Principality of Wales Totally Explained

Everything about The Principality Of Wales totally explained

The Principality of Wales covered the lands ruled by the Prince of Wales directly, and was formally founded in 1216 at the Council of Aberdyfi, and later recognized by the 1218 Treaty of Worcester between Llywelyn the Great and the English Crown. The treaty gave substance to the political reality of 13th century Wales and England, both part of the Angevin Empire.
   Encompassing two-thirds of modern Wales, the principality retained a great degree of home rule, characterized by a separate legal jurisprudence based on the well established laws of Cyfraith Hywel, and by the increasingly sophisticated court of the Aberffraw dynasty.
   Though part of the Angevin empire, and thus owing fealty to the king of England, the principality’s existence was proof that all the elements necessary for the growth of Welsh statehood were in place, and was independent de facto, wrote historian Dr. John Davies. The principality was as much a part of the Angevin empire as was Scotland, wrote Davies. In The History of Gruffydd ap Cynan, written in the late 12th century, the family asserted its rights as the senior line of descendants from Rhodri the Great who had conquered most of Wales during his lifetime.. England's endorsement was part of a larger strategy of reducing the influence of Powys Wenwynwyn, as King John had given William de Breos license in 1200 to "seize as much as he could" from the native Welsh . However, de Breos was in disgrace by 1208, and Llywelyn seized both Powys Wenwynwyn and northern Ceredigon.
   In his expansion, the Prince was careful not to antagonise King John, his father-in-law . Llywelyn had several children by then with a mistress.
   Many of Llywelyn I's Welsh allies had abandoned him during England's invasion of Gwynedd, preferring an overlord far away rather than one nearby. These Welsh lords expected an unobtrusive English crown, however King John had castles built in Ystryth, and John's direct interference in Powys and the Perfeddwlad caused many of these Welsh lords to rethink their position. King John ordered the execution by hanging of his Welsh hostages, the sons of many of Llywelyn's supporters. By treaty the principality was obliged to pay the kingdom large annual sums. 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. Traditon originating from The History of Gruffydd ap Cynan attributes Gruffydd I as reforming the orders of bards and musicians.
   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

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 didn't 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

BBC Wales/History, The emergence of the principality of Wales http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/nation/pages/principality02.shtml extracted 26 March, 2008

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