A cantref ( / ˈ k æ n t r ɛ v / KAN -trev ; Welsh pronunciation: [ˈkantrɛ(v)] ; plural cantrefi or cantrefs ; also rendered as cantred ) was a medieval Welsh land division, particularly important in the administration of Welsh law .
21-598: Cantref Coch ( Welsh pronunciation: [ˈkantrɛ(v) koːχ] transl. The Red Cantref ) was an area associated with the ancient kingdoms of Ergyng , Gwent and the later Kingdom of Glamorgan . Cantref Coch is linked with the modern Forest of Dean and is defined as the land between the River Severn and the River Wye , with the Severn Sea as its southern border although its northern border
42-536: A center of religious and industrial activity, as well as the location of an important road (the Via Julia Maritima) from Glevum into South Wales. During this period, the production of iron ore and charcoal increased rapidly, which would have strengthened the areas links with the administrative centre for these industries at Ariconium . The community at Ariconium existed prior to the Roman invasion and
63-589: Is derived from cant ("a hundred") and tref ("town" in modern Welsh , but formerly used for much smaller settlements). The cantref is thought to be the original unit, with the commotes being a later division. Cantrefi could vary considerably in size: most were divided into two or three commotes, but the largest, the Cantref Mawr (or "Great Cantref") in Ystrad Tywi (now in Carmarthenshire )
84-535: Is less certain. It is one of the few medieval cantrefi named by Welsh writers that is not within the modern nation of Wales . The area that would become Cantref Coch was home to native Iron working activities for sometime before the arrival of the Romans. However, the area may have been highly contested between the local Silures tribe and its neighbours, as evidenced by the paucity of numismatic finds. The Roman era would see Cantref Coch pacified, and even become
105-498: The cantref court, and in some areas the names of the commotes are much better known than the name of the cantref of which they formed parts. Cantref Coch is associated with the Forest of Dean , Gloucestershire, and defined as the land between the River Severn and the River Wye . It was traditionally part of the kingdom of Ergyng but would, in later times, be recorded as part of the kingdoms of Gwent and Morgannwg. The Cantref
126-712: The "seventh cantref of the Kingdom of Glamorgan , now in Gloucestshire, and is called the Forest of Dean". Other writers such as Richard Blome describe it as one of the three cantrefs of the Kingdom of Gwent , "the Cantref Coch, now in Gloucestershire and called the Forest of Dean". Mark Willett described the cantref as one of four that comprised Gwent. Iolo Morganwg called Cantref Coch the third part of
147-432: The 19th century stating that the town was destroyed by an earthquake, leaving the resource rich successor state in much turmoil. It is generally thought that Ariconium was a latinisation of an existing British Celtic name, and that the post-Roman polity of Ergyng represents a continuation of Pre-Roman or Romano-British culture. Cantref Coch may naturally have formed part of the Kingdom of Ergyng as it emerged in
168-708: The Lordship of Caerleon or other institutions in Gwent. As late as 1244, the Lord of the Bledisloe hundred confirmed an ancient claim by Llanthony Priory that its tenants in the manor of Alvington were exempt from suit to the hundred. 51°47′N 2°32′W / 51.79°N 2.54°W / 51.79; -2.54 Cantref Land in medieval Wales was divided into cantrefi , which were themselves divided into smaller cymydau (commotes) . The word cantref
189-655: The areas commonly referred to as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren was located further north in Powys, rather than in the locality of the Cantref Coch. According to William of Malmesbury , Æthelstan met with a number of Welsh kings in Hereford in 926, and the border between the Kingdom of Gwent and the Kingdom of England was agreed at the Wye, removing Cantref Coch from Gwent's historic boundaries. However, Edward Stradling recorded that in
210-492: The cantref during the fifth century, as the later Hundred of St Briavels , St Briavels parish and St Briavels Castle are all named for the saint. Although historical records of Ergyng and its cantrefi remain scarce, Cantref Coch would be better recorded in Medieval Welsh literature , as well as by later Cambro-Norman writers and British antiquarians. In the sixteenth century Humphrey Llwyd names Cantref Coch as
231-630: The century after his death, Fferreg split into Maelienydd and Elfael Very little is known about Elystan himself, but his descendants, including Cadwallon ap Madog , continued to rule Ferlix, a minor principality in mid Wales, and the main part of Rhwng Gwy a Hafren —the land between the Wye and the Severn . An early Welsh genealogical tract links him to Gwrtheyrnion , while other descendants of Gwrtheyrnion ruled Maelienydd , Elfael ., and Cedewain . These territories lay in an area roughly equivalent to
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#1732797629957252-477: The fifth century, but it remained far from the kingdom's heartland in Herefordshire. Furthermore, the turmoil following the sudden abandonment of Ariconium may have resulted in almost a decade of widespread marauding as reported by Ammianus . As such the area would once again have been highly contested as Ergyng's fortunes changed for the worse. It is very likely that Saint Brioc would have been active in
273-524: The kingdom of Iestyn ap Gwrgant , separating it from both Gwent and Morgannwg proper ( Glywysing ). Iolo gives a fuller description of the Cantref's extent under Iestyn, stating that it stretched "from the Wye and Severn, up to the bridge at Gloucester, and from there to Hereford", making the Cantref much larger than any of the English hundreds or the area now considered the Forest of Dean. Iolo states that
294-511: The land was acquired through Iestyn's second wife Angharad, the daughter of " Elystan Glodrydd " whom Iolo describes as "king of the Cantref Coch." This lineage is not supported by the more established Welsh genealogies, none of which mention the marriage. It may be that Iolo made use of Elystan as he was in fact, "king of the Rhwng Gwy a Hafren" (the land between the Wye and the Severn). However,
315-561: The later counties of Radnorshire and southern Montgomeryshire , in today's county of Powys . It has been conjectured by historian Paul Remfry that these territories formed a polity known as Cynllibiwg . However, this is not generally accepted. A Welsh genealogical source makes Elystan the seventh in descent from Iorwerth Hirflawdd , who probably died in the mid 9th century. Elystan married either Gwenllian, daughter of Einon ap Hywel Dda , or Gwladis, daughter of Rhyn ap Ednowen, prince of Tegengl. One of his sons, Cadwgan, lord of Radnor ,
336-400: The main landowners of the cantref . This would be presided over by the king if he happened to be present, or if he was not present, by his representative. Apart from the judges there would be a clerk, an usher and sometimes two professional pleaders. The cantref court dealt with crimes, the determination of boundaries, and inheritance. The commote court later took over many of the functions of
357-532: The time of Edward the Confessor (1042-1066), Griffith the fourth son of Iestyn ap Gwrgant became Lord of Caerleon, and that his Lordship comprised the cantrefi of Gwynllwg , Gwent isa and Cantref Coch . It also appears that some of the ancient links between the area and Gwent continued well into the Norman period. Secular and ecclesiastic holdings would continue to be transferred between local leaders and
378-586: Was annexed into the Kingdom of England in 926 by king Æthelstan . Cantre'r Gwaelod is an ancient sunken kingdom said to have occupied a tract of fertile land lying in Cardigan Bay . First mentioned in the Black Book of Carmarthen , the cantref is a recurring topic in Welsh literature and Welsh mythology . In one version of the story, Seithenyn , a prince of the kingdom, is a notorious drunk and it
399-406: Was divided into seven commotes. The antiquity of the cantrefi is demonstrated by the fact that they often mark the boundary between dialects . Some were originally kingdoms in their own right; others may have been artificial units created later. Cantrefi were of particular importance in the administration of Welsh law . Each cantref had its own court, which was an assembly of the uchelwyr ,
420-469: Was home to a number of ancient bloomeries , suggesting preexisting trade links with Cantref Coch. However, these links were greatly improved when the Romans introduced the bellows, making Ariconium a very wealthy and powerful community. This power would in turn have led to it becoming a powerful local kingdom after the departure of Roman forces. However, Ariconium itself seems to have been suddenly abandoned shortly after 360 AD, with local traditions recorded in
441-557: Was through his negligence that the sea swept through the open floodgates, flooding the land forever. Elystan Glodrydd Elystan Glodrydd (or, occasionally, Elstan Glodrydd ; died c. 1010), also known as " Æthelstan the Famous " and " The Renowned ," was, according to Welsh genealogical tracts, the founder of the fifth Royal Tribe of Wales . He was the Prince of Buellt , and later also of Fferreg (also known as Ferlix); in
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