A taeog (pl. ''taeogion'';

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

: ''villanus'') was a native

serf Serfdom was the status of many peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to manorialism and similar systems. It was a condition of debt bondage and indentured servitude with similarities to and differences from slavery. It developed du ...

villein A villein is a class of serfdom, serf tied to the land under the feudal system. As part of the contract with the lord of the manor, they were expected to spend some of their time working on the lord's fields in return for land. Villeins existe ...

of the medieval

Welsh kingdoms Wales in the early Middle Ages covers the time between the Roman departure from Wales c. 383 until the middle of the 11th century. In that time there was a gradual consolidation of power into increasingly hierarchical kingdoms. The end of the ea ...

. The term was used in

south Wales South Wales ( ) is a Regions of Wales, loosely defined region of Wales bordered by England to the east and mid Wales to the north. Generally considered to include the Historic counties of Wales, historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire ( ...

and literally denoted someone "belonging to the house" (''ty'') of the lord's manor. The equivalent term in

north Wales North Wales ( ) is a Regions of Wales, region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdon ...

was aillt or mab aillt ( "shorn" or "shaven fellow").. The ''taeogion'' were distinguished both from the nobility (''boneddigion'') above them and the foreign-born (''alltudion'') and slaves (''caethion'') below. Although they might use

patronymics A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (more specifically an avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. It is the male equivalent of a matronymic. Patronymics are used, ...

, they were considered as having no pedigree and were bound to their land until they were freed in one of three ways: if they were elevated to one of the 24 principal offices of the Welsh court; if they became a tonsured cleric; or if a new church were built within their town with the king's permission.. The class of all ''taeogion'' were divided between the serfs of the king's land and those of the nobles', with the

wergild Weregild (also spelled wergild, wergeld (in archaic/historical usage of English), weregeld, etc.), also known as man price ( blood money), was a precept in some historical legal codes whereby a monetary value was established for a person's life, ...

of the former valued at twice that of the latter. Those of the king were administered by the

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...

. Both groups were restricted to land holdings in special settlements set aside for them, the ''taeogtrev'' (lit. "serf town"). In the case of the northern Welsh kingdoms, at least, the ''taeogion'' represented the original Roman and Irish inhabitants of the region subjugated by the Men of the North under

Cunedda Cunedda ap Edern, also called Cunedda ''Wledig'' (reigned – c. 460), was an important early Welsh people, Welsh leader, and the progenitor of the royal dynasty of Kingdom of Gwynedd, Gwynedd, one of the very oldest of Western Europe. Nam ...

References

Medieval history of Wales Welsh farmers {{wales-stub

See also

References