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The Emergence of the Principality of Wales

In 1200, the March of Wales consisted, to use the old county names, of the fringes of Flintshire and Montgomeryshire, most of Radnorshire, Breconshire and Glamorgan, Monmouthshire almost in its entirety, the southern part of Carmarthenshire and virtually the whole of Pembrokeshire.

At the time, the leading families of marcher lords were those of Breos, Mortimer, Fitzalan and Marshall. By 1200, the major figures of the 12th century Pura Wallia - Madog of Powys, Owain of Gwynedd and Rhys of Deheubarth - had died. Powys had been divided between two branches of its ruling family. The northern part (eastern Meirionnydd and southern Denbighshire and Flintshire) became known as Powys Fadog, the southern part (Montgomeryshire) as Powys Wenwynwyn.

Deheubarth was also on the verge of division, for the sons of the Lord Rhys were a quarrelsome brood. Gwynedd also seemed prone to division, although Llywelyn, grandson of Owain Gwynedd, was poised to re-establish the power of his grandfather.

The rise of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd

In 1205, Llywelyn married Joan, the illegitimate daughter of King John of England. By then he was master of Gwynedd. He expanded his power southwards, seizing Powys Wenwynwyn and northern Ceredigion.

John sent an army to Gwynedd and Joan succeeded in making peace between her father and her husband. John's troubles, which led in 1215 to the sealing of the Magna Carta, allowed Llywelyn to capture royal castles, Carmarthen and Cardigan among them.

In 1216, Llywelyn presided over a meeting of Welsh rulers at Aberdyfi where he was recognized as their overlord. In 1218, through the Treaty of Worcester, the English crown recognised his position. Thereafter, his power was rarely challenged. He died in 1240 and would be hailed as Llywelyn the Great.