A Short History of Wales - Part 8
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Part 8

(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 Wess.e.x, 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 John.

1208-1212. War with John.

1212-1218. Alliance with barons of Magna Carta.

1218-1226. Struggle with the Marshalls of Pembroke.

1226-1240. Unity of Wales: alliance with Marshalls.

(d) 1240-1284. The Wars of Independence.

1241. David II. does homage to Henry III.

1244. Death of Griffith, in trying to escape from the Tower of London.

1245. Fierce fighting on the Conway.

1254. Edward (afterwards Edward I.) Earl of Chester.

1255. Llywelyn ap Griffith supreme in Gwynedd.

1263. Alliance with the English barons.

1267. Treaty of Montgomery; Llywelyn Prince of Wales.

1274. Llywelyn refuses to do homage to Edward I.

1277. Treaty of Rhuddlan; Llywelyn keeps Gwynedd only.

1278. Llywelyn marries Eleanor de Montfort.

1282. Last war. Battle of Moel y Don. Llywelyn's death.

1284. Statute of Wales.

3. 1284-1535. The rule of sheriff and march lord.

1287. Revolt of Ceredigion.

1294. Revolts In Gwynedd, Dyved, Morgannwg.

1315. Revolt of Llywelyn Bren.

1349. The Black Death in Wales.

1400. Rise of Owen Glendower.

1402. Battles of the Vyrnwy and Bryn Glas.

1404. Anti-Welsh legislation.

1455. The Wars of the Roses.

1461. Battle of Mortimer's Cross.

1468. Siege of Harlech.

1469. Battle of Edgecote.

1478. Court of Wales at Ludlow.

1485. Battle of Bosworth and accession of Henry VII.

1535. Act of Union. All Wales governed by king through sheriffs.

II. THE WALES OF THE PEOPLE.

In 1535 the march lordships were formed into shires, and a reign of law began.

1535-1603. Period of loyalty to Tudor sovereigns--for equality before law and political rights.

1536. The march lordships become shire ground. Wales given a representation in Parliament, and its own system of law courts--the Great Sessions of Wales.

1539. Welsh pa.s.sive resistance to the Reformation.

1567. Sir Thomas Middleton opens silver mines of Cardiganshire.

1588. Bishop Morgan's Welsh Bible.

1593. Execution of John Penry.

Results 1. Destruction of power of barons.

2. Anglicising of gentry.

3. A Welsh Bible.

1603-1689. Struggle between new and old ideas.

1618. Coal of South Wales attracts attention.

1640. First Civil War.

1644. Brereton and Myddleton win North Wales, Laugharne and Poyer win South Wales, for Parliament.

1648. Second Civil War: siege of Pembroke.

1650. Puritan "Act for the better Propagation of the Gospel in Wales."

1670. Vavasour Powell dies in prison.

1689. Abolition of the Court of Wales.

1689-1894. Rise of the Welsh democracy.

1719. Copper works at Swansea.

1730. Griffith Jones' circulating schools.

1750. Iron furnaces at Merthyr Tydvil.

1773. Death of Howel Harris.

1814. Death of Charles of Bala.