Insular Celtic language. It would one day give us Cymraeg, but not for another 500 years.
England, on the southeast side of the island, didn’t exist yet, either. The Anglo-Saxon tribes didn’t establish dominance over the land that became England until the 5th and 6th centuries after the Romans left. In fact, England wouldn’t officially become a kingdom until 927 AD. In other words, to conquer Britain, the Romans had to fight their way through screaming, ax-wielding Celts from one end of the island to the other. It wasn’t easy. The Ordovices were one of the tribes who made sure of that.
What is the Meaning of “Ordovices?”
The word “Ordovices” was the Latin name for the Celtic tribe. While we can be sure the Celts didn’t refer to themselves in Latin, various ideas exist about their real name and what it meant.
The Celtic word “ordo” shares a relationship with the word for “hammer” in modern Welsh, which is “gordd.” “Ordo-wik” in Celtic could mean “hammer fighters” as a tribal name (the literal translation is “hammer fight”).
There is also another meaning of “ordo,” which is a variation of the Common Celtic word “ard,” which means “high.” The Welsh word “gwych” comes from Brythonic and means “brave” or “energetic.” The words together could have formed a Brythonic name, “Ordogwych.” Its meaning could have been “brave highlanders” since the Ordovices lived in the mountains in North Wales. It’s hard to be sure since there were likely different dialects of Brythonic, just as there are different dialects of modern Welsh today.
Another idea comes from the name given to a small village in North Wales: “Dinorag.” The Welsh historian Sir John Edward Lloyd suggested that the proper name of the Ordovices has been retained as the word part “-orwig” or “-orweg” in the name of the hillfort Dinas Dinorwig for which the village is named. It means “Fort of the Ordovices.”
How Do You Pronounce “Ordovices?”
For the Ordovices pronunciation, in English, you say the word “Ordovices” like this: “OR-doe-visses,” with the stress on the first syllable.
The Ordovices Tribe: Life in Ancient Celtic Britain
The Ordovices lived in and around heavily defended hillforts. Hillforts were well-fortified settlements built on top of hills or other advantageous positions—often on hills or promontories, but not always. They enclosed the hillforts by a high wall. This wall was often stone on the bottom half, wooden on the top, and wide enough for a man to walk on. In addition to needing good visibility, guards needed to be able to move to and fro while keeping watch. While many Iron Age Celts, like the Ordovices tribe, built hillforts, peoples in the earlier Bronze Age sometimes created them as well. We also see hillfort ruins from the Middle Ages.
Within these well-guarded settlements, people lived inside stone or wooden roundhouses with straw or reed-thatched roofs, depending on the environment. They sealed the walls of their homes with waddle and daub, a mixture of mud and sticks. The tribal chieftain and his family lived in the largest house or building within the hillfort. Some tribe members also lived outside the hillfort near their fields or with their herds of animals. However, they were still relatively close by and could seek shelter within the gate if trouble arose. The Forts of Celtic Britain by Angus Konstam goes into Celtic settlements in detail.
The Celts were highly skilled metalworkers, and having iron meant better tools and weapons. Strong tools made farming more manageable, and iron weapons meant better defense. In Iron Age villages, it was common for people to work as carpenters, potters, and metalworkers. There was often a large building inside a hillfort (a “factory” of sorts) with one or more forges where craftspeople smelted iron and other metals to make necessary items.
The Ordovices and the Romans
Of the Celtic tribes that the Roman Empire had to deal with, the Ordovices put up the biggest fight besides the Silures. When Rome invaded, the Ordovices fought back with everything they had. They refused to submit tamely to Roman rule. When Caratacus (Caradog) came to their aid and led the fight, this Celtic tribe only became more unruly.
Caratacus was a chieftain who had come from the Catuvellauni tribe in what is now Herefordshire, north of the River Thames. He and his warriors had been fighting against Rome for many years. However, after defeat, he was exiled from his lands and went to help the Ordovices and the Silures. Unfortunately, after eight years of fighting the Romans, they defeated him in 50 AD. Although he escaped death that day, Queen Cartimandua betrayed him and gave his whereabouts to the Romans.
Governor Publius Ostorius Scapula captured Caratacus and sent him to Rome. He was allowed an audience with Emperor Claudius. The great tribal chieftain told the emperor that it was only right that he should fight for his people and lands. He stated his case, not begging, pleading, or bowing, even though he knew Scapula would likely execute him. The emperor was so impressed that he let Caratacus go. The warrior king was now exiled from Britain but was allowed to live out the rest of his life in Rome.
The Fight Continues
Not about to give up, the Ordovices continued fighting and resisting the Romans for a remarkable twenty-eight years. In 77 AD, just before the Roman Governor Agricola came to power, the Ordovices won a great victory. They nearly wiped out an entire Roman cavalry regiment stationed in their territory.
Agricola regarded this as a blatant act of war. In 78 AD, he assembled a force of veterans and additional troops and marched into the Ordovices’ land in North Wales. With Agricola’s more organized soldiers and warfare methods, he and his men nearly wiped out the entire tribe. The battle may have occurred at or near Dinas Dinorag, the location of the Ordovices hillfort.
Following this, Agricola and his troops are said to have gone to Ynys Môn (Isle of Anglesey). One tactic Agricola may have employed is taking Batavian soldiers as his auxiliary troops. These Germanic people who used to live in what is now the Netherlands had particular seafaring skills. They were accustomed to swimming alongside their horses in their armor. It is said that Agricola and his soldiers then invaded Ynys Môn and destroyed the Druid stronghold there.
Where Did the Ordovices Come From?
The Ordovices tribe’s history traces back to European Celts, who migrated to Britain from the continent as early as 1,000 BC and ended their migration as late as 100 BC. By the time the Roman Empire sent troops to the island, the Ordovices had well established themselves in North Wales.
What Celtic Tribes Were in Wales?
The Ordovices, Silures, Deceangli, Gangani, and Demetae were the five ancient Celtic tribes living in Cymru during the Iron Age. The Deceangli tribe is believed to be an offshoot of the Gangani tribe. The Deceangli and Gangani share a connection to the Irish Concani, a seafaring tribe that traveled to Wales by boat.
The Demetae tribe was peaceable and didn’t resist Roman rule like the Ordovices. They were given citizenship status and absorbed into Rome’s administration.
Ordovices Tribes Facts at a Glance
The Ordovices were a Celtic tribe who lived in ancient North Wales and parts of western England. Their lands were bordered by the Silures to the north and the Deceangli to the south.
How long did the Ordovices fight the Romans? They fought the might of Rome for approximately 30 years, from 48 to 78 AD. (Rome invaded Britain in 43 AD but didn’t reach Wales until 48 AD.) One of the main ways they could hold out so long was through guerrilla warfare.
After Agricola defeated the Ordovices once and for all, he incorporated the tribe into the Roman province of Brittania Major. Their lands became a tribal administrative district.
Some Celtic tribes, like the Dematae, were more peaceful and didn’t want to go toe to toe in battle with the highly organized Romans. The Orodovices, however, were one of the warlike tribes of Wales. They shared this with the Silures, the Gangani, and the Deceangli.
It took the Ordovices until the 3rd century AD to recover their numbers after their defeat at Dinas Dinorag by Agricola, if, in fact, that location is where the final battle occurred.
Cymru will never forget these brave Celts who had true fighting spirit.
