Figure 1.--Carnarvon Castle is deeply embedded in Welsh and English history. The town of Carnarvon itself is located along the Menai Straits, near the Roman station of Segontium. It was on Watling Street connecting Chester and London. The Battle of Waatling decided the fate of Britain was fought near Carnarvon. A fortress appears t have been built here during the struggle between the Britons and Anglo-Saxons. Edward I conquered Wales and ordered a fortress built at Carnarvon (1283). It was one of a series of castles the Ebnglish built in Wales to seal their domination of the principality. Edward II was born at Carnarvon Castle (1284). He was the first Prince of Wales. The Castle changed hands several times durng the Civil War. General Mytton finally tool the Castle for Parliament (1646).

The earliest population of Wales as the rest of Britain appaer to have been of non-Caucasic ancesty. They were absorbed or displaced by the Celts,for centuries the dominant civilization in Europe north of Greece and Rome. The Gaelic Celts were probably the first to populate Britain. Wales and other areas of Britain were was also occupied by the Cymric and Brythonic Celts. By the time the Romans first appeared (55 BC), the Welsh tribes were a mixture of the primitive native Iberians and invading Celts and referred to themselves as Cymry. The Romans after a protracted struggle finally subjected the Welsh during the rule of Emperor Vespasian. During three centuries, the Romans largely Romanized the Celtic peeople, at least the urban population. ere the historical evidence is limited and there were likely considerable regional differences. After the withdrawl of the Romans, Britain was invaded by Anglo-Saxon tribes. Romanized Celts moved west fleeing the Anglo-Saxons. Some moved into Cornwall and even Britanity accross the Channel. Others moved north into Scotland. Still others sought refuge in the rugged Welsh mointains and gradually merged with resident Celts there. The rugged territory helped the Celts maintain their independence in several Welsh principalities, including Gwynedd, Gwent, Dyved, and Powys. It is at this time that the legends of King Arthur begin to appear and involve the resistance of the Romized Celts to the Germanic Anglo-Saxons. The question arizes as who were the true Britains. As the Saxons gradualy prevailed except in the extrenes western areas like Cornwall and Wales, they came to see themselves as the trur Britons and the Welsh as foreigners. The term Welsh is actually a name given the Welsh meaning essentially foreigners. Wales was conquuered by the English in the 12th and 13th centuries and Welsh political independence largely extinguished. The imposing Norman castles encircling Wales are a momument to the totality of the English onslaught. The conquest of Ireland and Scotland was much more recent and never as thorough as the subgegation of Wales. Interestingly, the Welsh appear to have held on to their language more successfully than the Irish and Scottish, suggesting a cultural resistance to English rule. Of course the fact that Wales was closer to England than Scotland and Ireland made the Welsh more vulnerable.

Pre-history

Humans reached the area of modern Wales in the Stone Age, but no one knows just when. The ealiest known human remains provide a possible estimare (about 230,000 BC). Becuse of the scarcity of such finds, it is very likely that humans arrived earlier. Just how much earlier is unknown. Neanderthals appear to have been the first humans lived in what is now Wales. How they crossed the Channel which appeared about 400,000 BC. Fully modern humand (Homo sapiens) arrived much later (about 27,000 BC). Evidence of continuous human habitation dates from the end of the last ice age (about 9,000 BC). Archeologists have found , and Wales has many remains from the Mesolithic and , Neolithic era. Their are also Bronze Age finds, although this throughout Britain was part of pre-history because there was no development of written language.

The Celts

Very little is known about the earliest population of Wales and Britain in general. The Celts during the Iron Age the moved into Britain and came to dominate the island south of the Firth of Forth in modern Scotland. It ws the Celts that invaded Britain because the Celts at the time controlled northern Europe beyond the classical centrs of Greece and Rome. This included modern France where Britain could be viewed and easily crossed from the Pas de Calais. Iron weapoons must have played a key role in the success of the Celts. Very little is known about this period and the Celtic conquest of Britain. This was not done by a centrally controled polity. It was accomplished by a number of Celtic tribes often at war with each other. The existing population appears as a result of DNA evidence to have been absorbed by the Celts. Thus the British populaion became culturally Celtic, but was an ethnic mixture. The Gaelic Celts were probably the first to populate Britain. Wales and other areas of Britain. The Cymric and Brythonic Celts also populated areas of Britain. By the time the Romans first appeared (55 BC), the Welsh tribes were a mixture of the primitive native Iberians and invading Celts and referred to themselves as Cymry.

Romans

The Romans after a protracted struggle finally subjected the Welsh during the rule of Emperor Vespasian. During three centuries, the Romans to a degree Romanized Celtic Brtain, at least the urban population. The condition of the Celtic tribes in rural areas is less well undersood. The historical evidence is limited and there were likely considerable regional differences.

Anglo-Saxons

After the withdrawl of the Roman Legions, Britain was invaded by Anglo-Saxon tribes. Romanized Celts moved west fleeing the Anglo-Saxons. Some moved into Cornwall and even Britanity accross the Channel. Others moved north into Scotland. Still others sought refuge in the rugged Welsh mointains and gradually merged with resident Celts there. The rugged territory helped the Celts maintain their independence in several Welsh principalities, including Gwynedd, Gwent, Dyved, and Powys. It is at this time that the legends of King Arthur begin to appear and involve the resistance of the Romized Celts to the Germanic Anglo-Saxons. The question arizes as who were the true Britains. As the Saxons gradualy prevailed except in the extrenes western areas like Cornwall and Wales, they came to see themselves as the trur Britons and the Welsh as foreigners. The term Welsh is actually a name given the Welsh meaning essentially foreigners.

Normans

It is the Normans that are generally credited with conquering Wales. In fact the English conquest began with King Harold, son of Godwin. Harold's army overran Wales, defeating Llewellyn ap Griffith, king of Gwynedd (1062-64). Harold of course was defeated and killed at Hastings by William the Conquerer (1066). After securing his authority over the Saxons, William looked west at Wales. There was no single Welsh nation, but a number of Welsh principalities. The Welsh were largely the descebndents of the Romanized Celtic people that have been driven west by the Anglo Saxon invaders following the Roman withdrawl from Britain. William then forced the Welsh princes to recognize his sovereignity. This was, however, a far cry from obtaining control over Wales. Welsh raiding parties throughout the 11th century raided English border communities. The Norman English kings in response created feudal lordships in the border area--referred to as the lords of the marchers. The marchers were difficult for the English kings to control, but did hold the Welsh in check. Conflict continued, however, between the English monarchy and its Welsh subjects. The Welsh defeated Henry I in 1136, but his son Henry II resestablish homage to the English crown. Prince Llewellyn of North Wales aupported Simon de Montfort in his effoirt to seize the English crown from Henry III, but when this failed had to submit to Henry. Prince Llewellyn refused after Henry's death to pay homage to the English crown and the new king Edward I invaded Wales. He forced Prince Llewellynn at Rhuddian to submit to humiliating terms, including the surrender of eastern lands and an annual acknowledgment of fealty.

English Conquest

The earliest population of Wales as the rest of Britain appaer to have been of non-Caucasic ancesty. They were absorbed or displaced by the Celts,for centuries the dominant civilization in Europe north of Greece and Rome. The Gaelic Celts were probably the first to populate Britain. Wales and other areas of Britain were was also occupied by the Cymric and Brythonic Celts. By the time the Romans first appeared (55 BC), the Welsh tribes were a mixture of the primitive native Iberians and invading Celts and referred to themselves as Cymry. The Romans after a protracted struggle finally subjected the Welsh during the rule of Emperor Vespasian. During three centuries, the Romans largely Romanized the Celtic period of Britain. Here the historical evidence is limited and there were likely considerable regional differences. After the withdrawl of the Romans, Britain was invaded by Anglo-Saxon tribes. Romanized Celts moved west fleeing the Anglo-Saxons. Some moved into Cornwall and even Britanity accross the Channel. Others moved north into Scotland. Still others sought refuge in the rugged Welsh mointains and gradually merged with resident Celts there. The rugged territory helped the Celts maintain their independence in several Welsh principalities, including Gwynedd, Gwent, Dyved, and Powys. It is at this time that the legends of King Arthur begin to appear and involve the resistance of the Romized Celts to the Germanic Anglo-Saxons. The question arizes as who were the true Britains. As the Saxons gradualy prevailed except in the extrenes western areas like Cornwall and Wales, they came to see themselves as the trur Britons and the Welsh as foreigners. The term Welsh is actually a name given the Welsh meaning essentially foreigners. Wales was conquuered by the English in the 12th and 13th centuries and Welsh political independence largely extinguished. The imposing Norman castles encircling Wales are a momument to the totality of the English onslaught. The conquest of Ireland and Scotland was much more recent and never as thorough as the subgegation of Wales. Interestingly, the Welsh appear to have held on to their language more successfully than the Irish and Scottish, suggesting a cultural resistance to English rule. Of course the fact that Wales was closer to England than Scotland and Ireland made the Welsh more vulnerable.

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Created: 11:49 PM 2/1/2008
Last updated: 2:15 PM 11/11/2014