soc.culture.welsh FAQ

4. History

4.1 The Internet

4.1.1 Is there any knowledge of Welsh history on the net?

Jeff Thomas' "Castles" pages contain much history, including an illustrated "Medieval Wales Timeline".

4.1.2 Where can information about the Celts be found?

There is a Usenet group, soc.culture.celtic. It has its own FAQ.

Much information is available at the following URLs:

Gaelic Index at the University of Stirling.

Conomara

The Celts

Futon site

Curia - Database of literary and historical materials in various languages of early, medieval and modern Ireland.

Page on Celtic culture in Finnish/English/Celtic languages

Cornish language web pages

Information regarding Celtic archeology, history, religion, and culture. (The Celtic Ring appears to be strongly associated with witchcraft.)

4.2 Dates

4.2.1 What are the significant dates in Welsh history?

Sources: Walesnet history page; "Wyt Ti'n Cofio?" gan/by Gwilym Tudur; "Cydymaith i Lenyddiaeth Cymru"/"Oxford Companion to the Literature of Wales", golygydd/editor Meic Stephens. See also Jeff Thomas' "Castles" pages.

500-100 B.C.
The Celts settle in Wales.
43 A.D.
Troops of Roman Emperor Claudius invade Britain. It takes 35 years to fully conquer Wales. (78 A.D.)
350
Irish raiders make permanent settlements in South West Wales.
383
The Roman legions leave Britain with Macsen Wledig (Magnus Maximus) who seeks to become Emperor.
c.400
Cunedda moves from Manaw Gododdin to Gwynedd to eject the Irish.
410
Four hundred years of occupation end for Britain as the Romans leave. Saxon invaders seize the opportunity and start invading.
440
The reign of Gwrtheyrn (Vortigern) and the arrival of the Jutes Hengist and Horsa and their mercenary band.
c.519
The battle of Mount Badon, a British victory traditionally associated with Arthur.
c.539
The battle of Camlan, in which Arthur is killed.
c.550
Old Welsh emerges from the British language.
577
The battle of Dyrham (Deorham), after which the Welsh lose contact with the Britons of Devon and Cornwall.
c.589
The death of Dewi Sant.
c.595
The battle of Catraeth, commemorated by Aneirin in 'Y Gododdin'
615
The battle of Chester and the massacre of the monks of Bangor Iscoed, after which the Welsh begin to lose contact with the Britons of 'the Old North'.
632
Brwydr Meigen - Cadwallon of Gwynedd, in alliance with Penda of Mercia, defeats Edwin of Northumbria at the battle of Meigen (Heathfield).
c.635
The word "Cymry" is used to denote the Welsh.
c.638
The territory of the Gododdin is overrun by the Angles.
c.642
The Mercians attack the kingdom of Powys.
664
The death of Cadwaladr, the last Welsh 'King of Britain'.
784
Adeiladu Clawdd Offa - Offa of Mercia, a powerful Saxon king, builds Offa's Dyke, marking Wales' eastern boundary. The Dyke is not a fortified one, but a permanent boundary line.
844-77
Reign of Rhodri Mawr.
c.850
Viking attacks on Wales begin.
878
Lladd Rhodri mawr - The most notable Welsh figure before the arrival of the Normans is slain. Rhodri Mawr was the first Welsh ruler to unite the Welsh tribes and kingdoms under one rule. During his reign, the Vikings increase their raids.
c.890
Welsh rulers acknowledge the overlordship of Alfred of Wessex.
c.900-950
The reign of Hywel Dda, King of Wales, who reorganized the laws of Wales..
927
Welsh kings formally submit to the English king.
1039-63
Gruffydd ap Llywelyn unites Wales.
1063
The English, under future king Earl Harold, drive their army into Wales. Gruffydd ap Llywelyn is killed by his own men and relatives and England's ascendancy is reaffirmed.
1067
The Normans begin to penetrate Wales and the lordships of the March are created.
1120
Dewi sant is canonized by Rome as Saint David.
1137-70
Reign of Owain Gwynedd.
1141
Henry the First dies and Wales experiences a resurgence under the two Llywelyns of Gwynedd. Wales moves toward unity as their territory is reclaimed and the culture flourishes.
1176
First eisteddfod in Cardigan.
1188
Gerald de Barri (Giraldus Cambrensis) accompanies Archbishop Baldwin on his journey through Wales.
1215
The Magna Carta signed. Restores Welsh lands taken unjustly, and some Welsh laws.
1267
Llywelyn II with the Treaty of Montgomery is recognised as Prince of Wales, with overlordship of all other Welsh Princes and Barons.
1282
Llywelyn II (ein Llyw Olaf) is killed in battle near Cilmeri, and Wales resurgence comes to an end. Wales falls beneath Edward the First's advances. Wales becomes an English principality under the Statute of Rhuddlan. In the future, the eldest son of the English king is designated Prince of Wales. The building of castles in Wales is started by Edward I.
1301
At Caernarfon Castle Edward I's son is invested as the Prince of Wales.
1349
Y Pla. - The Plague, or Black Death, sweeps through Wales, leaving up to 40 per cent of the population dead.
1400
Owain Glyndw^r, with the whole of Wales behind him, leads a revolt against England.
1402
The English Parliament passes Penal Laws against the Welsh.
1404-06
Owain Glyndw^r holds Parliaments at Machynlleth and Pennal, and offers his allegiance to the Pope of Avignon, proposing an arch-bishopric and two universities for Wales.
1415
Owain Glyndw^r's rebellion ends as he disappears and Henry IV and his son suppress it. Defeat means second class citizenship for the Welsh and humiliation.
1451
An eisteddfod is held at Carmarthen Castle under the patronage of Gruffudd ap Nicolas.
1485
Henry Tudor lands near Milford Haven and marches through Wales to defeat Richard IlI at Bosworth.
1523
Eisteddfod Caerwys.
1536-42
Henry VIII enacts the first Act of Union, joining Wales (over 95% monoglot Welsh speakers) with England for the reason '. . . that the people of the same dominion have and do daily use a speech nothing like the consonant to the natural mother tongue used within this Realm." Its purpose was to "utterly to extirp all and singular the sinister usages and customs differing from the same. . . to an amiable concord and unity". It said 'From henceforth no person or persons that use the Welsh speech or language shall have or enjoy any manor office or fees. . . unless he or they use and exercise the speech or language of English.'
1546-7
The first Welsh book published.
1562-63
Laws passed to allow translation of Common Prayer and Bible into Welsh.
1567
New Testament and Common Prayer Book in Welsh.
1571
The foundation of Jesus College, Oxford.
1584
One of the first books about Welsh history.
1585-87
Part I of "Y Drych Cristianogawl" was the first book to be printed in Wales.
1588
Y Beibl yn Gymraeg, Wiliam Morgan - The Bible is published in Welsh. One of the most important events to continue the language.
1621
The first Welsh grammar book.
1632
The publication of John Davies's Welsh-Latin dictionary.
1642
Civil War breaks out in England which is welcomed in Wales.
1660
Charles II is restored and Wales rejoices.
1660-89
The Council of Wales
1718
Books printed in Welsh flourish as printing presses are introduced in Wales.
1731
Griffith Jones' Welsh schools started. Continued by S.P.C.K. (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge)
1735
The Methodist Revival begins, with the conversion of Howel Harris.
1751
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, London, sponsor Welsh culture. The work is continued by the Gwyneddigion, 1779.
1770
The first Bible to be printed in Wales.
1773
In a legal action, Welsh jurors elected to churches 'Wales is a conquered country... and it is the duty of the bishops to endeavour to promote the English, in order to introduce the language... It has always been the policy of the legislature to introduce the English language into Wales.'
1782
North-West Wales slate industry launched by Lord Penrhyn.
1789
Thomas Charles' Welsh Sunday Schools established at Bala.
1792
Iolo Morgannwg holds the first session of Gorsedd beirdd Ynys Prydain in London.
1793
The first Welsh journal to become established, "Trysorfa Gwybodaeth" (Treasury of Knowledge) by Morgan John Rhys.
1795
South Wales becomes the Iron Industries stronghold.
1797
A French revolutionary fleet lands a force at Fishguard.
1801
Welsh speakers 90%, mostly monoglot. Population 587,000.
1811
Wales becomes a "non-conformist nation" as the Methodists break with the Church of England.
1814
First Welsh monthly journal appears, "Seren Gomer".
1815
European peace after the Napoleonic Wars brings Welsh farming to a point of crisis. Soaring population adds to the discontent.
1831
Terfysgoedd Merthyr - The Merthyr uprising. Debtors Court is ransacked by debt stricken workers. The town is raided of sequestered goods and troops are brought in, leaving two dozen towns people dead. For the next ten years Welsh miners stage "Scotch Cattle" raids taking action against blacklegs.
1837
Welsh language weddings, and registration of births and deaths, allowed.
1838
Bishops allowed to refuse a non-Welsh speaker for a Welsh parish.
1838-49
The publication of Lady Charlotte Guest's translation "The Mabinogion".
1839-44
High tolls on Turnpike roads lead to the first of the Rebecca Riots. Tollgates are smashed in the rural areas.
1839
Chartists' revolt.
1843
In his famous "Letter to the Welsh People", Hugh Owen calls for all Welsh to take action to further the cause of education. He see its as an essential pre-requisite to Welsh prosperity.
1846-7
The Treason of the Blue Books. Verdict: The Welsh language and nonconformity are a hindrance to education and morals in Wales.
1850's
South Wales coal fields become one of the most important in the world. Cardiff's port is busy.
1854
The first Welsh language encyclopedia.
1855
Cwm Rhondda's first coal pit is sunk.
1855
Mathew Arnold, arolygwr ysgolion (inspector of schools): 'Sooner or later the difference of language between Wales and England will probably be effaced ... an event which is socially and politically so desirable."
1856
Cyfansoddi/composition of "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau" gan Evan a James James
1858
First annual National Eisteddfod.
1865
Welsh colony in Patagonia established.
1868
Liberal political supremacy is established over the Tories and landowners. The Liberals hold 21 Welsh seats.
1870
Education act which brought compulsory education through the medium of English. The Welsh Not arrives in schools.
1872
The University College of Wales opens at Aberystwyth. Soon colleges are founded at Bangor, Cardiff, and Swansea.
1881
"Dry Sunday" is adopted in Wales. Pubs stay shut. Establishment of the Welsh Rugby Union.
1885
The first Welsh language Society set up, against compulsory education through the medium of English. As a result, Welsh was established as a school subject and a medium for teacher training in 1888.
1886
"Cymru Fydd" established as a movement for self-government. Dafydd ap Gwilym society established to promote the language and literature of Wales.
1891
Welsh speakers: 54.4% (898,914). Start of "Cymru", a magazine for youth. O.M. Edwards
1891
Rhyfel y Degwm - The "Tithe War" leads to the Tithe Act which transfers payments of tithes to the Anglican Church from resentful non-conformist tenants to the landlords.
1900
(First Labour Member of parliament). Keir Hardie, Merthyr Tudful.
1901
Welsh speakers: 49.9% (929,824; monoglot 15.1%).
1904
Evan Roberts starts a religious revival.
1907
National Library, National Museum and the Welsh department of the Education Board opened.
1908
Lloyd George is made Chancellor of the Exchequer.
1911
Welsh speakers 43.5% (977,366; monoglot 8.5%)
1913
John Morris-Jones' Welsh Grammar published.
1914-18
Many arrested for refusing to register for war, on the basis of pacifism or nationalism.
1920
Disestablishment of the Church in Wales
1921
Welsh speakers: 37.2% (929,183; monoglot 6.3%)
1922
Welsh League of Youth established. Founded by Ifan ab Owen Edwards.
1925
The National party of Wales formed, Pwllheli.
1926
General Strike.
Journal "Y Ddraig Goch" launched by W. Ambrose Bebb.
1927
Government report published, urging education through the medium of Welsh.
1928
BBC considers broadcasting one programme in Welsh per quarter.
1931
Welsh speakers: 36.8% (909,261; monoglot 4%). The census shows a reduction in the population from 1921.
1932
"Y Cymro", Welsh newspaper launched. Plaid Cymru protest on St. David's Day by hoisting the Red Dragon flag from the Eagle Tower (the highest) at Caernarfon castle.
1936-7
Site of bombing school at Penyberth near Pwllheli, Lly^n, set on fire. Three Plaid Cymru members, Saunders Lewis (a university lecturer/writer/dramatist/poet), Lewis Valentine (a minister of religion/writer), and D.J. Williams (schoolmaster/writer) imprisoned for nine months for arson.
1937
BBC Welsh region established in Cardiff. Also Welsh Book Club at Aberystwyth by Prosser Rhys.
1939
First Welsh primary school opened, Aberystwyth, by Urdd Gobaith Cymru.
1939-45
Pacifists and nationalists arrested for refusing to fight.
1941
Committee for the Protection of Wales' Culture established. This became Undeb Cymru Fydd (The Union of the Wales to be)
1942
Welsh Courts Act gives the right to testify in Welsh, through an interpreter, to those disadvantaged in English.
1946
Welsh Folk Museum, St. Fagan's opened. Founder and first curator Dr. Iorwerth C. Peate.
1947
Coal industry nationalized
1948
National Eisteddfod introduces a Welsh-only rule.
1950
First part (A-Ff) of University of Wales Dictionary published. The word "Prain" had been reached by 1995.
1951
Welsh speakers: 28.6% (714,686; monoglot 1.7%).
1952
First bomb against a water reservoir - Claerwen dam.
1955
Cardiff officially declared capital of Wales.
1957
Parliamentary acceptance of Liverpool corporation's measure to drown Tryweryn Valley and the village of Capel Celyn. Not a single Welsh Member was in favour. Plaid Cymru and Meirionnydd Council intend to defend Capel Celyn. First Welsh language secondary school opened, Glan Clwyd, Rhyl.
1958
The Welsh Books Council launched. (officially established 1961). Independent television company TWW (Television Wales and West) set up. Lecturer and Welsh learner, E.G. (Tedi) Millward calls for a movement to save the language.
1959
The Welsh Academy established.
1961
Welsh speakers: 26% (656,002; monoglot 1%). The population is still lower than in 1921. Plaid Cymru split over direct action.
1962
Welsh radio lecture by Saunders Lewis, ("The fate of the language") leads to the establishment of (The Welsh Language Society).
1962-
Listing all the campaigns and activities of the Welsh Language Society would fill another FAQ. For many years, for example, green paint was daubed over English-only placenames on road signs, and some such signs were pulled down. Many members were imprisoned for these, and other, activities, all of them non-violent towards all but property. Today much more of the Welsh language is visible throughout Wales than was the case at the beginning of the sixties. Much debate still takes place over the extent to which the Society influenced this improvement.
For more information, I suggest the book by Gwilym Tudur, "Wyt ti'n Cofio?" (Y Lolfa 0 86243 183 2).
1963
A bomb at Tryweryn. Beeching report leads to the closing of many railways in Wales.
1964
The Welsh Office established, and the appointment of James Griffiths as the first Secretary of State for Wales,
1966
Gwynfor Evans elected first Plaid Cymru Member of Parliament at a by-election in Carmarthenshire. Coal tip slides down the valley on the village of Aberfan, killing 116 children and 28 adults.
1967
Welsh Language Act gives (supposedly) a genuine status to the Welsh language, the right to testify in Welsh in court, and the translation of official forms into Welsh.
1969
Investiture of the Prince of Wales, Caernarfon.
1971
Welsh Nursery School Movement founded.
1974
Reorganizaion of local government reduces the number of Welsh counties to 8.
1979
In a referendum on devolution for Wales, the government's proposals are defeated.
1980
Gwynfor Evans, Plaid Cymru president, threatens a hunger strike to the death unless the government keeps its promise regarding the creation of a Welsh television channel.
1981
Welsh speakers 18.3% (503,549; monoglot: 0%).
1982
Opening of S4C, the fourth television channel, with some hours' broadcasting in Welsh each day.
1984-5
Miners' strike.
1979-95
Coal mines are closed by the government continually until almost none of the coal industry remains. Unemployment reaches 50% in parts of the valleys.
1996
Reorganization of local government. Number of "counties" up to 22.
1990au
The Internet begins to make it easier for Welsh people and others worldwide to communicate in Welsh, despite the efforts of the occasional Internet services provider to prevent the practice.

4.3 Books

4.3.1 Historical Surveys

Historical Surveys

4.3.2 Early history

4.3.3 The modern period

4.3.4 Recent politics (mainly with relation to the Welsh Language)

4.3.5 Atlases

4.3.6 The following details of books were provided by Leslie Sitek as a bibliography in an article he wrote in answer to a question about Celtic beasts:

4.3.7 Books about Owain Glyndw^r

suggestions from Steve Evans, Jeff, Paul Graves, Leslie Sitek:

There is a book written by Ian Skidmore entitled "Owain Glyndwr Prince of Wales" which you may find interesting. (ISBN 0 7154 0667 1) - Printed by Dinefwr Press, Llandybie.

Whilst the majority of the book is more historical than legend, reference is made to the story of Glyndwr's whereabouts after disappearing from the siege of Harlech castle.

Owen Glendower (Owain Glyndw+r), by Sir J.E. Lloyd, published by Llanerch; (ISBN 0947992 89 8)

Henry IV., Part I (opening scene of the first act) (About the misconducting of Welshwomen at the battle of Brynglas between Owain Glyndw+r and Mortimer. Then Henry issued an express law forbidding any English man to marry a Welsh woman). Also in other Acts.

Welsh Captain in King Richard II (Welsh Captain=Owain Glyndw^r?)

Iolo Goch was Owain's bard; he wrote a poem about Owain Glyndw^r.

"National Redeemer - Owain Glyndwr in the Welsh tradition" by Elissa Henken (University of Wales Press ISBN 0-7083-1290-X).

"Son of Prophecy: Oral Traditions about Owain Glyndwr," I think. I don't remember the name of the author, but she comes from the University of Georgia.

A translation of Llys Owain Glyndw^r may be had in Dafydd Johnston's Iolo Goch: Poems (Gomer 1993). In R.R. Davies's The Revolt of Owain Glyn Dw^r (Oxford 1995) he makes reference to descriptions of Owain's houses (p. 356 last line).

4.4 Dewi Sant

4.4.1 Pa wybodaeth sydd am fywyd Dewi Sant?
What is known about the life of Dewi Sant (Saint David)?

It is said that Dewi was the son of Non (said by some to be King Arthur's sister) and Sant, the son of Ceredig, King of Ceredigion.

He was educated at Hen Fynyw, near Aberaeron, and then perhaps by Paulinus at Llanddeusant.

He went on a pilgrimage through parts of South Wales and Western England, founding, some say, such religious centres as Glastonbury and Croyland.

Having defeated the Irish chieftain, Boia, he went to live at Glyn Rhosyn (Vallis Rosina), St. David's.

He was appointed archbishop of Jerusalem while there on a pilgrimage with future saints Teilo and Padarn.

He is reputed to have performed some miracles, but his real claim to fame is probably his preaching at the synod in Llanddewi Brefi. The story is told of the earth raising itself so that people could see him. He was appointed archbishop of Wales.

I have seen Dewi's death date given as 589 (Oxford Companion to the Literature of Wales) and 601 (Chambers Biographical Dictionary). The former gives Patrick's dates as c. 385-c. 460, and the latter as c.385-c. 461. But remember that the ages were dark then.

The above is very thin, but little is known about Dewi.

A small bibliography, shown under the entry "Dewi Sant" in The Oxford Companion to the Literature of Wales, appears below.

The life of Dewi was edited by D. Simon Evans, "Buchedd Dewi" (1959), and studies of the saint's life have been published by E.G. Bowen (1982, 1983): see also the chapter entitled "The Tradition of St. David in Wales" by Glanmor Williams in "Religion, Language and Nationality in Wales" (1979). Sorry, no publishers mentioned.

DPJ

4.5 Geographical and Political History

4.5.1 What sorts of geographical and political regions has Wales been divided into?

answer by Leslie Sitek.

In The first branch of The Mabinogion ("Y Mabinogi") 'Pwyll Prince of Dyfed' ("Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed"): "Roedd Pwyll, Pendefig Dyfed, yn arglwydd ar saith cantref Dyfed." ("Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, was lord of the seven regions of Dyfed")

I consulted four translations into English: 2 gave just 'cantref' and 2 gave 'region' as a translation (?). In one of the translations (Penguin Classics) a map is added: "Wales of the Mabinogion" On this map Wales is divided into 7 counties:

In a book of Puffin Classics the Wales of the Mabinogion is divided into four parts:

About the translations: hundred,region= cantref, plural: cantrefi or cantrefydd hundred=cant, plural cannoedd (circle, rim, ring=cant, plural cantau)

I too go for the cant-tref (hundred towns) ----> cantref (cant is a number, then the plural form of tref (trefi or trefydd) is not used.) "hundred" stands then for "many": this is a concept of a region where "many" ("hundred") towns form a unit.

In Cornish: cans=hundred; tref=town; county=conteth; region=ranvro In Breton: kant=hundred; circle; town=ke^r; region=kontre, rannvro

4.6 Myrddin

4.6.1 I live in Caerfyrddin. What is known about Myrddin?

suggestion from Sioned-Mair Richards

Try reading The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart. Probably one of the more interesting of the novels written about him. Or Merlin by Stephen Lawhead.

answer by Leslie Sitek

"Nennius' Historia Brittonum," mentions, among others, two poets named Taliesin and Aneirin, who form the bulwark of the Cynfeirdd, or "Early Poets." "The Book of Taliesin" likely dates to about 1275. It's really a collection of poems, by no means all dating to the sixth century, which covers a range of prophetic, historical, mythological and religious material. And while Taliesin appears to have been a genuine historical figure, between his death and the transcription of the manuscripts he was also elevated to folk-hero status, and has on several occasions become confused with Myrddin, the Welsh character upon whom Geoffrey of Monmouth based his Merlinus.

As far as Merlin (Myrddin) is concerned Geoffrey was the first to relate him to Arthur, and they are independent legendary figures in the earlier literature. Two poems purporting to be written by Myrddin survive in the Black Book of Carmarthen, both were from internal evidence of language and reference composed at about the end of the 6th Century AD.

In Cornwall, Wales and Brittany there are may stories about Merlin and sites etc. named after him (Wales: Merlin's Hill, Cornwall: Merlin's Cave and Brittany Merlin's Tomb).

4.7 Traditions.

4.7.1 Are there any easter observance traditions that are distinctly Welsh?

Here is an extract from "Tradition & Folk Life - A Welsh View" by Iorwerth C. Peate (Faber and Faber 1972. ISBN 0 571 09804 5).

In several parts of Wales, children during the week before Easter went around their parish begging eggs. Most of them would collect as many as two hundred. The china on the dressers of their homes would then be cleared and replaced by the eggs, the eldest child's collection being placed on the top shelf. On their collecting expeditions, they used wooden clappers which were rattled to the accompaniment of a sung phrase or couplet, e.g.

Clap, clap, os gwewch chi'n dda ga' i w^y?
[Clap, clap, please may I have an egg?]

Clap, clap, gofyn w^y,
Hogyn bychan ar y plwy.
[Clap, clap, asking for an egg,
a little boy on the parish*]

The custom persisted in Anglesey at the turn of this century; and indeed still persists although the wooden clappers have now (1972) become very infrequent. At one period the custom was fairly widespread in north Wales.

* "On the parish" means "depending on aid from the parish" - DPJ

Cock-fighting was common on Easter Monday.

In parts of Gwynedd in North West Wales, people were arrested in their homes early in the morning and carted to the local stocks. This was done in fun, and called "stocsio."

In some parts of Wales people rose early on Easter Day and climbed a hill to see the sun dancing in celebration of the resurrection. Sometimes a bowl of water would be taken so that the sun's reflection would indeed be seen to dance in its ripples. In Anglesey, the sun would sometimes be viewed through wisps of straw.

DPJ

4.7.2 Where does "Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief" originate?

"The Oxford Companion to the Literature of Wales" states:

Taffy ... is derived from the common Welsh name Dafydd ...

Taffy was a Welshman,
Taffy was a thief,
Taffy came to my house
and stole a leg of beef.

This was published in "Nancy Cook's Pretty Song Book" around 1780. It may not have been, in its original form, an allusion to the cattle-raiding Welsh, as is sometimes claimed, but a corruption of an anti-clerical squib brought to west Wales by Flemish settlers in the twelfth century.

DPJ

4.8 Is Monmouthshire in Wales?

answer from Barry Taylor

Monmouthshire was governed as an English county, but it never ceased to be Welsh. The language of the county, until the latter part of the 19th century, was Welsh. Also, the "Act of Union" (Laws in Wales Act 1535) mentions Monmouthshire as a Welsh region:

answer from Lyn David Thomas:

The confusion arose because Monmouthshire was attached to the Oxford judicial circuit, while the rest of Wales was carved into four circuits of three counties each under the courts of Great Sessions (the unique Welsh judicial system which survived until 1830).

Like most of the other counties of Wales it was granted one county member and one borough member of parliament (unlike England which had two representatives per county and two per borough). The exceptions were Meirionnydd, which was too poor to have a borough MP and Pembrokeshire which had two boroughs that returned MPs (Pembroke and Haverfordwest - one each).

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