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Wales History
Birth of a Nation
When Germanic peoples invaded the island from North Sea, Wales was politicaly separated from Great-Britain. Offa, king of Mercia (died in 796), delineated a border between the English and the Welsh puting up "Offa's Dike".
The Brittons linving in the future Wales gave the name Cymru, meaning "companions" or "fellow-countrymen". As for the Saxon invaders, Brittons in that area were only Wealhas (foreigners), the word origin of Wales.
During the following centuries, Wales was divided into some realms, constantly at war between each other. During the 9th century Rhodri Mawr (died in about 878) unified the country and defended it against the Vikings. from 1066, Normans made incursions in almost all the Southern part of Wales. on an individual basis, Norman Lords conquered one by one the tiny states and seized the almost regalian power of the Welsh princes who were thrown out. Thus the Wales marches' seigneuries were founded. In those seigneuries plains, the Normans introduced a manor system. In the other hand, in North Wales, a strong line of princes' descent resisted Anglo-Norman kings'thrust.
In 1267, Llywelyn took the title of the Prince of Wales acknowledged by the English Crown. However, his death during the war against Edward I of England, in 1282, put an end to his dynasty and concluded the conquest of Wales. Organized according the Rhuddlan's Statute (1284), Llywelyn's territory became a separate principality given to the English King's son in his capacity as Prince of Wales.
Again sporadic revolts broke out against English domination, the most well-known of which happened during the early 15th century when Owain Glyndwr (1354?-1416) proclaimed himself Prince of Wales.
Henry Tudor, of Welsh descent, came to the throne of england as Henry VII.
Annexation by england
The Welsh language goes underground
| Little by little, the leading classes language englicised and a gap widened between them and the lower classes. It beacame more obvious after the 18th century religious revival because the gentry remained in the Church of England while the Welh people became widely non-conformist. The Welsh language would survive among the people thank to the circulation of the pocket-size bible translated into Welsh by William Morgan in 1588. |
With the Act of Union od england and Wales (1536), signed by Henry VIII, the principality as well as the Marches became integrated into England kingdom. Wales was divided into 13 counties (shires), to which a parliamentary representation was granted. the Welsh got full equality with the English in law although official affairs were led in English. During the next three centuries (until the Local Government Act in 1888), Wales was governed by her own gentry.
From 1737, circulating schools (founded by Griffith Jones) ensure 30% of the population to be educated in Welsh. In 1785, the first Sunday Schools (Ysgolion Sul) are founded by Thomas Charles. 1792 is the year when Iolo Morganwg revives the bard tradition (Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain).
Renewed appropriation of one's identity
From tolerance to acknowledgement
1854 is a key date in the Welsh intellectual revival, which marks the foundation of the University of Wales in Aberystwyth, followed in 1893 by the acknowledgement, by royal charter, of its colleges.
1925 sees the foundation of the Welsh national party (Plaid Cymru),which imposes to the great British parties some realization of the Welsh issues specificity. In 1974, this party will send three MPs to Westminster.
The second half of the 20th century marks the recognition by the central government in London of the Welsh issue. Cardiff becomes the capital city in 1955.
In 1975, the referendum on devolution of power to Wales is a failure. the television channel S4C (Sianel 4 Cymru) is launched to broadcast in Welsh. the census shows that there are 503,543 Welsh speakers out of 2,749,000 inhabitants.
In 1987 Plaid Cymru wins 7% of the votes and 3 constituencies at the general elections.
Education Reform Act is passed in 1988: the Welsh language has to be taught in every school. Completing the Welsh language Act of 1967, the Welsh Language Act of 1993 gives equality to both English and Welsh in public places in Wales. It is a key step in the modern history of this language. It compels the public sector to use the two languages in equality when it deals with Wales inhabitants.
1997 : The YES wins at the referendum about the devolution of some powers to a Welsh Assembly.
1999 : Assembly members (AM) election.
