Hywel Dda Tywysogion


Hywel Dda

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-The Welsh Princes.

-Who were they? What were they?

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-Nationalists who wanted to unite

-Wales in the Middle Ages?

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-Or leaders who craved power

-for personal gain, come what may?

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-The history of many

-of the Princes...

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-..Hywel Dda, Llywelyn the Great,

-Llywelyn the Last...

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-..and Owain Glyndwr

-is shrouded in myth.

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-This series offers a 21st century

-interpretation of medieval politics.

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-We'll lift the mist off the past...

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-..to place these leaders

-in the context of their time.

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-New states were created throughout

-Europe in the Middle Ages.

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-Wales was no exception.

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-Not every Prince sought

-to create a Welsh state...

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-..but several sought

-political unity in Wales.

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-In the melting pot

-of medieval politics...

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-..few Princes ruled

-the whole of Wales.

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-PRINCES

-Hywel Dda

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-HORSES NEIGH

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-Over a thousand years ago,

-a Royal traveller arrived in Rome.

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-Centuries earlier, this was

-the capital of Rome's vast empire.

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-It was a symbol

-of worldwide Roman domination.

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-Roman ruins could be seen

-then as now.

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-But that wasn't the reason

-why the King came here.

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-Rome was the centre of the Christian

-faith in the Middle Ages.

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-The traveller was Hywel ap Cadell,

-a South West Wales King.

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-He's known today as Hywel Dda,

-Hywel the Good. Why Good Hywel?

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-His journey to Rome might have

-contributed to his virtuous image...

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-..as a good, Christian King.

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-He went to Rome on a pilgrimage

-to see Christian Roman relics...

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-..like the 5th century

-Santa Pudenziana tapestry.

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-But one thing is certain.

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-His journey to Rome demonstrates

-that Wales in the Middle Ages...

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-..was a mainstream European country,

-part of the broader Christian world.

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-Wales had undergone change

-since the days of the Roman Empire.

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-It was a rural country, sparsely

-populated, without any towns.

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-The country was ruled over

-by royal warriors...

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-..who depended on slave labour

-to farm the land.

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-The country was split

-into several kingdoms.

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-One of them was Hywel's kingdom.

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-It included Ceredigion, Dyfed,

-present-day Pembrokeshire...

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-..Ystrad Tywi, or Deheubarth

-as it came to be known.

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-Despite the divisions,

-by Hywel Dda's day...

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-..the Welsh believed they were one

-people, and Wales was one country.

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-They were often called Britons.

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-Their Celtic forefathers

-ruled Britain after the Romans left.

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-It was widely believed Wales

-was destined to rule Britain...

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-..in the Middle Ages.

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-In Hywel Dda's period...

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-..the Welsh saw themselves

-as the Britons' descendants.

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-These were the native people

-of Britain - the Celts.

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-They'd survived the Roman Conquest.

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-The Welsh saw themselves

-as their successors.

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-The true inheritors

-of the British Isles.

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-The Welsh kingdoms were

-the principal areas of Britain...

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-..that remained

-in the hands of the Britons...

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-..or the Welsh

-as they were eventually called.

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-People began to view

-Wales and the Welsh...

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-..as a separate country and people.

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-They spoke their own language -

-the Welsh language.

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-But this was

-a geographical and cultural idea.

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-Another step had to be taken

-to believe that one King...

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-..should rule the country, and turn

-it into a cohesive political unit.

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-For Hywel

-to venture as far as Rome...

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-..suggests his rule and authority

-in South West Wales was secure.

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-He reigned as King for a further

-20 years after his pilgrimage.

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-His inheritance contributed

-to his success as King.

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-Hywel's influential lineage...

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-..had transformed the political map

-of Wales since the 9th century.

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-Few facts are available today

-about Hywel's life.

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-We don't even know where he lived.

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-He was born circa 890,

-and married Elen ap Llywarch.

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-We know he was an astute leader

-and politician.

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-He ruled the vast majority of Wales

-until his death at the age of 60.

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-Hywel came nearer

-than any previous Welsh King...

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-..to stamp his authority

-on the whole of Wales.

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-He created an empire of sorts

-over most of the Welsh regions.

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-He removed, temporarily, at least...

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-..the political divisions that were

-an integral part of Welsh history...

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-..under the Welsh Kings and Princes.

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-Hywel ruled over most of Wales.

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-Gwynedd, Powys and the South West.

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-Only Glamorgan and Gwent

-in the south east...

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-..remained outside his authority.

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-He ruled over these regions

-throughout his reign...

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-..until his death in 950.

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-This statue of Hywel Dda

-is in Cardiff's City Hall.

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-Penarth artist, Ifor Davies...

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-..is familiar with

-the portrayal of Welsh history.

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-He's creating images of eight

-medieval Welsh Princes.

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-If you study a painting

-for long enough...

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-..you begin to discover

-things about the person.

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-It's interesting

-to try to imagine...

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-..what he looked like.

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-He appears to have been quite slim.

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-He had a lawyer's long fingers.

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-He had a long nose.

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-The surviving image we have

-is a single sketch in a manuscript.

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-But I've been considering

-what paint to use.

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-I don't want flat, acrylic paint.

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-I want the paint to come alive,

-and have a thick consistency.

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-It has to be interesting.

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-On his deathbed...

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-..Hywel Dda was hailed 'King of

-the Britons' - the Welsh.

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-It's a clear sign

-of his power and authority.

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-But establishing a new, united

-kingdom wasn't his main goal.

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-Hywel's priority

-was to promote his own lineage.

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-He wanted to broaden

-his own power base.

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-There's a danger to look back...

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-..and view Hywel as

-the King of the whole of Wales...

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-..and to celebrate his achievement.

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-But perhaps

-this wasn't his intention.

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-He wanted more land under his rule.

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-His ambition was to ensure his

-family kept control of these lands.

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-To understand how Hywel Dda gained

-such extraordinary power in Wales...

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-..we have to look at

-his relationship with England.

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-There were two elements

-to the relationship.

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-Hywel allowed

-England's Anglo-Saxon Kings...

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-..to maintain authority over him.

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-In certain aspects,

-he wanted to imitate them too.

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-The birth of the English kingdom

-in the 10th century...

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-..had important repercussions

-for all the British Kings.

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-Alfred, King of Wessex -

-Alfred the Great...

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-..repelled the Viking conquest.

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-They had conquered all

-the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.

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-One of the few surviving relics

-from Alfred and Hywel's age...

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-..is Alfred's jewel.

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-The remarkably intricate piece is

-made from gold, enamel and crystal.

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-It was a part of a bookmark

-at one time.

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-A wooden stick reached

-into the animal's mouth.

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-An inscription informs us

-that it was commissioned by Alfred.

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-Under Athelstan's leadership,

-Alfred's grandson...

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-..the Anglo-Saxons succeeded

-in getting rid of the Vikings...

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-..from most of the land

-beyond Offa's Dyke.

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-Athelstan was crowned

-England's first King.

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-Ruling over the Anglo-Saxons wasn't

-enough for Athelstan's followers.

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-They also wanted the Celtic peoples

-of Britain under their authority.

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-A measure

-of King Athelstan's ambition...

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-..was the majestic titles

-he bestowed upon himself.

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-'King of All Britain'.

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-Hywel couldn't ignore

-King Athelstan.

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-He bowed to Athelstan,

-and accepted his authority.

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-He went to Athelstan's court

-a number of times.

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-Hywel's name appears as a witness

-to charters that were published...

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-..during court sessions.

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-But it's significant that Hywel

-isn't referred to as a King.

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-He's a 'Deputy King',

-or 'Lesser King'.

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-It demonstrated the nature

-of their relationship.

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-From the Anglo-Saxon

-point of view...

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-..Hywel was a 'lesser King'.

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-According to a medieval historian...

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-..Hywel paid exorbitant

-homage to Athelstan annually.

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-This included 20lbs of gold,

-300lbs of silver...

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-..and 25,000 cattle.

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-Hywel was fully aware...

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-..that King Athelstan's

-new Anglo-Saxon empire...

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-..held the upper hand

-over the whole of Britain.

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-Hywel's attendance

-at the English King's court...

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-..was arguably a sign of weakness.

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-He was there at the command

-of the stronger Anglo-Saxon King.

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-But perhaps Hywel's obedience

-was a key factor in his success.

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-Peace was the great prize

-that Hywel won.

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-If he'd annoyed King Athelstan,

-he would have been punished.

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-He would have faced a bloody war.

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-Bowing to Athelstan

-was a price worth paying.

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-888

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-There was a long tradition

-of Anglo-Saxon attacks on Wales...

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-..especially from the

-Kingdom of Mercia, on the border.

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-Hywel's grandfather - Rhodri the

-Great, was killed by the Mercians.

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-During Hywel's reign, Queen

-Aethelflaed, Athelstan's aunt...

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-..attacked

-the small kingdom of Brecon.

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-She kidnapped the King's wife...

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-..from a court that was located

-on that artificial island...

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-..on Llangorse Lake.

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-The attack took place in 916,

-when Hywel Dda was in his twenties.

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-The Royal crannog on Syfaddan Lake

-was an administrative centre.

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-It's possible that

-a similar site on the mainland...

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-..was the court

-of Hywel Dda himself.

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-Recently, the owners of the holiday

-camp where the crannog stands...

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-..have built an information centre

-on the lake.

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-It reflects the architecture

-of the original court.

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-What exactly is a crannog?

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-It's a word

-for an artificial island.

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-It was created

-out of stone, sand and branches.

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-Usually, it was a special site.

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-Somewhere to build

-a sumptuous abode.

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-Here, on Syfaddan Lake,

-Breconshire...

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-..was the location

-of a Royal Family residence.

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-It's the only one in Wales.

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-It proves the importance

-of the site today.

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-The crannog wasn't re-built

-after it was burnt down...

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-..during an Anglo-Saxon attack.

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-Archaeologists unearthed

-important relics in the early 1990s.

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-Remains of the oak palisade

-that surrounded the island...

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-..are visible

-just below the surface.

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-It's the only archaeological proof

-we have of royal rule in Wales...

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-..during this period.

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-It provides invaluable evidence

-of the lives they led.

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-Some of the objects tell us a story.

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-There's domestic litter,

-and the remains of feasts.

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-There are also special objects.

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-Bronze brooches -

-and even parts of religious relics.

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-What does it tell us about

-the way they lived in this court?

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-There are certain clues.

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-A very special object survived

-after falling into the water.

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-It's a piece

-of a noblewoman's dress.

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-It was made

-from intricate embroidery.

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-It consists of silk, linen and wool.

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-Patterns on the cloth...

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-..reminds us

-of the Mediterranean connection.

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-It was a fashionable status symbol.

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-Hywel probably decided

-it was wiser to avoid attacks...

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-..that would

-undermine his authority...

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-..or even lead to his death.

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-There's no evidence that English

-Kings attacked him during his reign.

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-They were content

-to let him rule Wales...

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-..as long as he

-didn't attack England.

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-His attendances at court

-signified their authority over him.

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-When he attended

-Athelstan's court...

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-..Hywel witnessed

-a perfect example of royal power.

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-It could have influenced

-his concept...

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-..of a King's role

-and his authority.

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-That royal symbol was minting money.

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-Hywel Dda is the only Welsh King

-or Prince from the Middle Ages...

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-..who appears on a coin.

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-The penny inscribed with the words

-'King Hywel' was minted in Chester.

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-The houses where the penny

-was minted still stand...

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-..in Lower Bridge St.

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-It's something unique and special.

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-We only have one example

-of Hywel Dda's currency.

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-The silver penny is inscribed

-with 'Hywel Rex' - King Hywel.

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-Some experts believe

-it was a gift from a King...

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-..minted especially

-as a mark of respect for Hywel...

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-..for all he had accomplished

-in Wales.

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-Other experts are fairly certain...

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-..that it is an example

-of currency...

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-..that circulated in Wales

-during Hywel Dda's reign.

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-Unfortunately,

-we have only the one example.

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-The use of money

-was a brand new phenomenon in Wales.

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-Athelstan believed...

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-..that royal authority was

-strengthened through legislation.

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-He's named on six legal documents.

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-Creating laws was a traditional

-element in royal legislation.

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-Hywel Dda is remembered...

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-..as a King who created

-a broad spectrum of laws for Wales.

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-Was it Athelstan's example that

-inspired him to create his own laws?

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-Influenced by the Wessex courts...

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-..Hywel Dda attempted to unite Wales

-administratively and politically...

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-..emulating what Athelstan

-achieved in England.

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-There is no surviving evidence

-from Hywel Dda's day...

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-..of his personal involvement

-in Welsh law making.

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-But this isn't to say

-he wasn't interested in the Law.

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-It was the norm for rules of law

-to be written by several persons.

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-The Laws evolved.

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-In one paragraph of Law...

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-..it's possible to have clauses

-dating from different periods.

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-The preface

-to the 13th century Law Books...

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-..reveals how Hywel Dda organized

-a great assembly in Whitland, Dyfed.

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-The purpose of the meeting

-was to review, reform...

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-..and regulate Welsh Law.

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-It would carry the King's authority,

-and be applied throughout Wales.

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-Peter Lord designed this garden

-to commemorate that important event.

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-Representatives from every Welsh

-settlement attended the meeting.

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-It was a national forum.

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-Books, and other sources

-from the 13th century...

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-..refer to the laws as Hywel's Law.

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-It's the most important symbol

-of Welsh unity in the Middle Ages.

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-Hywel Dda's Laws were different

-from the laws of England and Rome.

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-They were unique laws -

-created for the Welsh.

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-They were possibly created

-to unite the country and the people.

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-Hywel's Law belonged to the nation.

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-It was congenital, with an emphasis

-on honour, family and so on.

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-England's Law

-was based on the state.

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-There was a greater emphasis

-on order, procedure and so on.

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-In the early days of our Assembly,

-the Welsh Government Act 2006...

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-..has inspired

-a new interest in our laws.

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-Hywel's Law

-applied to society as a whole.

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-The Royal Court, law and order.

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-Welsh laws were considered fairer

-than their English counterparts.

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-If a thief was caught and hanged...

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-..in England his money would

-end up in the King's coffers.

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-Under Hywel's Law, the money

-would be used to pay off his debts.

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-What remained was distributed

-between his children and the Church.

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-Also, under Hywel's Law,

-if you harmed your fellow man...

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-..you had to pay compensation.

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-If a man murdered another man...

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-..the murderer's family

-paid compensation...

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-..to the victim's family.

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-Its purpose was to prevent

-the wronged from seeking revenge.

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-Hywel Dda's Laws contained

-a whole section on women's rights.

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-But this didn't necessarily

-enhance the status of women.

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-That was wholly dependent on her

-father's status before she married.

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-The status of women is an issue

-dating back centuries.

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-The Church portrayed women...

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-..as sinful creatures...

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-..who led men into temptation.

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-Adam,

-in the Old Testament, blamed Eve.

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-There was a belief that women

-led innocent men to sin.

0:23:460:23:51

-Women, by their very nature,

-were evil.

0:23:520:23:54

-The idea of women as dirty...

0:23:540:23:57

-..was very strong

-in the Middle Ages, and later on.

0:23:570:24:02

-Hywel's Laws concentrate

-on a woman's property...

0:24:080:24:13

-..the property

-she owned when she married.

0:24:140:24:18

-In the event of a divorce...

0:24:180:24:21

-..the woman

-could reclaim her property.

0:24:220:24:26

-The emphasis is on property,

-rather than women's rights.

0:24:270:24:31

-These reports were written more

-than 200 years after Hywel's death.

0:24:320:24:37

-They are therefore the

-interpretation of legal experts...

0:24:370:24:41

-..from a later period.

0:24:420:24:44

-No-one believes they accurately

-reflect the Laws of Hywel.

0:24:450:24:50

-But yet again, the law books could

-contain elements from Hywel's reign.

0:24:510:24:56

-In the Middle Ages...

0:24:570:24:59

-..people believed in the legend

-that these were truly 'Hywel's Law'.

0:24:590:25:03

-It helped form the Welsh identity.

0:25:040:25:07

-In Wales, perhaps more than one

-Prince ruled at a given time...

0:25:080:25:12

-..but everyone adhered

-to Hywel's Law.

0:25:130:25:15

-Wales was united by the Welsh

-language and by Hywel's Law.

0:25:150:25:20

-There's no doubt that the Kings

-of England influenced Hywel Dda.

0:25:250:25:29

-Perhaps he tried

-to emulate those Kings...

0:25:300:25:33

-..by ensuring that the laws

-of his own country carried his name.

0:25:330:25:38

-But it's a mistake to assume...

0:25:390:25:42

-..that Hywel was the author and

-creator of medieval Welsh laws.

0:25:420:25:46

-888

0:25:570:25:59

-Hywel Dda was willing to cooperate

-with the Anglo-Saxons.

0:26:050:26:08

-That wasn't the attitude

-of the anonymous poet...

0:26:090:26:12

-..who wrote Armes Prydain,

-in the middle of the 10th century.

0:26:120:26:16

-This particular protest song

-was composed 1000 years...

0:26:170:26:20

-..before the protest songs

-of the 20th century.

0:26:200:26:23

-'Armes Prydain' prophesised

-the fall of the English.

0:26:290:26:32

-The Welsh should drive them

-from the island of Britain...

0:26:320:26:35

-..under St David's banner.

0:26:350:26:37

-It foresaw the Britons regaining

-their hold on Britain...

0:26:380:26:42

-..after centuries

-of Anglo-Saxon oppression.

0:26:430:26:46

-It's a poem complaining

-about the English.

0:26:520:26:55

-The poet wants Wales to realize

-that they...

0:26:550:26:58

-..and other nations that he names...

0:26:580:27:01

-..the Norwegians,

-and the Irish of Dublin...

0:27:010:27:05

-..'the Irish of the North' -

-the Scots...

0:27:060:27:09

-..the Welsh in the Old North,

-and the Cornish...

0:27:090:27:12

-..were the native people of Britain,

-before the English arrived.

0:27:130:27:17

-The poet wanted them to unite,

-to drive the English to the sea.

0:27:170:27:21

-This was written at a time...

0:27:220:27:25

-..when Hywel Dda was getting along

-well with the English Kings.

0:27:260:27:31

-It's a protest against that policy.

0:27:320:27:34

-There was a powerful King in Wessex

-at this time, Athelstan.

0:27:410:27:46

-He is mentioned in the poem.

0:27:480:27:52

-The protest is aimed against him.

0:27:550:27:58

-He levied heavy taxes on the Welsh.

0:27:580:28:02

-The poem is meant to stir up

-anger against past oppression...

0:28:030:28:08

-..and against the harshness

-of the current taxes.

0:28:090:28:14

-This is the poet's protest.

0:28:140:28:17

-"Rise against this man

-who is taxing us.

0:28:170:28:20

-"Sweep him and his people

-into the sea."

0:28:200:28:22

-In the poem, 'Dublin Foreigners'...

0:28:270:28:29

-..that is - the Vikings, are

-named as supporters of the Welsh.

0:28:300:28:33

-The Vikings had settled in

-Dublin and elsewhere in Ireland...

0:28:340:28:37

-..by the 10th century.

0:28:380:28:39

-200 years earlier,

-the first Viking campaigns...

0:28:400:28:43

-..against Britain

-and Ireland happened.

0:28:440:28:47

-In the beginning...

0:28:470:28:48

-..these adventurers wanted

-to capture treasure and slaves.

0:28:490:28:52

-They attacked without warning,

-and escaped quickly...

0:28:520:28:56

-..thanks to their swift boats.

0:28:560:28:58

-This boat is in the Viking

-Ship Museum, Roskilde, Denmark.

0:29:020:29:06

-The Dublin-built boat was probably

-used to attack Wales at the time.

0:29:070:29:14

-The boats sailing

-the Irish Sea were 60-70 feet long.

0:29:150:29:21

-There were oars on each side -

-perhaps 20 oars each side.

0:29:240:29:28

-There was one mast and one sail.

0:29:300:29:32

-They weren't very wide.

0:29:330:29:36

-A wide boat wasn't required

-if there were oars.

0:29:360:29:41

-For the same reason,

-they weren't very deep, either.

0:29:420:29:45

-They were rowed, and moved swiftly.

0:29:450:29:48

-If the wind was behind them,

-they could sail rapidly.

0:29:500:29:53

-If the wind was against them,

-they rowed.

0:29:530:29:58

-In a battle, rowing was a way

-of manoeuvring quickly.

0:29:580:30:03

-By the mid-9th century...

0:30:080:30:10

-..there was an important change

-in the nature of the attacks.

0:30:100:30:13

-From pillaging - to conquering.

0:30:140:30:16

-Rather than launching

-summertime campaigns...

0:30:180:30:21

-..some Vikings decided to settle

-in Britain and Ireland.

0:30:210:30:25

-From here, they set sail to Wales.

0:30:260:30:28

-When they arrived in Anglesey in the

-latter part of the 9th century...

0:30:350:30:39

-..it's possible

-they tried to settle here...

0:30:400:30:43

-..and conquer.

0:30:430:30:45

-But it's not that simple.

0:30:460:30:49

-Try to imagine

-the local population's reaction...

0:30:510:30:55

-..and the relationship between

-the Vikings and the native people.

0:30:560:30:59

-Were the Vikings

-attacking the local people...

0:31:000:31:04

-..or did the local people become

-a part of the Viking society?

0:31:040:31:09

-The Vikings

-failed to establish in Wales...

0:31:130:31:16

-..anything like

-the Danelaw communities in England.

0:31:160:31:19

-Those kingdoms

-were ruled by the Danes.

0:31:200:31:23

-But if there wasn't

-a Scandinavian conquest in Wales...

0:31:250:31:28

-..it's obvious the Vikings laid down

-roots all over the country.

0:31:280:31:33

-Scandinavian place names

-dot the Welsh coastline.

0:31:350:31:38

-Many names refer to places

-their ships should avoid.

0:31:400:31:45

-It was crucial information

-for any ship captain.

0:31:460:31:49

-For instance, Anglesey -

-from Onguls-ey. 'Ey' means island.

0:31:490:31:54

-Priestholm features

-the word 'holm', or small island.

0:31:550:32:00

-The Skerries includes

-the word 'sker' - solitary rock.

0:32:020:32:07

-Fishguard, from fiskigard,

-a place to store fish.

0:32:080:32:14

-Archaeology and Art offer

-the most important evidence...

0:32:180:32:22

-..that the Vikings settled in Wales

-in Hywel Dda's day.

0:32:220:32:26

-Mostly,

-in the north-east and on Anglesey.

0:32:270:32:30

-Experts have studied

-the patterns on Dyserth Cross...

0:32:310:32:35

-..and the Achwyfan Stone

-in Flintshire.

0:32:350:32:37

-They conclude

-that Vikings once lived there.

0:32:380:32:42

-There are non-Christian,

-Pagan figures on the cross.

0:32:470:32:53

-When the Vikings arrived in Britain,

-they were Pagans.

0:32:540:33:00

-But at the same time...

0:33:010:33:03

-..the Achwyfan Stone

-suggests they became Christians.

0:33:040:33:12

-They built crosses -

-a symbol of Christianity.

0:33:130:33:19

-But they included Pagan figures.

0:33:200:33:22

-The Bangor silver treasure

-in the National Museum...

0:33:300:33:33

-..includes typical

-Scandinavian bracelets.

0:33:340:33:37

-The Vikings hoped to return

-to collect their buried treasure.

0:33:380:33:43

-But the best evidence

-is found on Anglesey.

0:33:500:33:52

-In addition to treasure troves and

-a Viking burial site in Benllech...

0:33:530:33:56

-..there are

-two 10th century crosses in Penmon.

0:33:570:34:00

-These display

-Scandinavian influences.

0:34:000:34:03

-Above all, archaeological digging

-since 1992 in Llanbedrgoch...

0:34:200:34:25

-..has uncovered a fort-like camp.

0:34:260:34:28

-It was a Viking trading centre...

0:34:290:34:31

-..during the first half

-of the 10th century.

0:34:310:34:33

-It was a new centre, the like

-of which had never been seen before.

0:34:350:34:38

-A fort that was used for several

-purposes, built on low ground.

0:34:380:34:43

-These are the remains of the walls

-that surrounded the site.

0:34:450:34:48

-The Llanbedrgoch site is unique.

0:34:490:34:52

-It's the first to be discovered.

0:34:520:34:55

-A trading centre

-where goods were sold.

0:34:560:35:00

-Business was good because

-they cooperated with the locals.

0:35:030:35:07

-There's plenty of evidence.

0:35:090:35:11

-There are numerous relics...

0:35:120:35:14

-..brooches,

-pieces of bronze and silver...

0:35:150:35:20

-..even the discs to weigh produce.

0:35:220:35:27

-But from an archaeological

-point of view...

0:35:330:35:36

-..there's an interesting,

-but quite alarming, story.

0:35:360:35:41

-As the archaeologists dug

-in the ditch...

0:35:430:35:46

-..they found human remains - bones.

0:35:510:35:55

-They found many skeletons.

0:35:560:35:58

-Manchester University has

-skilfully recreated in bronze...

0:36:180:36:23

-..the faces of the bodies that

-were buried over 1000 years ago.

0:36:240:36:27

-These sculptures

-are a direct link...

0:36:290:36:32

-..with the residents of Anglesey

-during Hywel Dda's reign.

0:36:320:36:35

-According to forensic research...

0:36:370:36:40

-..into the positions

-of the buried bodies...

0:36:410:36:47

-..it's apparent that

-this was not a formal burial ground.

0:36:480:36:52

-Looking closely

-at the location of the bodies...

0:36:540:36:58

-..we realize their hands were bound.

0:36:580:37:02

-The bodies were thrown

-into the ditch.

0:37:030:37:06

-These poor unfortunates

-weren't given a Christian burial.

0:37:100:37:15

-Recently, however,

-hundreds of skeletons...

0:37:160:37:19

-..were found in Tywyn y Capel,

-Trearddur Bay, Anglesey.

0:37:200:37:24

-Mystery surrounds these too.

0:37:260:37:28

-Were they Welsh, or Viking?

0:37:280:37:30

-They certainly walked on

-Trearddur Bay in Hywel Dda's day.

0:37:320:37:36

-The skeletons are being examined

-in Preston University.

0:37:420:37:46

-The evidence that's unfolding

-shows us how these people lived.

0:37:470:37:52

-They certainly

-didn't clean their teeth.

0:37:590:38:02

-This is medieval plaque.

0:38:040:38:06

-The tiny holes in the skull suggests

-a lack of iron in their diet.

0:38:080:38:13

-The people buried in Trearddur Bay

-could have been Welsh or Viking.

0:38:190:38:23

-But Vikings lived on Anglesey

-long after Hywel Dda's day.

0:38:230:38:28

-His success in securing

-so much authority over Wales...

0:38:290:38:33

-..was a great personal achievement.

0:38:330:38:35

-After Hywel's death,

-Wales wasn't ruled by one King...

0:38:360:38:40

-..for almost another century.

0:38:400:38:42

-Hywel Dda died circa 950.

0:38:430:38:46

-He's the only Welsh Prince

-to be called 'Da' - good.

0:38:460:38:49

-On his death, minor Welsh Princes

-fought each other again.

0:38:500:38:54

-Wales suffered further attacks by

-the Mercians, Saxons and Vikings.

0:38:550:39:01

-But a bloodthirsty King went

-a step further than Hywel Dda.

0:39:020:39:06

-He had the whole of Wales

-under his rule.

0:39:060:39:09

-888

0:39:200:39:22

-A century after Hywel Dda's death...

0:39:290:39:31

-..Gruffudd ap Llywelyn became

-the most powerful leader in Wales.

0:39:310:39:34

-His remarkable career proves

-how much a determined...

0:39:350:39:38

-..and merciless leader

-can accomplish.

0:39:390:39:42

-By the end of his life,

-Gruffudd ruled the whole of Wales.

0:39:430:39:47

-Glamorgan and Gwent even -

-regions Hywel failed to conquer.

0:39:470:39:52

-Gruffudd even pushed

-the boundary beyond Offa's Dyke...

0:39:540:39:58

-..at the expense of the English.

0:39:580:40:00

-He carried out

-a series of violent attacks.

0:40:000:40:03

-I don't think there are images

-of Gruffudd ap Llywelyn.

0:40:040:40:08

-He was one of the earlier Princes,

-after Hywel Dda.

0:40:090:40:14

-He was obviously a reckless man.

0:40:170:40:22

-These are some of the flames...

0:40:350:40:39

-..which appear inverted

-behind the figure of the Prince.

0:40:390:40:44

-He was Hywel Dda's

-great-great-grandson.

0:40:510:40:54

-He was Rhodri the Great's

-great-great-great-grandson.

0:40:550:40:58

-He seized power

-in Gwynedd and Powys in 1039.

0:40:590:41:03

-He moved to the South-West in 1055.

0:41:040:41:09

-He seized Glamorgan in 1057.

0:41:090:41:12

-By 1057, he was the King of Wales.

0:41:130:41:16

-Furthermore, he was powerful enough

-to involve himself over the border.

0:41:170:41:21

-Gruffudd ap Llywelyn,

-more than anyone...

0:41:220:41:25

-..is responsible for a large part

-of Wales, east of Offa's Dyke...

0:41:250:41:30

-..now considered a part of Wales.

0:41:300:41:33

-Places like Wrexham Maelor, east

-Flintshire, east Radnorshire...

0:41:330:41:37

-..are lands that he seized back.

0:41:370:41:39

-Gruffudd was

-a determined and brutal soldier.

0:41:460:41:49

-During his battles

-to conquer the whole of Wales...

0:41:500:41:53

-..he killed two Kings,

-and kidnapped one of their wives.

0:41:540:41:57

-After tiring of that,

-he looked towards England.

0:41:580:42:02

-But to attack England,

-he needed help.

0:42:090:42:12

-Gruffudd became friendly

-with Aelfgar.

0:42:130:42:15

-The Earl was

-King Edward the Confessor's enemy.

0:42:160:42:19

-He'd been exiled.

0:42:200:42:22

-They attacked and burnt Hereford.

0:42:220:42:24

-Archaeological digs

-have uncovered evidence...

0:42:300:42:32

-..that most of the town was burnt.

0:42:330:42:35

-In the 21st century, Hereford

-is a prosperous market town.

0:42:360:42:40

-Remains of Gruffudd's destruction

-are barely visible today.

0:42:410:42:44

-But it wasn't only Princes and Kings

-that Gruffudd murdered.

0:42:480:42:51

-He even killed Leofgar,

-Hereford's new bishop...

0:42:520:42:55

-..to avenge an attack on Wales

-by the bishop's soldiers.

0:42:560:43:00

-The bloodshed led to Edward

-the Confessor's representatives...

0:43:010:43:05

-..agreeing peace terms

-with Gruffudd.

0:43:050:43:07

-They allowed him to keep the land

-that he'd seized along the border.

0:43:080:43:12

-A section east of Offa's Dyke was

-called a wasteland by the English.

0:43:130:43:20

-The Crown

-yielded that land to Gruffudd.

0:43:210:43:24

-It was of no use to the English.

0:43:250:43:27

-It didn't provide income

-from land tax.

0:43:280:43:31

-Towards the middle

-of the 11th century...

0:43:310:43:34

-..Gruffudd was described as

-'The King of the whole of Wales.'

0:43:340:43:38

-But he was betrayed and killed

-by his own men.

0:43:390:43:42

-The basic reason for this

-was that he made too many enemies.

0:43:440:43:47

-He seized power through violence.

0:43:480:43:50

-He killed everyone

-who was a threat to him.

0:43:560:44:00

-He was the Amin or Saddam

-of his period.

0:44:010:44:05

-Gwallter Map wrote

-that he didn't kill people...

0:44:070:44:10

-"..he broke the sons' horns

-so they didn't injure their mother."

0:44:110:44:15

-But in actual fact -

-he was an assassin.

0:44:160:44:19

-Gruffudd's enemies seized the chance

-to get rid of him, in 1063.

0:44:230:44:28

-Edward the Confessor, who was buried

-in Westminster Abbey...

0:44:300:44:33

-..was furious at Gruffudd's

-many violent campaigns in England.

0:44:330:44:38

-He ordered Harold Godwineson...

0:44:420:44:44

-..who was killed in

-the Battle of Hastings in 1066...

0:44:440:44:48

-..to attack Gruffudd.

0:44:490:44:50

-The result

-was a lightning attack on Rhuddlan.

0:44:510:44:54

-A fleet of Gruffudd's ships

-was destroyed.

0:44:540:44:58

-The ships were an important part

-of his military strategy.

0:45:000:45:03

-Harold sent the figurehead, which

-adorned one of Gruffudd's ships...

0:45:040:45:09

-..to the King as a gift.

-Gruffudd managed to escape.

0:45:090:45:13

-But his followers decided...

0:45:140:45:16

-..the constant warfare

-was too high a price to pay.

0:45:160:45:19

-In 1063,

-he was chased from place to place.

0:45:220:45:25

-According to 'Brut y Tywysogion'

-he was killed in Snowdonia...

0:45:260:45:29

-..by one of his own men.

0:45:290:45:31

-JE Lloyd claims he was betrayed

-and killed.

0:45:320:45:35

-But in the Ulster Chronicle, it is

-claimed Cynan ap Iago killed him.

0:45:360:45:40

-We know Gruffudd ap Llywelyn

-killed Cynan ap Iago's father.

0:45:410:45:44

-It's possible that Cynan ap Iago...

0:45:450:45:48

-..who was related

-to Gruffudd ap Llywelyn...

0:45:480:45:52

-..had been waiting

-for his chance to strike.

0:45:530:45:56

-It's happened throughout the ages.

0:45:570:46:01

-Consider the attempts made on

-Hitler's life by people he trusted.

0:46:010:46:06

-1000 years ago, Hywel Dda

-and Gruffudd ap Llywelyn...

0:46:090:46:13

-..were the two Kings who came

-closest to ruling all of Wales.

0:46:140:46:17

-But they also promoted

-their own interests...

0:46:190:46:22

-..and their families' interests

-as their power advanced.

0:46:220:46:26

-In Gruffudd's case, violence

-was a key factor in his success.

0:46:260:46:30

-It's obvious Gruffudd ap Llywelyn

-was a talented soldier.

0:46:320:46:36

-He had an element of strategy.

0:46:370:46:40

-There's no doubt that the Welsh

-wanted to unite under one King.

0:46:410:46:48

-This wasn't nationalism, in

-the contemporary sense of the word.

0:46:510:46:56

-But they were aware of Wales as

-a nation. This certainly existed.

0:46:570:47:01

-The idea of loyalty to one

-ruler wasn't such a ridiculous idea.

0:47:020:47:09

-Gruffudd ap Llywelyn,

-like the later Princes of Gwynedd...

0:47:100:47:14

-..could benefit from

-this feeling of national unity...

0:47:150:47:18

-..to create some kind of state.

0:47:180:47:21

-Gruffudd ap Llywelyn used violence

-to create a Welsh state of sorts.

0:47:240:47:29

-It can be argued that Hywel Dda

-was more than willing...

0:47:300:47:33

-..to use power when it was required.

0:47:330:47:35

-We shouldn't be fooled by the name

-Hywel Dda - Hywel the Good...

0:47:360:47:41

-..into imagining

-he never used violence.

0:47:420:47:45

-There must have been

-a violent side to his rule.

0:47:460:47:49

-He used force to seize new lands.

0:47:490:47:53

-Here was a combination

-of soldier and leader.

0:47:540:47:59

-He had vision.

0:48:000:48:02

-Instead of seeking

-outright independence...

0:48:030:48:07

-..he confirmed his authority,

-and that of his family, in Wales.

0:48:080:48:14

-But who made the wiser choice?

0:48:170:48:19

-Hywel Dda, who was prepared

-to bow to the English crown...

0:48:200:48:23

-..avoiding a destructive campaign

-by the English...

0:48:230:48:26

-..or Gruffudd ap Llywelyn -

-an unusually ambitious man...

0:48:270:48:31

-..who not only killed

-his Welsh enemies...

0:48:310:48:33

-..but also

-conquered parts of England.

0:48:340:48:36

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