CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION 1

The Romans in Wales--Cunedda--Christianity--Arrival of Saxons--Their Conquest of Severn Valley--The Latin and Welsh Churches--The Three Divisions of Wales--Arrival of Danes--Strathclyde Britons Occupy Vale of Clwyd--Howel Dda and His Laws--Growing Intercourse between Welsh and Saxons--Llewelyn I.--Griffith ap Llewelyn--Harold's Invasions of Wales--Arrival of Normans--William I. and William Rufus in Wales--Norman Conquest of Glamorgan-- The Flemings Settle in Pembroke--Wars between Owen Gwynedd and Henry II.--Howel ap Owen Gwynedd--Dafydd ap Owen Gwynedd--Giraldus Cambrensis on the Welsh--Religious Awakening in the Twelfth Century--Powys and the English Power--Llewelyn the Great, 1195--King John's Invasion of Wales--Llewelyn recognised as Ruler of All Wales--Dafydd ap Llewelyn Succeeds--He Persecutes his Brother Griffith and Makes War on the English--Henry III. in Wales-- Llewelyn ap Griffith, Last Prince in Wales--Long Struggle against Henry III. and Edward I.--Death of Llewelyn and his Brother Dafydd--Final Conquest of Wales--Edward I. Enacts Statutes of Rhuddlan, Builds Castles, and Provides for the Future Government of the Country--Wales between the Conquest and Glyndwr's Rising.