Thursday 29 May 2008

GET TO KNOW YOUR WELSH KINGS, Princes, Warlords and Warriors.

A Must Read For The Summer, it will not only inform you of much but also make Medieval Welsh History more enjoyably understandable.Not least take note regards Vortigern and Cunedda who perhaps we do not consider as much as we should. Plus I am of the mind that we need to focus much more in commemorative and other work a lot more on great Kings (Princes) as Gruffydd ap Llywelyn in the 10th Century pre Norman period. Then not least on years between 1081 to 1094 up to 1136, that is from Battle of Mynydd Carn to Battle of Crug Mawr. Finally, for moment I would like to focus attention, of one and all more fully on Owain Gwynedd and Rhys ap Gruffydd of Dehuebarth who successfully hold on to their principalities whilst Powys falls apart and with much of the South falls under sway of the Normans. We perhaps over focus and identify too much on Llywelyn the last Prince of Gwynedd, 1282 and all that. Maybe, we should consider and commemorate more Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, Llywelyn Fawr and a read of this book will remind us just why he earned being called Llywelyn the Great', although note it was his English contemporaries who first began to recognise and call him such. Personally I think there is every reason for Gwynedd Patriots to start putting together an ANTUR LLYWELYN FAWR initiative to remind of his legacy to Gwynedd and Cymru, if Gwynedd Patriots are short on ideas in this respect, I have plenty. Just get in touch!
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Wednesday 21 May 2008

MEDIEVAL FESTIVALS NEWS 2008: Wales & Further Afield.

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IN THE WEST > MERLIN MAGIC FESTIVAL IN JUNE/JULY? But no details available yet, keep looking on Sir Gar Council or TIC Websites. I don't think it's on this year, but take a look at 2007 Website via this link > BBC - South West Wales Carmarthen - Merlin & Magic festival - 9:58am The low-down on Carmarthen's Merlin, Magic & Mystery festival in June. ... 19 May 2008 Accessibility help · Text only · South West · Carmarthen ...www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/carmarthen/pages/merlin.shtml - 26k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this YES IT's ON OK! SAT 7th MEHEFIN, keep checking web for info, nothing up yet but should be up soon.
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IN THE SOUTH > Joust! - Cardiff Castle - South Wales website - E&A Details The Knights of Royal England thunder into the city to do battle against the local opposition in a medieval joust - a stunning display of horsemanship, ...www.southernwalesevents.co.uk/thedms.asap? ms=13&feature=92&GroupId=1&venue=1011142&easi=true - 24k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this . Then there's Caerffili's BIG CHEESE >The Big Cheese A celebration of local and Welsh heritage, history, culture and entertainment including jugglers, fire eaters, living history re-enactments, music, funfair, ...www.caerphilly.gov.uk/bigcheese/ - 4k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this . Also note a big Medieval event at Margam Park > TAPESTRY GOES WEST 2008 A MEDIEVAL ROCK FESTIVAL. Margam Park, Port Talbot, Wales, SA13 2TH Friday and Saturday 8/9th August. Check out on web direct.
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IN THE NORTH
> Bodelwyddan Medieval Festival Information about programme and events, with arrangements for visitors and traders.www.medieval-fayre.co.uk/ - 28k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this . Also check out this link > bodelwyddan medieval festival 2008 north wales just pictures ,good day out ,and abba singing waterloo lol ...2 min 20 sec - www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqmMlmAx44w
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NO NEWS OF ANY GWYLIAU GLYNDWR IN MACHYNLLETH ON 21 MEHEFIN TO COMMEMORATE 'DYDD CORONI 1404', NOR IN CORWEN ON 16 MEDI TO COMMEMORATE 'DYDD GLYNDWR 1400'. KEEP CHECKING CENEDL GLYNDWR at http://cenedl.blogspot.com . HOWEVER, THE SOUTH REMAINS TRUE TO GLYNDWR WITH CONTINUING 16 MEDI FESTIVAL AT ABERCRAF ORGANISED BY THE SLEEPING GIANT FOUNDATION, link here > The Sleeping Giant Foundation - Events - 10:36am Owain Glyndwr Festival 19th - 21st September 2008 ... After the success of last year, The Sleeping Giant Foundation and Menter Brycheiniog, ...www.sgfnet.co.uk/events.htm - 25k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this[ Bookmark ].
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If I hear of any other Cymru/Wales events, I will post OK, as for England, Celtic Countries and Europe, so many medieval festivals far better you do your own web search but I will point out a few for you here:
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SCOTLAND > Lanark Medieval Festival - May 14 Lanark medieval festival commemorates the life and achievements of William ... LANARK 2008. Scotland's Living History Festival - 1400 years of history ...www.lanarkmedievalfestival.co.uk/ - 14k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this.
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IRELAND > Kilmallock Medieval Festival -- VisitLimerick.com Kilmallock Medieval Festival ... Kilmallock will host Ireland’s largest multi-period battle re-enactment events over the August Bank Holiday Weekend. ...www.visitlimerick.com/F&E20.asp - 24k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this.
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ENGLAND > Tewkesbury Medieval Festival Official website of Tewkesbury Medieval Festival. ... TEWKESBURY MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL. 12th and 13th July 2008. Lincoln Green Lane Contact. Maps and directions ...www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.org/ - 7k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this. ALSO SEE > Herstmonceux - Visit the biggest Medieval Festival in England 23rd to 25th August 2008 Herstmonceux Castle, East Sussex, England. Welcome all to the home page of England's Medieval Festival! ...www.mgel.com/ - 10k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this .Very Useful Link as it provides links to other useful Medieval Festival Information in England and abroad, see > Lulworth Castle Medieval Festival - 12:58pm Lulworth Castle Medieval Festival in Lulworth, England - festival article by ... tattoos than clothes - these turned out to be the top German Medieval Band, ...www.2camels.com/lulworth-castle-medieval-festival.php - 55k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
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THEN HERE'S A FEW FROM EUROPE >
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DENMARK > Europæisk Middelalder Festival The European Medieval Festival 2008 29th AND 30th AUGUST 2008 ... Today, the festival has turned into an international medieval festival with participants ...www.middelalderfestival.dk/default.asp?sprog=2 - 14k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
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LITHUANIA > viduramziai.lt > Activity > • Medieval festivals The Trakai Medieval Festival is an international event, so the participants hail from Lithuania’s neighboring countries as well as Lithuania. ...www.viduramziai.lt/Default.aspx?tabid=6905 - 18k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
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FRANCE > lastminute.com - Bayeux - Bayeux Medieval Festival Bayeux hosts its magnificent Medieval Festival. In a swirl of colour, noise and smells, ... Bayeux Medieval Festival 5 - 6 Jul 2008 (annual) Bayeux ...travelguides.lastminute.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=103541 - 44k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
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LANGUEDOC/OCCITANIA > Carcassonne - Town Hall and Tourist Office Web Site - : Medieval ...Medieval Festival - August. Please consult the diary for details of the programme. ... An introduction in English, French and Spanish enables everyone to ...www.carcassonne.org/Carcassonne_EN.nsf/vueTitre/docVisiterAoutMedieval?OpenDocument - 16k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
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You will note as you study up on the Welsh Events, that most of the Medieval Festivals in Wales are generally biased to what I refer to has ''Conquorers Castle & Colonial Borough''. Although in recent years there has been improvements and I do not want to knock what few Medieval Festivals we do have in Wales, largelly thanks to, for most part English Medieval Enthusiasts (& Events Organisers), some times based in Wales but often from accross the border as the 'Royal Knights of England' at Joust, Caerdydd. This is not a critcism but more an appraisal, if there is to be any criticism, then it must be aimed in direction of the Welsh/Cymry who show little enthusiasm for medieval Living History re-enactment, true! If anyone out there wants to do anything about this situation, and are interested in the 1094 - 1294 period contact myself: gethin.apgruffydd@ntlworld.com . If interested in the broad ''Glyndwr Period'' 1354 - 1454 contact S.Ifan at Embassy Glyndwr, via her blog TEYRNAS GLYNDWR at http://teyrnas.blogspot.com/
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Note other countries that have a number of excellent Medieval festivals are GERMANY , ITALY AND SPAIN
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Gethin.

Monday 19 May 2008

LLYWELYN FAWR. Llywelyn ab Iorwerth - Llywelyn II - Prince of Gwynedd and an ''High King'' of Cymru.

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Hands up, I must admit and how many of you will? of perhaps being a bit too over focused on Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, Llywelyn III and forgetfull of Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, Llywelyn II (yes! I know what your going to say, but I happen to recognise Llywelyn ap Siesyll as one of our ''High Kings'', thus Llywelyn I). I would not expect anyone in Gwynedd to own up to not knowing a lot more than I and others not of ''our northern Prussia'', and having said that does that, make Llywelyn Fawr ''our Bismarck''. I am sure there are better comparisons but I guess that will be the one that will grab some attention, in all the right places I hope. Whatever, like I said, I certainly must own up to needing some further education on Llywelyn ab Iorwerth and an important period in Welsh History in which this Prince of Gwynedd and ''High King'' of Cymru was responsible for a number of signifigant achievements, as you may quickly grasp by viewing the following >
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Llywelyn the Great - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 6:56am In praise of Llywelyn ab Iorwerth by Llywarch ap Llywelyn has been translated by Joseph P. Clancy (1970) in The earliest Welsh poetry. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llywelyn_the_Great - 95k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this.
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Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great) / 100 Welsh Heroes / 100 ... - 7:00am Llywelyn ab Iorwerth ... This was the situation faced by Llywelyn ap Iorwerth when he inherited one third of the ancient kingdom of Gwynedd. ...www.100welshheroes.com/en/biography/llywelynabiorwerth - 7k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this.
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BBC - Wales History - Llywelyn ab Iorwerth - 7:00am Article on Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, on the BBC Wales History website.www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/royalty/pages/llywelyn_ab_iorwerth.shtml - 22k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
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If you want to read much more, then get this book below from the library or better still buy it. Will make a good addition to your own library of books on Welsh History.
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As regards much to do with our Medieval History, much is ignored, not only by ''Officialdom'' but also by ourselves. Given the achievements of Llywelyn Fawr surely there should be more commemorative memorials and markers concerned with his history. At moment I have not given much thought to ideas and initiatives in above connection, if anyone out there as some views and suggestions, do get in touch.
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Gethin.

TIROEDD y TYWYSOGION CYMRU: Gwledydd Gwynedd, Powys, Deheubarth and Glywysing (Morgannwg & Gwent).

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A suggestion towards establishing a 'Welsh Medieval Interest body' with purpose of developing an Initiative that would see set up a TIROEDD y TYWYSOGION CYMRU, much the same as 'CORDELL COUNTRY' in the South. Requiring then this body would as HERIAN (see below) seek to make that 'Land of the Princes of Wales', in first instance a website and then much more as similar to that developed by HERIAN to interpret the period of the Industrial Revolution in Southern Wales. This initiative I suggest is based chiefly in Gwynedd at Aberffraw as centre of a GWLAD TYWYSOGION GWYNEDD, see example of Bro Beca in South West Wales as an idea as what may be done, link > Bro Beca The Bro Beca Project assists local communities to uncover the history of the Rebecca Riots in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire to develop heritage ...www.brobeca.co.uk/ - 5k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this . This was established by Planed a regeneration organisation, I am sure similar in Gwynedd as Llyn Cultural Network and any number of Menter/Antur Iaith plus Antur Llys Rhosyr etc could get together with community councils et al, to set up a working party at least to consider how best to move forward such an initiative as I briefly introduce here for the attention of Medieval Wales enthusiasts.
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Given the fact that Cadw & Co, are not really up for calling up some real Medieval Welsh History but prefer to focus on what it referrs to as ''Built History'', see what I have to say about this in my other blogs at I'r Gad Welsh Battlefield Campaign http://brwydr.blogspot.com and Ymgyrch Treftadaeth http://ymgyrchtreftadaeth.blogspot.com/ . I consider it a neccessity that some kind of Welsh Medieval Interest Body is established similar to that of HERIAN, see below information on their work to date.
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1: Here is an excellent example of what such a Welsh Medieval Interest body could be about but in a medieval context of course, see > Welcome to Herian - Herian Herian Logo and title, enter the site containing English text · enter the site containing Cymraeg text. Montage of people enjoying the heritage of ...www.herian.org/ - 3k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
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2: Such Medieval body would of course focus very much on the chief princes of the Royal Houses of Brenhinol Cymru similar to this, see > Heroes Heroines Heritage HERIAN - Herian The HERIAN web site's mission is to inform its partners and publicise its work to the people of and visitors to South Wales. This web site will have the ...www.herian.org/home.html - 24k - Cached - Similar pages - Note thisMore results from www.herian.org »
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In time having established the Mediaval Interest body I have suggested plus the Gwlad Tywysog Gwynedd, in time there could be links to Gwledydd Powys, Deheubarth and Glywysing (Morgannwg & Gwent), in the first place through Touch Screens links in area of Dinefwr, Mathrafel and Dinas Powys, see > 3: Herian Touchscreen Kiosks : Imaginet The Herian project was launched in 2003 to develop a coordinated approach to heritage development ... View a demo of the Herian touchscreen kiosk interface ...www.imaginet.co.uk/case_study.php?cs=47 - 22k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this> in the south which does an excellent job on promotion of Industrial History, more or less in and around period of CORDELL COUNTRY. It has of course been of immense advantage to Herian that Alexander Cordell wrote such successful stories about Industrial Revolution in Southern Wales. Maybe some one needs to do similar for Gwynedd to kick things off. However, has this not been done by Sharon Penman in three novels none of which I have read, so I do not really know how good they are, or even appropriate?
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Whatever, some food for thought, get in touch if you have further interest in any of the above, contact me at gethin.apgruffyd@ntlworld.com
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Gethin.