Wales is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom. It is west of England, and east of the Irish Sea and Ireland.
The Romans first entered Wales in 43 AD, and had conquered it by around 77 AD.
Wales, Wallachia, Wallonia, and Cornwall all have similar names because it was the word German conquerors called the surviving Roman speakers after the empire fell. The term "walhaz" means stranger, which the surviving Roman refugees were to them.
After the Roman departure from Britain in AD 410, much of the lowlands of Britain to the east and south-east was overrun by various Germanic peoples. Wales became the chief Celtic stronghold to the west as a result of this Saxon invasions of southern Britain.
Between the 9th and 11th centuries the Vikings raided the Welsh coasts. At this time Wales was divided into small states organised on a clan basis, although princes such as Rhodri (844 278), Bowel the good (c 904 - 49) and Griffith ap Llewellyn (1039- 63) temporary united the country.
In the 11th and 12th centuries there was continual pressure from across the English border which was resisted notably by Llywelyn Fawr (the Great) and his grandson Llywelyn ap Gruffudd.
After Llywelyn ap Gruffudd died in 1282, Edward I of England finished his conquest of Wales. The Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated on March 3, 1284 the Principality of Wales into England.
Caernarfon Castle, was the "capital" of English rule in North Wales for two centuries after the conquest.
Edward I promised the Welsh chieftains a prince and in 1284 he presented them with his baby son. The English king declared "Eich Dyn," saying in Welsh "This is your Man," starting the custom of the Crown Prince of Wales.
Between 1350 and 1400 nationalist uprisings against the English took place, the most notable of which was led by Owain Glyndŵr in the early fifteenth century, during which he briefly restored independence to Wales. The uprising was eventually suppressed by the superior resources of the English.
The flag of Wales is a red dragon passant on a green and white field (the Tudor colors). It was used by Henry Tudor (later Henry VII) at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, after which it was carried in state to St Paul's Cathedral.
The Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 were parliamentary measures by which Wales became a full and equal part of the Kingdom of England and the legal system of England was extended to Wales and the norms of English administration introduced. The intention was to create a single state and legal jurisdiction.
At the start of the Industrial Revolution, the coal and iron industries transformed Wales from an agricultural society into an industrial country. The new jobs created from the coalfields in South Wales caused a quick rise in the number of people living in the principality. This is the reason why today two-thirds of the population live today in South Wales, mainly in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and in the nearby valleys.
In the 19th century the miners and iron workers were militant supporters of Chartism and Wales became a stronghold of socialism.
In the 18th century a Methodist revival made nonconformity a powerful factor in Welsh life. A second revival started in 1904 through the evangelism of Evan Roberts saw large numbers of people converting to evangelical Christianity, sometimes whole communities.
In a 1920s and 30s Wales suffered greatly from industrial depression and unemployment reached 21% in 1937, and a considerable exodus of population took place.
After the Second World War a growing nationalist movement took place and a revival of the language. (A Welsh television channel was established in 1982.)
Cardiff was proclaimed the capital city of Wales, United Kingdom in 1955. Although the city hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1958, Cardiff only became a centre of national administration with the establishment of the Welsh Office in 1964.
In 1966 Plaid Cymru, the Welsh national party, returned its first member to Westminster, when Gwynfor Evans sensationally captured the constituency of Carmarthen from Labour at a by-election. .
Over 560,000 Welsh language speakers live in Wales, and the language is spoken by a majority of the population in parts of the north and west. Gwynedd had the highest percentage of Welsh speakers (56pc).
As a result of the decline of the coal industry, Wales' economy now depends mostly on the public sector, light and service industries and tourism.
The Eisteddfod is a national annual poetry and singing competition in which individuals and choirs from all over Wales participate. The National Eisteddfod of Wales is the largest festival of competitive music and poetry in Europe.
Mount Snowdon at 1085 metres, 3560 feet is the highest point in England and Wales.
The Mumbles is a headland sited on the western edge of Swansea Bay on the southern coast of Wales. It gets its name from the French word 'mamelles', meaning breasts, referring to two little islands located offshore.
The Menai Suspension Bridge, considered the world's first modern suspension bridge, connecting the Isle of Anglesey to the north West coast of Wales opened in 1826.
Wales has more castles per square mile than any other country in the world.
Saint David's Day is the feast day of Saint David and falls on March 1st each year. The date was declared a national day of celebration within Wales in the 18th century.
The leek is one of the national emblems of Wales and is worn along with the daffodil on St. David’s Day. Leeks were worshipped by the ancient Welsh for their supposed medicinal properties and power to keep evil spirits away.
Because of their symbolism in Wales, leeks have come to be used extensively in that country’s cuisine.
HISTORY
The Romans first entered Wales in 43 AD, and had conquered it by around 77 AD.
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| Copyright notice {{Bild-GFDL-GMT|migration=relicense} |
Wales, Wallachia, Wallonia, and Cornwall all have similar names because it was the word German conquerors called the surviving Roman speakers after the empire fell. The term "walhaz" means stranger, which the surviving Roman refugees were to them.
After the Roman departure from Britain in AD 410, much of the lowlands of Britain to the east and south-east was overrun by various Germanic peoples. Wales became the chief Celtic stronghold to the west as a result of this Saxon invasions of southern Britain.
Between the 9th and 11th centuries the Vikings raided the Welsh coasts. At this time Wales was divided into small states organised on a clan basis, although princes such as Rhodri (844 278), Bowel the good (c 904 - 49) and Griffith ap Llewellyn (1039- 63) temporary united the country.
In the 11th and 12th centuries there was continual pressure from across the English border which was resisted notably by Llywelyn Fawr (the Great) and his grandson Llywelyn ap Gruffudd.
After Llywelyn ap Gruffudd died in 1282, Edward I of England finished his conquest of Wales. The Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated on March 3, 1284 the Principality of Wales into England.
Caernarfon Castle, was the "capital" of English rule in North Wales for two centuries after the conquest.
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| Caernarfon Castle, By Manfred Heyde |
Edward I promised the Welsh chieftains a prince and in 1284 he presented them with his baby son. The English king declared "Eich Dyn," saying in Welsh "This is your Man," starting the custom of the Crown Prince of Wales.
Between 1350 and 1400 nationalist uprisings against the English took place, the most notable of which was led by Owain Glyndŵr in the early fifteenth century, during which he briefly restored independence to Wales. The uprising was eventually suppressed by the superior resources of the English.
The flag of Wales is a red dragon passant on a green and white field (the Tudor colors). It was used by Henry Tudor (later Henry VII) at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, after which it was carried in state to St Paul's Cathedral.
The Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 were parliamentary measures by which Wales became a full and equal part of the Kingdom of England and the legal system of England was extended to Wales and the norms of English administration introduced. The intention was to create a single state and legal jurisdiction.
At the start of the Industrial Revolution, the coal and iron industries transformed Wales from an agricultural society into an industrial country. The new jobs created from the coalfields in South Wales caused a quick rise in the number of people living in the principality. This is the reason why today two-thirds of the population live today in South Wales, mainly in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and in the nearby valleys.
In the 19th century the miners and iron workers were militant supporters of Chartism and Wales became a stronghold of socialism.
 |
| Dowlais Ironworks (1840) by George Childs (1798–1875) |
In the 18th century a Methodist revival made nonconformity a powerful factor in Welsh life. A second revival started in 1904 through the evangelism of Evan Roberts saw large numbers of people converting to evangelical Christianity, sometimes whole communities.
In a 1920s and 30s Wales suffered greatly from industrial depression and unemployment reached 21% in 1937, and a considerable exodus of population took place.
After the Second World War a growing nationalist movement took place and a revival of the language. (A Welsh television channel was established in 1982.)
Cardiff was proclaimed the capital city of Wales, United Kingdom in 1955. Although the city hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1958, Cardiff only became a centre of national administration with the establishment of the Welsh Office in 1964.
In 1966 Plaid Cymru, the Welsh national party, returned its first member to Westminster, when Gwynfor Evans sensationally captured the constituency of Carmarthen from Labour at a by-election. .
FUN WELSH FACTS
Over 560,000 Welsh language speakers live in Wales, and the language is spoken by a majority of the population in parts of the north and west. Gwynedd had the highest percentage of Welsh speakers (56pc).
As a result of the decline of the coal industry, Wales' economy now depends mostly on the public sector, light and service industries and tourism.
The Eisteddfod is a national annual poetry and singing competition in which individuals and choirs from all over Wales participate. The National Eisteddfod of Wales is the largest festival of competitive music and poetry in Europe.
Mount Snowdon at 1085 metres, 3560 feet is the highest point in England and Wales.
The Mumbles is a headland sited on the western edge of Swansea Bay on the southern coast of Wales. It gets its name from the French word 'mamelles', meaning breasts, referring to two little islands located offshore.
The Menai Suspension Bridge, considered the world's first modern suspension bridge, connecting the Isle of Anglesey to the north West coast of Wales opened in 1826.
Wales has more castles per square mile than any other country in the world.
Saint David's Day is the feast day of Saint David and falls on March 1st each year. The date was declared a national day of celebration within Wales in the 18th century.
The leek is one of the national emblems of Wales and is worn along with the daffodil on St. David’s Day. Leeks were worshipped by the ancient Welsh for their supposed medicinal properties and power to keep evil spirits away.
Because of their symbolism in Wales, leeks have come to be used extensively in that country’s cuisine.
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