Medieval Wales: The Age of the Princes

Overview

The bursting of the Normans onto the scene in Wales led to a seismic reorientation of power and politics in the country. The appetite of the Normans for carving up Wales into their own territories was much unlike the Anglo-Saxon policy of being content with tribute and subservience of kings in Wales. The two centuries which ended with the extinguishing of any hopes of Welsh self-rule were also a period of transformation within Wales itself. The eleventh century saw the outright conquest of south Wales, the twelfth century saw the resurrection of Deheubarth and Powys, while the thirteenth saw the zenith of Gwynedd and the near-realisation of the ideal of one ruler for the Welsh under the aegis of England. It also definitively saw the destruction of this aspiration. This module will discuss the kaleidoscopic shift of fortunes and cast of figures these two and a half centuries saw witness to and the reasons for its importance to Wales today.

Programme

During this course, learners will study the following:

Week 1: The advent of the Normans. This week will discuss the first few decades of Norman campaigns into Wales, their effects, and the reasons why they failed.

Week 2: Gruffudd ap Cynan. This week will discuss the fascinating life and times of Gruffudd ap Cynan, born in Dublin to a Viking mother and a royal Welsh father, and his attempts to recover Gwynedd for himself.

Week 3: The disintegration of the South. This week will look at the effects of the Norman conquest of South Wales, including the collapse of Deheubarth and the foundation of the first marcher baronies.

Week 4: The creation of Powys: This week will look at the attempts by the descendants of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn to recreate the kingdom of Powys, defunct since the ninth century, and their ultimate success culminating in the reign of Madog ap Maredudd.

Week 5: Owain Gwynedd: This week will look at the life of Owain Gwynedd, his conflicts with the Crown, and the disintegration of Gwynedd upon his death.

Week 6: The Lord Rhys: This week will look at the career of the Rhys ap Gruffudd of Deheubarth, who reassembled the principality, supported the arts, and was confirmed in his position by the Crown.

Week 7: Gerald of Wales: This week will discuss the life and literary output of Gerald de Barri, or Gerald of Wales, a prodigious Cambro[1]Norman author whose voice makes him a delight to read and whose commentary sheds light on certain goings-on in Wales in the 1190s.

Week 8: The Bardic poetry and its importance: This week will discuss the nature of the professional praise-poets of the period, and how their work may be used as evidence for some of the most opaque periods of the Age of the Princes, such as the civil war in Gwynedd after the death of Owain Gwynedd.

Week 9: Llywelyn ab Iorwerth: This week will discuss the life and career of Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, who ended the civil war rampant in Gwynedd and nearly united the Welsh.

Week 10: Llywelyn ap Gruffudd: This week will discuss the life and career of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, who was confirmed in the title of ‘Prince of Wales’ by Henry III, but whose failures in maintaining his rule lead ultimately to the conquest and incorporation of Wales into England in 1283.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Explain the dynamics of medieval Wales, and what made creating a lasting polity difficult.
2. Identify the achievements and impacts of men like Madog ap Maredudd, Rhys ap Gruffudd, and the Llywelyns, comparing and contrasting their strategies of accommodation to the new political environment.
3. Discover the value of sources like Gerald of Wales and the bardic poetry.
4. Comprehend the changing relationship between Wales and England.

Assessments

1. Written Assignment - 500 words (25%)
2. Written Assignment - 1500 words (75%)

Reading Suggestions

Reading suggestions will be offered throughout the course. 

Entry Requirements

This course is for everyone. No previous experience is needed and there are no formal entry requirements. 

What Do I Need?

As this is an online course, you would need the following:

• Internet access
  • Access to a laptop or computer with a web camera and microphone; the use of headphones might also be of benefit
  • Use of the Chrome web-browser where possible.