A commote (

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''

Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru ''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru (GPC)'' (''The University of Wales Dictionary'') is the only standard historical dictionary of the Welsh language, aspiring to be "comparable in method and scope to the ''Oxford English Dictionary''". Vocabulary is defi ...

'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a

secular Secularity, also the secular or secularness (from Latin ''saeculum'', "worldly" or "of a generation"), is the state of being unrelated or neutral in regards to religion. Anything that does not have an explicit reference to religion, either negativ ...

division of land in

Medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

. The word derives from the prefix ''cym-'' ("together", "with") and the noun ''bod'' ("home, abode"). The English word "commote" is derived from the Middle Welsh ''cymwt''.

Medieval Welsh land organisation

The basic unit of land was the ''tref'', a small village or settlement. In theory, 100 ''trefi'' made up a ''

cantref A cantref ( ; ; plural cantrefi or cantrefs; also rendered as ''cantred'') was a medieval Welsh land division, particularly important in the administration of Welsh law. Description Land in medieval Wales was divided into ''cantrefi'', which were ...

'' (literally, "one hundred settlements"; plural: ''cantrefi''), and half or a third of a ''cantref'' was a ''cymwd'', although in practice the actual numbers varied greatly. Together with the ''cantrefi'', commotes were the geographical divisions through which defence and justice were organised. In charge of a commote would be a chieftain probably related to the ruling Prince of the Kingdom. His court would have been situated in a special ''tref'', referred to as a ''maerdref''. Here, the bonded villagers who farmed the chieftain's estate lived, together with the court officials and servants. Commotes were further divided into ''maenorau'' or ''maenolydd''.

Commotes in the Domesday Book

The ''

Domesday Book Domesday Book () – the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book" – is a manuscript record of the "Great Survey" of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 by order of King William I, known as William the Conqueror. The manusc ...

'' has entries for those commotes that in 1086 were under

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

control, but still subject to Welsh law and custom. However, it refers to them using the Anglo-Norman word "commot" instead of

hundred 100 or one hundred (Roman numeral: C) is the natural number following 99 and preceding 101. In medieval contexts, it may be described as the short hundred or five score in order to differentiate the English and Germanic use of "hundred" to de ...

, the word used at the time for the equivalent land division in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

. The commotes mentioned in the Domesday Book, in general, represented recent

Anglo-Norman Anglo-Norman may refer to: *Anglo-Normans, the medieval ruling class in England following the Norman conquest of 1066 * Anglo-Norman language **Anglo-Norman literature * Anglo-Norman England, or Norman England, the period in English history from 10 ...

advances into Welsh territory. Although the commotes were assessed for military service and taxation, their obligations were rated in

carucate The carucate or carrucate ( lat-med, carrūcāta or ) was a medieval unit of land area approximating the land a plough team of eight oxen could till in a single annual season. It was known by different regional names and fell under different forms ...

s (derived from Latin for cattle or oxen), not in hides as on the English side of the border. The customs of the commotes are described in the Domesday accounts of the border earldoms of

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean. The county town is the city of Gl ...

Herefordshire Herefordshire () is a county in the West Midlands of England, governed by Herefordshire Council. It is bordered by Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh counties of Monmouthshire ...

Shropshire Shropshire (; alternatively Salop; abbreviated in print only as Shrops; demonym Salopian ) is a landlocked historic county in the West Midlands region of England. It is bordered by Wales to the west and the English counties of Cheshire to th ...

and

Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a ceremonial and historic county in North West England, bordered by Wales to the west, Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, Derbyshire to the east, and Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south. Cheshire's county t ...

. The principal commotes described in Domesday were

Archenfield Archenfield (Old English: ''Ircingafeld'') is the historic English name for an area of southern and western Herefordshire in England. Since the Anglo-Saxons took over the region in the 8th century, it has stretched between the River Monnow and Ri ...

Ewias Ewyas ( cy, Ewias) was a possible early Welsh kingdom which may have been formed around the time of the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the 5th century. The name was later used for a much smaller commote or administrative sub-division, which cove ...

, and the commotes of Gwent in the south;

Cynllaith Cynllaith or Cynllaeth was a ''cwmwd'' (commote) of north east Wales in the cantref of Swydd y Waun which was once part of the Kingdom of Powys and later part of the smaller kingdom of Powys Fadog. Cynllaith, or at least the part of it called '' ...

Edeirnion Edeirnion or Edeyrnion is an area of the county of Denbighshire and an ancient commote of medieval Wales in the cantref of Penllyn. According to tradition, it was named after its eponymous founder Edern or Edeyrn. It was included as a Welsh t ...

, and

Iâl Ial or Yale ( cy, Iâl) was a commote of medieval Wales within the cantref of Maelor in the Kingdom of Powys. When the Kingdom was divided in 1160, Maelor became part of the Princely realm of Powys Fadog (Lower Powys or Madog's Powys), and belon ...

(Shropshire accounts); and Englefield, Rhos and

Rhufoniog {{coord, 52.950, -3.275, display=title, region:GB_scale:20000 Rhufoniog was a small sub-kingdom of the Dark Ages Gwynedd, and later a cantref in medieval Wales. Geography The cantref Rhos lay between it and the Irish Sea. Sometimes the two ...

(

accounts).

History

In legal usage, the English word 'commote' replaced ''cwmwd'' following the

Edwardian conquest of Wales The conquest of Wales by Edward I took place between 1277 and 1283. It is sometimes referred to as the Edwardian Conquest of Wales,Examples of historians using the term include Professor J. E. Lloyd, regarded as the founder of the modern academi ...

in the 13th century, when English was made the official language for all legal documents. The Welsh, most of whom knew not a word of English, naturally continued to use ''cwmwd'' and still do so today. In much of Wales, commotes had become more important than ''cantrefi'' by the mid-13th century and administration of

Welsh law Welsh law ( cy, Cyfraith Cymru) is an autonomous part of the English law system composed of legislation made by the Senedd.Law Society of England and Wales (2019)England and Wales: A World Jurisdiction of Choice eport(Link accessed: 16 March 2022 ...

became the responsibility of the commote court rather than the ''cantref'' court.

Owain Glyndŵr Owain ap Gruffydd (), commonly known as Owain Glyndŵr or Glyn Dŵr (, anglicised as Owen Glendower), was a Welsh leader, soldier and military commander who led a 15 year long Welsh War of Independence with the aim of ending English rule in Wa ...

called representatives from the commotes for his two parliaments during the rising of 1400–1409. The boundaries of commotes, or in some cases cantrefi, were in many cases subsequently more accurately represented by church rural deaneries than by the hundreds issuing from the 16th century Acts of Union.

''Is'' and ''Uwch'' in commote names

A considerable number of the names of adjacent medieval Welsh commotes contain ''is'' (meaning "lower", or "below" as a preposition) and ''uwch'' (originally ''uch'' and meaning "higher", or "above" as a preposition), with the dividing line between them being a natural boundary, such as a river, mountain or forest. Melville Richards noted that, in almost every instance where this occurs, the point of central authority was in the "''is'' division" when the commote was named, and he suggested that such commotes were originally named in the sense of 'nearer' and 'farther' based on the location of that central authority—''i.e.'', the terminology is for administrative purposes and not a geographical characterisation. Richards attributed the use of ''is'' and ''uwch'' to some confusion in translating Latin ''sub'' (meaning "lower") and ''supra'' (meaning "upper") into Welsh in too literal a sense, when the proper sense was to consider ''sub'' to be an administrative synonym for Latin ''cis'' (meaning "this side of"), and to consider ''supra'' to be an administrative synonym for Latin ''trans'' (meaning "the other side of"). A number of smaller units, such as manors, parishes and townships, also use the administrative distinction of ''is'' and ''uwch'', sometimes in their Latin forms (''e.g.'', the manor of Clydach in Uwch Nyfer, divided into Sub Clydach and Ultra (Supra) Clydach). This is unrelated to the common use of ''isaf'' and ''uchaf'' in farm names, where the terms are used in the geographical sense.

List of commotes, organised by cantref

The

Red Book of Hergest The ''Red Book of Hergest'' ( cy, Llyfr Coch Hergest, Oxford, Jesus College, MS 111) is a large vellum manuscript written shortly after 1382, which ranks as one of the most important medieval manuscripts written in the Welsh language. It preser ...

(1375–1425) provides a detailed list of commotes in the late 14th and early 15th centuries., ''Red Book of Hergest''
Cantreds and Commotes of Wales
The list has some overlaps and is ambiguous in parts, especially in the Gwynedd section. It should also be borne in mind that the number and organisation of the commotes was different in the earlier Middle Ages; some of the units and divisions listed here are late creations. The original orthography of the manuscript is given here together with the standard modern Welsh equivalents.

Gwynedd Gwynedd (; ) is a county and preserved county (latter with differing boundaries; includes the Isle of Anglesey) in the north-west of Wales. It shares borders with Powys, Conwy County Borough, Denbighshire, Anglesey over the Menai Strait, and C ...

*Cantref Tegigyl (

Cantref Tegeingl Tegeingl, in English Englefield, was a cantref in north-east Wales during the mediaeval period. It was incorporated into Flintshire following Edward I of England's conquest of northern Wales in the 13th century. Etymology The region's name was ...

): **Kymwt Insel (

Cwmwd Insel A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Prestan ( Cwmwd Prestatyn) **Kymwt Rudlan ( Cwmwd Rhuddlan) *Cantref Dyffryn Clwyt (

Cantref Dyffryn Clwyd Dyffryn Clwyd was a cantref of Medieval Wales and from 1282 a marcher lordship. In 1536, it became part of the new county of Denbighshire. The name means Vale of Clwyd in English and is still the name for that region of north Wales in modern Wels ...

): **Kymwt Colyan (

Cwmwd Colian A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Llannerch ( Cwmwd Llannerch) **Kymwt Ystrat (

Cwmwd Ystrad A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) *Cantref Rywynyawc (

Cantref Rhufoniog {{coord, 52.950, -3.275, display=title, region:GB_scale:20000 Rhufoniog was a small sub-kingdom of the Dark Ages Gwynedd, and later a cantref in medieval Wales. Geography The cantref Rhos lay between it and the Irish Sea. Sometimes the two ...

) **Kymwt Rhuthyn (

Cwmwd Rhuthyn A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Uch Alech ( Cwmwd Uwch Aled) **Kymwt Is Alech (

Cwmwd Is Aled A commote (Welsh language, Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land i ...

) *

Cantref Rhos Rhos means 'moor' or 'moorland' in Welsh. It is a region to the east of the River Conwy in north Wales. It started as a minor kingdom then became a medieval cantref, and was usually part of the Kingdom of Gwynedd (later the region became part of De ...

**Kymwt Uch Dulas (

Cwmwd Uwch Dulas A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Is Dulas (

Cwmwd Is Dulas A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Y kreudyn ( Cwmwd Creuddyn) *Cantrefoed Mon (

Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island ...

) –

Aberffraw Aberffraw is a village and community on the south west coast of the Isle of Anglesey ( cy, Ynys Môn), in Wales, by the west bank of the Afon Ffraw (Ffraw River). The community includes Soar and Dothan. Located near the A4080 and the nearest ...

, Cemais,

Rhosyr Rhosyr is a community in the far southern corner of Anglesey, Wales. It includes the villages of Dwyran and Newborough, Llangeinwen and Llangaffo. The community population taken at the 2011 census was 2,226. and includes Llanddwyn Island a ...

**Kymwt Llan Uaes (

Cwmwd Llanfaes Dindaethwy was in medieval times one of two commotes of the cantref of Rhosyr, in the south-east of the Isle of Anglesey. It was between the Menai Strait and Conwy Bay (to the south), and the Irish Sea and Red Wharf Bay (to the north). It includ ...

, properly called

Dindaethwy Dindaethwy was in medieval times one of two commotes of the cantref of Rhosyr, in the south-east of the Isle of Anglesey. It was between the Menai Strait and Conwy Bay (to the south), and the Irish Sea and Red Wharf Bay (to the north). It incl ...

) **Kymwt Kemeis (

Cwmwd Cemais A commote (Welsh language, Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land i ...

) **Kymwt Talebolyon (

Cwmwd Talebolyon A commote (Welsh language, Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land i ...

) **Kymwt Aberffraw (

Cwmwd Aberffraw A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Penn Rhos (

Cwmwd Penrhos Penrhos is an area or hamlet at the top of the hill east of Kington, Herefordshire near the Welsh border. The name is derived from the Welsh words ''pen'' and ''rhos'' and means "head (top) of the moor". In the area there are a small number of b ...

) **Kymwt Rosvyrr ( Cwmwd Rhosyr) *Cantref Arllechwed (

Cantref Arllechwedd The ancient Welsh cantref of Arllechwedd in north-west Wales was part of the kingdom of Gwynedd for much of its history until it was included in the new county of Caernarfonshire, together with Arfon and Llŷn under the terms of the Statute ...

) **Kymwt Treffryw (

Cwmwd Trefriw A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Aber (

Cwmwd Aber A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) *Cantref Aruon (

Cantref Arfon The mediaeval Welsh cantref of Arfon in north-west Wales was the core of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. Later it was included in the new county of Caernarfonshire, together with Llŷn and Arllechwedd under the terms of the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284. ...

) **Kymwt Uch Konwy (

Cwmwd Uwch Conwy A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Is Conwy (

Cwmwd Is Conwy A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) *

Cantref Dinodyn A cantref ( ; ; plural cantrefi or cantrefs; also rendered as ''cantred'') was a Wales in the Early Middle Ages, medieval Welsh land division, particularly important in the administration of Welsh law. Description Land in medieval Wales was divid ...

**Kymwt Rifnot **Kymwt Ardudwy (

Cwmwd Ardudwy A commote (Welsh language, Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land i ...

) *Cantref Llyyn (

Cantref Llŷn The ancient Welsh cantref of Llŷn in north-west Wales was part of the kingdom of Gwynedd for much of its history until it was included in the new county of Caernarfonshire, together with Arfon and Arllechwedd under the terms of the Statute of ...

) **Kymwt Dinmael ( Cwmwd Dinmael) **Kymwt is Clogyon (

Cwmwd Is Clogion A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

**Kymwt Cwmdinam (

Cwmwd Cwm Dinam A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) *Cantref Meiryonyd (

Cantref Meirionnydd A cantref ( ; ; plural cantrefi or cantrefs; also rendered as ''cantred'') was a medieval Welsh land division, particularly important in the administration of Welsh law. Description Land in medieval Wales was divided into ''cantrefi'', which were ...

) **Kymwt Eftumaneyr ( Cwmwd Ystumaner) **Kymwt Talybont (

Cwmwd Tal-y-bont A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) *

Cantref Eryri A cantref ( ; ; plural cantrefi or cantrefs; also rendered as ''cantred'') was a medieval Welsh land division, particularly important in the administration of Welsh law. Description Land in medieval Wales was divided into ''cantrefi'', which were ...

**Kymwt Cyueilawc (

Cwmwd Cyfeiliog A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Madeu **Kymwt Uch Meloch **Kymwt Is Meloch **Kymwt Llan Gonwy (

Cwmwd Llangonwy A commote (Welsh language, Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land i ...

) **Kymwt Dinmael (Cwmwd Dinmael) **Kymwt Glyndyudwy (

Cwmwd Glyndyfrdwy A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

)

Powys Powys (; ) is a Local government in Wales#Principal areas, county and Preserved counties of Wales, preserved county in Wales. It is named after the Kingdom of Powys which was a Welsh succession of states, successor state, petty kingdom and princi ...

*Cantrefoed Powys Madawc **Kymwt Iaal (

Cwmwd Iâl Ial or Yale ( cy, Iâl) was a commote of medieval Wales within the cantref of Maelor in the Kingdom of Powys. When the Kingdom was divided in 1160, Maelor became part of the Princely realm of Powys Fadog (Lower Powys or Madog's Powys), and belon ...

, later "Yale") **Kymwt Ystrad Alun **Kymwt Yr Hop ( Cwmwd Yr Hob, later "Hope") **Kymwt Berford **Kymwt Wnknan **Kymwt Trefwenn **Kymwt Croesosswallt **Kymwt y Creudyn **Kymwt Nant Odyn **Kymwt Ceuenbleid (possibly Cwmwd

) **Kymwt Is Raeadyr (Cwmwd

Mochnant Mochnant, a name translating as "the rapid stream", was a medieval cantref in the Kingdom of Powys. In the 12th century it was divided into the commotes of Mochnant Is Rhaeadr (in the north) and Mochnant Uwch Rhaeadr (in the south) (''Is'' signif ...

Is Rhaiadr) *Cantrefoed Powys Gwennwynwyn **Kymwt Uch Raeadyr (Cwmwd

Uwch Rhaiadr) **Kymwt Deu Dyswr (Cwmwd

Deuddwr Deuddwr (; en, Confluence, literally: two waters) was a medieval commote (''cwmwd'') in the cantref of Ystlyg in the Kingdom of Powys. It lay at the east of the kingdom, bordering England to the north, the cantref of Mechain to the north-west a ...

in cantref

Ystlyg Ystlyg ( en, possibly curve or open country) was a medieval cantref in the Kingdom of Powys. It lay at the east of the kingdom on the border with England. It consisted of the commotes (''cymydau'') of Deuddwr in the north, Ystrad Marchell in the ce ...

) **Kymwt Llannerchwdwl (Cwmwd Llanerch Hudol in cantref

) **Kymwt

Ystrad Marchell Ystrad Marchell sometimes Strad Marchell ( en, Vale of Marchell) was a medieval commote (''cwmwd'') in the cantref of Ystlyg in the Kingdom of Powys. It roughly coincides with the parish of Welshpool. It lay at the east of the kingdom, bordering ...

(in cantref

) **Kymwt Mecheyn ( Cwmwd Mechain Is Coed and Cwmwd Mechain Uwch Coed) **Kymwt Caer Einon (

Caereinion Caereinion (fort of Einion) was a medieval cantref in the Kingdom of Powys, or possibly it was a commote (''cwmwd'') within a cantref called Llŷs Wynaf. It was divided into the manors of Uwch Coed and Is Coed. It lay towards the south of the ki ...

) **Kymwt Uch Affes **Kymwt Is Affes **Kymwt Uch Coet (Cwmwd Uwch Coed in cantref

Arwystli Arwystli was a cantref in mid Wales in the Middle Ages, located in the headland of the River Severn. It was chiefly associated with the Kingdom of Powys, but was heavily disputed between Powys, Gwynedd, and the Norman Marcher Lords for hundre ...

) **Kymwt Is Coet (Cwmwd Is Coed in cantref

)

Maelienydd Maelienydd, sometimes spelt Maeliennydd, was a cantref and lordship in east central Wales covering the area from the River Teme to Radnor Forest and the area around Llandrindod Wells. The area, which is mainly upland, is now in Powys. During the M ...

*Cantrefoed Maelenyd **Kymwt

Ceri Ceri () is a hamlet (''frazione'') of the ''comune'' of Cerveteri, in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio (central Italy). It occupies a fortified plateau of tuff at a short distance from the city of Cerveteri. History Inhabited before the 7t ...

**Kymwt Gwerthrynnyon **Kymwt Swyd Uudugre **Kymwt Swyd Yethon **Kymwt Llwythyfnwc

Buellt Buellt or Builth was a cantref in medieval Wales, located west of the River Wye. Unlike most cantrefs, it was not part of any of the major Welsh kingdoms for most of its history, but was instead ruled by an autonomous local dynasty. During the No ...

* Cantref Buellt **Kymwt Penn Buellt (

Cwmwd Pen Buellt A commote (Welsh language, Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land i ...

) **Kymwt Swydman (Cwmwd Swyddfan(?) :

Cwmwd Dinan A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Treflys (

Cwmwd Treflys A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Is Iruon (

Cwmwd Is Irfon A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

)

Elfael Elfael was one of a number of Welsh cantrefi occupying the region between the River Wye and river Severn, known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren, in the early Middle Ages. It was divided into two commotes, Is Mynydd and Uwch Mynydd, separated by the chain of ...

*Cantref Eluael (

Cantref Elfael Elfael was one of a number of Welsh cantrefi occupying the region between the River Wye and river Severn, known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren, in the early Middle Ages. It was divided into two commotes, Is Mynydd and Uwch Mynydd, separated by the chain ...

) **Kymwt Uch Mynyd (

Cwmwd Uwch Mynydd A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Is Mynyd ( Cwmwd Is Mynyd)

Brecheinawc (
Brycheiniog Brycheiniog was an independent kingdom in South Wales in the Early Middle Ages. It often acted as a buffer state between England to the east and the south Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth to the west. It was conquered and pacified by the Normans be ...
)

Cantref Selyf A cantref ( ; ; plural cantrefi or cantrefs; also rendered as ''cantred'') was a medieval Welsh land division, particularly important in the administration of Welsh law. Description Land in medieval Wales was divided into ''cantrefi'', which wer ...

**Kymwt Brwynllys (

Cwmwd Brwynllys A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Talgarth (

Cwmwd Talgarth A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) *

Cantref Tewdos A cantref ( ; ; plural cantrefi or cantrefs; also rendered as ''cantred'') was a medieval Welsh land division, particularly important in the administration of Welsh law. Description Land in medieval Wales was divided into ''cantrefi'', which were ...

**Kymwt Dyffryn Hodni (

Cwmwd Dyffryn Hoddni A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Lly''wel'' (

Cwmwd Llys Hywel A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Tir Rawlf ( Cwmwd Tir Rawlff) *

Cantref Ida A cantref ( ; ; plural cantrefi or cantrefs; also rendered as ''cantred'') was a medieval Welsh land division, particularly important in the administration of Welsh law. Description Land in medieval Wales was divided into ''cantrefi'', which were ...

**Kymwt Ystrat Yw (

Cwmwd Ystrad Yw A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Cruc Howel (

Cwmwd Crughywel A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

) **Kymwt Evyas (

Cwmwd Euyas A commote (Welsh ''cwmwd'', sometimes spelt in older documents as ''cymwd'', plural ''cymydau'', less frequently ''cymydoedd'')''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643 was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales ...

)

Ystrad Tywi Ystrad Tywi (, ''Valley of the Tywi'') is a region of southwest Wales situated on the banks of the River Tywi and possibly the River Loughor. Although Ystrad Tywi was never a kingdom itself, it was historically a valuable territory and was fough ...

*Cantref Bychan **Kymwt Hirvryn **Kymwt Perued **Kymwt Iskennen *Cantref Eginawc (Eginog) **Kymwt Kedweli (Cydweli) **Kymwt Carnywyllawn (Carnwyllion or Carnwyllon) **Kymwt Gwhyr (Gŵyr now

Swansea Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe). The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...

) *

Cantref Mawr Cantref Mawr was a cantref in south-west Wales. It was of strategic importance in medieval Wales as the location of the main seat of the princes of Deheubarth at Dinefwr. ''Cantref Mawr'' means "The Great Cantref". Each cantref in medieval Wale ...

**Kymwt Mallaen **Kymwt Caeaw **Kymwt Maenawr Deilaw **Kymwt Cetheinawc **Kymwt Mab Eluyw **Kymwt Mab Utryt **Kymwt Widigada

Ceredigyawn (
Ceredigion Ceredigion ( , , ) is a county in the west of Wales, corresponding to the historic county of Cardiganshire. During the second half of the first millennium Ceredigion was a minor kingdom. It has been administered as a county since 1282. Cere ...
)

* Cantref Penweddig **Kymwt Geneurglyn (Cwmwd Genau'r Glyn) **Kymwt Perued (Cwmwd Perfedd) **Kymwt Creudyn ( Cwmwd Creuddyn) *Cantref Mabwynyon (Cantref Mabwnion) **Kymwt Meuenyd (Cwmwd Mefenydd) **Kymwt Anhunyawc (Cwmwd Anhuniog) **Kymwt Pennard (Cwmwd Penardd) *Cantref Caer Wedros (Cantref Caerwedros) **Kymwt Wenyionid (Cwmwd Gwinionydd) **Kymwt Is Coed (Cwmwd Is Coed)

Dyfed Dyfed () is a preserved county in southwestern Wales. It is a mostly rural area with a coastline on the Irish Sea and the Bristol Channel. Between 1974 and 1996, Dyfed was also the name of the area's county council and the name remains in use f ...

*Cantref Cemeis ( Cemais) **Kymwt Is Neuer (

Cemais Is Nyfer 250 px, Location of the commote of Cemais Is Nyfer Cemais Is Nyfer was a mediaeval commote in the Dyfed cantref of Cemais, Wales. It consisted of the territory between the rivers Nyfer and Teifi, and comprised the parishes of Eglwyswrw, Moning ...

) **Kymwt Uch Neuer (

Cemais Uwch Nyfer Cemais Uwch Nyfer was a mediaeval Welsh commote in the Dyfed cantref of Cemais, in what is now Pembrokeshire. It consisted of the territory between the Afon Nyfer and Fishguard, and its civil headquarters were at Newport. The commote was m ...

) *Cantref Deugledyf ( Daugleddyf) **Kymwt Castel Hu ( Castell Gwis) **Kymwt Llan y Hadein ( Llanhuadain) *Cantref

Emlyn Emlyn was one of the seven cantrefi of Dyfed, an ancient district of Wales, which became part of Deheubarth in around 950. It consisted of the northern part of Dyfed bordering on the River Teifi. Its southern boundary followed the ridge of the ...

**Kymwt Is Cuch ( Emlyn Is Cuch) **Kymwt Uch Cuch (

Emlyn Uwch Cuch Emlyn was one of the seven cantrefi of Dyfed, an ancient district of Wales, which became part of Deheubarth in around 950. It consisted of the northern part of Dyfed bordering on the River Teifi. Its southern boundary followed the ridge of the ...

) *Cantref Wartha ( Gwarthaf) **Kymwt Amgoet ( Amgoed) **Kymwt Derllys ( Derllys) **Kymwt y Uelfre ( Efelfre) **Kymwt Eluyd ( Elfed) **Kymwt Pennryn (

Penrhyn Penryn is a Cornish word meaning 'headland' that may refer to: *Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom, a town of about 7,000 on the Penryn River **Penryn railway station, a station on the Maritime Line between Truro and Falmouth Docks, and serves the to ...

) **Kymwt Peluneawc ( Peuliniog) **Kymwt Talacharn ( Talacharn) **Kymwt Estyrlwyf ( Ystlwys) *Cantref Pebideawc ( Pebidiog) **Kymwt Menew (

Mynyw St Davids or St David's ( cy, Tyddewi, , "David's house”) is a city and a community (named St Davids and the Cathedral Close) with a cathedral in Pembrokeshire, Wales, lying on the River Alun. It is the resting place of Saint David, Wa ...

) **Kymwt Penncaer (

Pencaer Pencaer is a community which covers an area of dispersed settlement in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on the peninsula of Pen Caer and comprises the village of Llanwnda and the smaller settlements of Granston, Llangloffan, St Nicholas (Tremarchog) and T ...

) *Cantref Pennbrwc ( Penfro) ** Coedrath ** Penfro *Cantref Rhos ( Rhos) **Kymwt Castell Gwalchmei ( Castell Gwalchmei) **Kymwt Hawlfford ( Hwlffordd)

Morgannwg Morgannwg was a medieval Welsh kingdom formed via the merger of the kingdoms of the Kingdom of Glywysing and the Kingdom of Gwent. Formation of Morgannwg First under King Morgan the Generous (fl. ) until the end of the reign of his descendant I ...

*Cantref Gorvynyd **Kymwt Rwng Net A Thawy **Kymwt Tir Yr Hwndryt **Kymwt Rwng Neth ac Avyn **Kymwt Tir Yr Iarll **Kymwt Y Coety **Kymwt Maenawr Glyn Ogwr *Cantref Penn Ychen **Kymwt Meisgyn **Kymwt Glyn Rodne **Kymwt Maenawr Tal y Vann **Kymwt Maenawr Ruthyn *Cantref Breinyawl **Kymwt Is Caech **Kymwt Uch Caech **Kymwt Kibwr (Ceibwr; later

Kibbor Kibbor is one of the Hundred (county subdivision), hundreds of Glamorgan created by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542, Laws in Wales Acts 1535 corresponding approximately to the commote of ''Kwmwd Kibwr'' (Ceibwr in contemporary Welsh) of the f ...

) *Cantref Gwynllwc **Kymwt Yr Heid **Kymwt Ydref Berued **Kymwt Edelygyon **Kymwt Eithyaf **Kymwt Y Mynyd *Cantref Gwent **Kymwt Is Coed **Kymwt Llemynyd **Kymwt Tref y Gruc **Kymwt Uch Coed

Citations

References

* * * * * *

External links

* — discussions of the terms 'cantref' and 'commote', with maps. * — discusses (but does not give a pure list) the cantrefi known to him, with passing references to several of the cymydau. {{Types of administrative country subdivision 01 Former subdivisions of Wales Medieval Wales 01