Medieval Wales C.1050-1332 - Centuries of Ambiguity

"After outlining conventional accounts of Wales in the High Middle Ages, this book moves to more radical approaches to its subject. Rather than discussing the emergence of the March of Wales from the usual perspective of the 'intrusive' marcher lords, for instance, it is considered from a Welsh standpoint explaining the lure of the March to Welsh princes and its contribution to the fall of the native principality of Wales. Analysis of the achievements of the princes of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries focuses on the paradoxical process by which increasingly sophisticated political structures and a changing political culture supported an autonomous native principality, but also facilitated eventual assimilation of much of Wales into an English 'empire'. The Edwardian conquest is examined and it is argued that, alongside the resultant hardship and oppression suffered by many, the rising class of Welsh administrators and community leaders who were essential to the governance of Wales enjoyed an age of opportunity. This is a book that introduces the reader to the celebrated and the less well-known men and women who shaped medieval Wales." --

About the author

David Stephenson is an honorary research fellow in the School of History and Archaeology at Bangor University. His books on Welsh history include Political Power in Medieval Gwynedd and Medieval Powys 1132-1293.

Summary

This book examines the achievements of Welsh rulers – such as Llywelyn the Great and Llywelyn the Last in the so-called Age of the Princes – but also probes the factors, including the hostility of other Welsh leaders and communities, which led to the ultimate failure of the Llywelyns and the conquest of their principality by Edward I.

Product details

• Authors: David Stephenson
• Publisher: University of Wales Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.04.2019
• EAN: 9781786833860
• ISBN: 978-1-78683-386-0
• No. of pages: 256
• Series: Rethinking the History of Wale; Rethinking the History of Wales
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Wales, C, 19. Jahrhundert (1800 bis 1899 n. Chr.), Christi Geburt bis 1500 nach Chr., Geschichte allgemein und Weltgeschichte, European History, c 1800 to c 1900, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, medieval, of, CE period up to c 1500, Medieval History, British & Irish history, HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain / General, History and Archaeology, European history: medieval period, middle ages, Ambiguity, Centuries, 1050, 1332