3. THE PERIOD OF THE PRINCES
Following the Norman Conquest in 1066, the parochial system was gradually extended into Wales, and several churches of England consecrated in the names of their founders were reconsecrated: the best example is probably the Cathedral Church of Llandaff, which bore the names of the Welsh saints Dyfrig, Teilo and Euddogwy, but which was now reconsecrated to St. Peter and St. Paul.
Llandaff Cathedral
Llywelyn's memorial at the place of his death in Cilmeri
For more than two centuries after the Norman Conquest, Wales managed to hold on to its political independence under several powerful princes. The greatest of them all was probably Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Llywelyn the Last), who succeeded to a large extent in bringing the whole of Wales under his authority. When Llywelyn was killed near Builth Wells in December 1282, by English soldiers, Welsh political independence was ended. While the princes ruled, however, the cultural and religious life of Wales flourished. Several scholars have spoken of a Welsh renaissance in the twelfth century.
It was during that century that the Cistercians (the White Brothers) came to Wales. They established themselves in Tintern in 1131; Margam, Neath and Basingwerk in 1147; Whitland around 1150; Strata Florida in 1164; Strata Marcella in 1170; Cwm-hir in 1176 (it was here that the remains of Llywelyn the Last were interred); Llantarnam in 1179; Llan-llr around 1180; and Aberconwy in 1190.
The princes were generous patrons of the Order. It was Owain Cyfeiliog, a prince of Powys, who founded the monastery at Strata Marcella, near Welshpool, for instance; and it was Llywelyn the Great (grandfather of Llywelyn the Last) who founded the monastery at Aberconwy. The White Monks contributed much to the culture of Wales by writing chronicles, copying manuscripts and being patrons of the bards.
Tintern Abbey
The bards’ main patrons, of course, were the princes themselves. The bard’s role was to praise the prince. However, the Laws of Hywel the Good lay down that before a bard sang the praises of the prince, he was to sing an ode in praise of God, and several of these odes have been preserved. One of the best-known is ‘Gogoneddawg Arglwydd, henffych well’ (‘Hail, glorious Lord’), which was written c.1250, and which demands that all created things should bless God. Another is ‘Y Mab a’n rhodded’ (‘The Son that has been given to us’), written by Madog ap Gwallter, an early Christmas carol which meditates on the Person of Christ:
A big, small, giant,
Strong, mighty, weak
white-cheeked
Rich, poor,
Our Father and brother
Another religious genre was the marwysgafn (death-bed song), where the poet repented for his sins. Meilyr Brydydd, for example, who died c.1137, speaks of his wish to be buried on Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island, pictured left), where a monastery had been founded in the sixth century, and where, according to tradition, twenty thousand saints have been buried. During the later Middle Ages Ynys Enlli, like St.David’s, became a popular centre for pilgrimages.
To this lively period in the history of Wales belongs Giraldus Cambrensis (‘Gerald of Wales’), c.1146-1223, a mighty scholar and a competent author in Latin, who was the son of William de Barri, a Norman, and Angharad, the grand-daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, the Welsh Lord of Deheubarth. He was appointed by his uncle, David Fitzgerald, the Bishop of St. David’s, to be Archdeacon of Brecon. Later, he was twice nominated Bishop of St. David’s, and twice rejected by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the king. The reason for the rejection was that Gerald had for many years argued in favour of turning the diocese of St. David’s into a Welsh metropolitan see, independent of Canterbury, and Canterbury could accept no such thing. The relationship between Canterbury and Wales was, however, a matter that would be discussed from time to time for another seven centuries.
Further research and discussion
- Is there an old monastery near to where you live? What do you know about it?
- What do you think were Gerald of Wales’ main arguments for turning the diocese of St. David’s into a Welsh metropolitan see?