History of Wales: From Norman Marcher Lords to Devolution

Norman Marcher Lords

By 1200, only the tribes in the North remained unconquered. The Marcher Lords enjoyed as much power as the Welsh kings had: they were largely autonomous. They could build castles without the king’s permission, and royal jurisdiction was limited to high treason.

• Three kings/princes remained in Welsh Wales until the 13th century.
• Introduction of parish and diocese organization: bishops (some of whom swore fealty to Canterbury, while others refused).
• 1275: Prince Llywelyn’s hegemony and title in Wales were acknowledged by treaty in 1267.
• Defeated by Edward I in 1284.
• Statute of Wales (1284): County organization.
• Edward II: The first English Prince of Wales (1301).
• Note that three Welsh leaders claimed the same title in the medieval period.
• Owain Glyndŵr’s rebellion (1400–1412): The stage was set for administrative Anglicization.

Wales After the Act of Union

• 1536 Act of Union under Henry VIII: Fair representation in Parliament (by people who knew English), English law (in English-language courts), and uniform administration of justice. Population: about 250,000.
• Elizabeth I and the Welsh language: Protestant translations, including the Welsh-language Bible (1567/1588) and prayer book (1567).
• The Dissenting Welsh: Church of England established (16th century–1920). 17th century: Quakers and Baptists. 18th century: Predominantly non-conformist (Welsh Methodist). 19th century: Formally outside the Church of England; chapels, not churches.

Industrial Wales and National Identity

• 18th Century: Iron mills in South Wales.
• 19th Century: Rapid expansion of coal mining and population growth (the Hollywood stereotype of Wales, popularized by John Ford).
• From the mid-18th century: Reawakening of Welsh national consciousness.
• Development of Welsh educational institutions.
• Disestablishment of the Anglican Church (achieved in 1920).
• “Reinvention” of the Eisteddfod (festival of arts).
• 1865: First settlers in Patagonia.
• 1885: First Welsh Language Society.
• 1886: Cymru Fydd (Wales Shall Be) proposed self-government for Wales.
• Notion of the Gwerin (the folk of Wales): Rural, non-conformist, and Welsh-speaking.
• 1925: Creation of the Welsh Nationalist Party: Plaid Cymru.
• Radio in Welsh by 1937.
• 1949: First Plaid Cymru county councillor.
• 1952: First violent actions against pipelines.
• 1966: First Plaid Cymru MP (Gwynfor Evans) at Westminster.
• 1979: Referendum on home rule – heavy "No" vote.
• 1997: Referendum on devolution: 559,419 for / 552,689 against (50.3% turnout).
• 1999: National Assembly opened in May, with significant political powers but without tax-raising ability (cf. Scottish Parliament).