Cantref Arfon facts for kids
Arfon was an important area in north-west Wales during the Middle Ages. It was like the heart of the old kingdom of Gwynedd, a powerful Welsh kingdom. Later, in 1284, Arfon became part of a new county called Caernarfonshire. This happened after the Statute of Rhuddlan, a law that changed how Wales was governed.
Arfon was surrounded by other interesting places. The island of Anglesey was just across the Menai Strait. To the east was Arllechwedd, to the south was Eifionydd, and to the west was Llŷn.
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What is Arfon?
The name Arfon means "facing Anglesey" (Môn). This shows how important its location was. It controlled access to the Menai Strait, a narrow waterway that played a big role in Welsh history.
Arfon stretched from the peaks of Yr Eifl in the west to a stream called Afon Cegin near Bangor. It went inland from the Menai shores into the heart of Snowdonia (Eryri). This included areas like Dyffryn Nantlle and the important Llanberis Pass.
The Land of Arfon
The land in Arfon was very diverse. Near the Menai shore and in the valleys, there was fertile land and good pastures for animals. There were also woods on the slopes and mountains to the south. Arfon was home to some of the highest mountains in Wales, like Snowdon and Tryfan.
How Arfon Was Divided
Arfon was split into two smaller areas called commotes. These were created later in its history. The two commotes were Arfon Is Gwyrfai and Arfon Uwch Gwyrfai. They were separated by the Gwyrfai River.
Arfon Through History
Ancient Times
During the Iron Age and the Roman Empire, Arfon was part of the land of the Ordovices, an ancient Welsh tribe. The Romans built a fort there called Segontium. There was also an old hill fort at Dinorwig.
Welsh Princes
In the time of the Welsh princes, a main fortress for defense was Dolbadarn Castle. It is located near modern Llanberis. This castle helped protect the area.
Important Religious Places
Arfon also had important religious centers. These included Bangor and Clynnog Fawr. The bishops of Bangor, who followed St Deiniol, owned a lot of land in the north-east of Arfon. This area was known as Maenol Bangor. Clynnog Fawr also owned large lands in Llŷn and Anglesey.
Arfon in Welsh Stories
Arfon appears a lot in Welsh mythology, especially in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi. This is a famous collection of ancient Welsh tales.
- Math fab Mathonwy's court, a royal residence, was said to be at Caer Dathyl in Arfon.
- Aranrhod's court was at Caer Aranrhod, also in Arfon.
- A big battle between the forces of Math and Pryderi took place in Arfon.
- Lleu Llaw Gyffes famously turned into an eagle and flew to Nantlleu in Arfon after someone tried to harm him.
Arfon Today
From 1974 to 1996, there was a local government district called Arfon. Today, Gwynedd is a unitary authority, which means it handles all local government services. However, the name Arfon is still used for the area, just as it has been for hundreds of years in Wales.
