Prince of Wales

Heir to the Throne

Outline

• Overview of the History of Wales

• Creation of the Title of The Prince of Wales

• Conclusion

Overview of Welsh History

• The earliest inhabitants of Wales were Celts from continental Europe

• When Rome withdrew its rule from Britain in 410 AD, Wales was left self-governing

• No national unity due to the inheritance system. All sons received an equal share (including legitimate sons).

Overview of Welsh History

• 1066 Norman conquest of England causes fragmented Wales.

• The princes of Gwynedd became dominant, Owain Gwynedd.

• Owain dies in 1170 and his sons murder one another.

• Llywelyn the Great emerges

Creation of Prince of Wales

• The story that Edward I promised the rebellious Welsh natives "a prince born in Wales, who did not speak a word of English”

• Fact or Fable?

Creation of Prince of WalesFacts

• Llywelyn the Last held the title in Wales.

• Llywelyn antagonism of Edward I led to the conquest of Wales by England.

• Llywelyn dies in battle in 1282.

Creation of Prince of WalesFacts

• Edward II was born in Wales 1284 during war.

• Edward I builds stone castles throughout Wales.

• Edward I officially gave title to his son, Edward II in 1301.

• Prince Charles, the present Prince of Wales, is the twenty-first to hold the title officially.

Conclusions

• King Edward I (Longshanks) was shrewd in dealing with Wales.

• Very possible it is a true story.

• David Powel documents the story in the 16th Century

Conclusions

• The Welsh Princes hurt themselves with no unity.

• The building of the Castles in Wales created intimidation needed.

Sources

• http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/gb-royal.html#pow

• http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page61.asp

• http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page13.asp

• http://www.castlewales.com/edward.html

• http://www.castlewales.com/edwrdcas.html

• http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_II_of_England

• http://www.castlewales.com/jsgeorge.html

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• http://www.castlewales.com/llywel2.html

• http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page415.asp