Thomas Matthews' Welsh Records in Paris

Thomas Matthews' Welsh Records in Paris
Author: Dylan Rees
Publisher: University of Wales Press
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2010-07-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 0708323022

This book comprises of a re-publication of Thomas Matthew's 1910 edition of Welsh documents held in the Archives Nationale of France, together with new introductions to the original work and to its editor. The aim is to make the documents, from the Medieval period relating to Llewelyn Fawr, the Bishop of Menevia and Owain Glyndwr, available to a new audience; to consider them from a contemporary perspective; to update and revise Matthew's original evaluation, and to note recent developments in scholarship in this area. In addition the book will examine the life, work and contribution of Thomas Matthews to Welsh culture through exploration of his Pan-Celtic links and though his contribution to education, Welsh literature and the Arts.

The Acts of Welsh Rulers, 1120-1283

The Acts of Welsh Rulers, 1120-1283
Author: Huw Pryce
Publisher: University of Wales Press
Total Pages: 1374
Release: 2010-10-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 1783164298

Now republished with minor corrections, this volume provides the first comprehensive collection of charters, letters and other documents issued by native rulers of Wales from the early twelfth century to the Edwardian conquest of 1282–3 that extinguished independent rule. It thereby makes more accessible than ever before a key body of source material for the study of medieval Wales during ‘the age of the princes’ – an era of struggles for power by native rulers both among themselves and with Marcher lords and the English crown. The edition contains 618 documents, of which 444 survive as texts, while the remaining 174 are known only from mentions in other sources. The texts, almost all in Latin, are edited to modern scholarly standards and provided with full English summaries as well as notes on individual points of detail such as persons and places mentioned. Coverage is intentionally broad. The term ‘ruler’ has been applied to members not only of the dominant dynasties of Deheubarth, Powys and, above all, Gwynedd but also of minor dynasties such as those of Arwystli or Senghennydd; and, in a world where political power was often contested and fragmented, to individuals within each dynasty who exercised some measure of authority, however limited geographically or temporally. Likewise, the edition includes all known documents issued as expressions of a ruler’s will, including petitions and records of judgements as well as charters, letters patent and correspondence with other rulers, notably kings of England but also kings of France, popes and other churchmen. In addition, agreements with the English crown and other third parties are published irrespective of whether they survive in ratifications issued by the Welsh ruler concerned.