PROSIECT BRENHINOEDD CYMRU: An Introduction.

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Of course many of a radical Republican persuadion will not like it but the fact is the ''Old'' Western World is very much stuck with it or is it? I am talking about Monarchies being a way in which a country refers back to it's past and studies it's history, well that's how it is in Britain which of course includes Cymru/Wales. I am not so sure if it's the same for all European Countries, I believe it is in France. In Britain this seems to be more a matter of gerneral and wide use since the 'Tudor Age' up to the pre WW I Edwardian Age, I guess history might look back to our times as the 'Windsor Age'. I have seen in American films, set in America, the 'Victorian Age' being referred to, would this apply in any other Country, some one tell me as I have no time to look it up. Whatever, you, I am sure will understand what I am getting at, not least in a Welsh Connection. Associated with all this is the use of Regnal Lists as means of an easy popular fashion to familiarise a people with their history, in Wales this means we are more likly to see most people more familiure with English Kings and Queens and thus English/British History, than their own. From Roman times to the Medieval and later periods people were in the first instance more likly to be made aware of their Kings via coins, some early medieval Welsh Kings as Hywel Dda minted coins but with conquest and colonisation it is English 'Kings' Coins which have greater circulation in Cymru/Wales. Then of course, not least today there is the matter of Stamps, as illustrated opposite, for up date on this see latest post in Cenedl Glyndwr blog.

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By the 17th century the printing press had taken off and publications began to become more available, amongst the people. In particular Almanacs, in which one would find printed Regnal Lists of English Kings and Queens. In time as Education become the more popular norm, the teaching of history in schools would employ use of Regnal Lists and Time lines of historic events based on such Regnal Lists. Further, such publications as simple pamphlets providing basic information on a Nations Kings and Queens have been published since the 17th Century, and whilst included in time Scottish Kings and Queens there is no reference to and Welsh Kings or Princes unless in very brief passing.
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Example below, is of similar material published today (Armadillo Books) , unfortunatly there is no equivelent version for Welsh Kings and Princes. It will be one of the objects of this project to produce such guide, in main not only as a guide to our medieval history but a way by which we make it's study easier anbd more interesting to the general public.
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Now having put forward this idea, it will be tempting for certain people to ''rip off'' the idea, please refrain from doing so. Running off and away in well worn directions will achieve little other than confuse or perpetuate a knowledge of our history from the Conquorers viewpoint again. Unless we take care to patriotically present our project in a purposeful way that recognises mistakes of the past, we will achive little other than produce a Welsh Dynastic list, as one amongst many. Untill we produce such a carefully thought out Welsh Regnal List, then we cannot go on to the next major Informitive and Educational effort which would be a Time Line chart as a Wall Chart, or for inclusion in other and various publications. So please patience in this case really would be a your virtue, not my vanity, for reasons I will mention briefly in conclusion at end of this blog post.
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During 1982, whilst I was helping to organise the 700th Anniversary of the Death of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, the Conquest of Wales, I was contacted by a Dafydd P.Ifans. Dafydd made two particular observations and made detailed comments on these in two letters and in provision of his version of a Welsh Medieval Regnal List. What Dafydd observed and commented on was that we were mistaken to keep referring to Llywelyn as 'Llywelyn yr Ail', that is Llywelyn II when in fact he was Llywelyn III. You will note that since I have referred to Llywelyn ap Gruffydd as Llywelyn III and not II, this as angered one Patriot, and possibly others who do not understand why I do so. However, I am at long last getting around to doing something about that, twenty plus years later unfortunatly. Prompted by fact that despite all the work in recent years to ressurect Owain Glyndwr as our true last Prince of Wales, there are still some who continue to proclaim Llywelyn III as the ''Last Welsh Prince'', of course this is not true and as long as this 'WASP' myth is perpetuated the Welsh are doomed ever to be slavish about England's claim to sovereignty over our country.

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To conclude this Project introduction, first an apology to Dafydd P. Ifans, for taking so long do something based on what he had written to me about, converting me fully to his viewpoint in such matters. During the 60's, I along with other patriots became associated with Cilmeri and the holding of annual rallies there, for which I blame Harri Web and the New Nation Group. Suprisingly, it was this rather radical Plaid Cymru Group and later even more radical Nationalist Patriotic Front which lead Patriots to follow the British 'Cambrianist' acceptable 'Ich Dien' road of Welsh History. During the 60's and my own identification of our history of Conquest following on death of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd became very much associated with the Anti - Investiture Campaign, then Cofiwn 1282 and all that!

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However, all this aside Dafydd had an even greater purpose to his patriotic thinking, it was not just a matter of our presenting our history from a more National basis. Dafydd, also provided me with his own version of a proper Welsh Regnal List based on reckonising our own 'High Kings' dated not from 1066 but from Caradog I 47 - 50 AD to Maredudd ab Owain, Maredudd II 1417 - ? (what about Rhys ap Gruffydd, Rhys III 1529 - 31, did I hear supporters of the Royal House of Dinefwr whisper?). This made it clear that such was by use of Regnal Numbering also would not only make it easy to remember the whole time span of our early to medieval history but also make it easier to study and understand. Not least when we have to get into all that Rhys ap Gruffydd ap Rhys ap Gruffydd ap Rhys et al, as example of what can make reading of our Medieval history so ''mind blowing''.

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There is much more to learn and think about in the correspondence from Dafydd P.Ifans on these matters, so I will conclude here but in the next post publish his letters. The post after that will publish his Welsh Regnal List, after that I am rather hoping others can contribute, and note I am particularly looking for active project participants who would take it on themselves to particularly give their own greater attention to the Royal Houses of Aberffraw - Gwynedd, Dinefwr - Deheubarth, Mathrafel - Powys and Dinas Powys (and others) covering Glywysing (Morgannwg and Gwent). Although others may contribute with material on any of our Princes, Lords and Chiefs associated with the 13 Royal and Noble Tribes of Wales. In addition note, in association with the overall initiative of Urdd Brenhinol Cymru, I shall be promoting research and study on Welsh Medieval Heraldry regards the history of it's development, also poetry associated with such. Not least I intend to promote some pro-active patriotic activity here, in area of making Welsh Heraldic Banners and Flags also decorative shields and much else. Including encouraging setting up teams of Welsh Heraldic Flag Hurlers as seen in Italian Medieval Festivals, so go check out such on the web via a Google search.

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I shall be working with Embassy Glyndwr in these Heraldic areas so check out Cenedl Glyndwr http://cenedl.blogspot.com/ I am very busy in a number of areas, so it may take me time to advance work in this blog, but I will advance much a lot faster, if patriots volunteer to partcipate with practical purpose. So, if interested do get in touch ok! Also am looking out for publishers who may sponsor some publications mentioned above and arising in due course as the project advances. I think field trip outings to sites of the Royal Houses of Wales, and other places so associated would be a good and useful experience, educational and health wise - get you out in the fresh air. However, I cannot deliver in this connection but if maybe we get some keen persons involved at ''Royal Regional'' levels, then perhaps they could organise and use this blog to such purpose of promotion and report. If interested contact me at gethin.apgruffydd@ntlworld.com

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Other useful Blogs: I'r Gad Welsh Battlefield Campaign http://brwydr.blogspot.com and Cofiwn Archive http://Cofiwn.blogspot.com

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G.Gruffydd.