 History & Heritage
|
|
The Celts
The Celts came out of the east (probably from the Danube basin) about 1000 B.C. and by 300 B.C. they were
the dominant race of the western world. It was at this time that the first traces of the Celts in
Britain appear although they were probably earlier. They were well known for their exuberant art form and their
fierce fighting spirit. They were highly spiritual people who revered the spirits of the natural world
and their 'priests' or Druids who could speak with the Gods and knew the secrets of the sacred rituals.
They were subdued by the Romans but regained control briefly 300 years later,
establishing the Celtic Christian Church. In Wales, something of their culture and language, (which
developed into Welsh) still survives.
The Roman Period
(A.D. 43 - 400)
The Romans invaded Britain in A.D. 43 and had reached the banks of the Menai Strait by A.D. 60.
Anglesey was the centre of Druidic administration and it was important to the Roman conquest to
overcome them.
Tacitus the Roman historian later wrote:
"Ranks of warriors lined the Anglesey shore, urged on by their women, shrieking like furies, dressed
in burial black, while Druids, with arms outstretched to heaven, cursed the invaders."
The Romans slaughtered the Druids and won victory but were soon drawn South to quell a revolt by the Celtic
Queen of Iceni, Boudicca.
The Roman fort of Segontium, (Caernarfon), became the nerve centre and tax collection centre for North
Wales.
Small individual farms prospered. Mixed farming was popular with evidence of corn production.
Copper was also mined and watchtowers were set up to protect Wales from Irish Invasion,
(although there were many Irish settlers).
The Early Middle Ages
(A.D. 400 - 1100)
This was the age of kingship with Gwynedd emerging as a major kingdom in north-west Wales thanks to Cunedda
and his sons arriving from Northumberland to expel the Irish settlers. They became mediaeval princes
of Wales and set up court at Deganwy on the Conwy estuary. A century later Aberffraw
on Anglesey was recognised as one of the three tribal thrones of Britain.
This was also the age when Irish missionaries came to organise the early church in Wales. St. Deiniol's
monastery of Great Bangor appeared in the 6th century as did those of Saints Cybi and Seiriol on
Anglesey. The Celtic church flourished, declining offers the join the church of Rome in 603 and
continuing on in relative isolation for 165 years until finally submitting to Rome in 768.
In the seventh century the celtic tribal leaders reverted to fighting amongst themselves for lands
and power. Edwin of Northumbria and Cadwallon of Gwynedd clashed in a terrible feud that claimed both
their lives.
The entire period from the 5th to the 11th centuries was coloured by Anglo-Saxon pressure and invasion
from England. Offa's Dyke was constructed by the Mercian King Offa in 784 to separate his kingdom from
those of the Welsh tribes.
The 8th and 9th centuries brought Viking raids to Britain. In 855 Anglesey was ravaged by the Black
Gentiles (Norwegians) and later raids targeted Holyhead, Aberffraw and Penmon. In time raids were tempered by trading
and alliances were formed with the Vikings of Dublin and the Isle of Man.
The Irish Sea helped form the second royal dynasty of Gwynedd through the marriage of Gwriad from the Isle
of Man to Estyllt, daughter of Cynan from Anglesey. An new vigor came to the Gwynedd kingship and their
power extended over a larger region of Wales.
1066 saw the Norman invasion of Britain. By the end of the 11th century Norman power extended deep into
Gwynedd and a castle mound had been built at Aberlleiniog, near Penmon on Anglesey.
The Norman dominance extended far into Wales but Gwynedd again proved to be the heart of Welsh rebellion.
Gruffudd ap Cynan, of the royal line of Gwynedd was born in exile in Ireland to the daughter of
the Viking King of Dublin. He now returned to reclaim his birth-right and with the aid of the Vikings
destroyed the Norman grip on Gwynedd.
MORE WELSH HISTORY >
| |
