Cemais Is Nyfer facts for kids
Cemais Is Nyfer was a special kind of area in Wales during the Middle Ages. Think of it like a small district or region. It was part of a larger area called a cantref, which was named Cemais. This whole region was located in the ancient Kingdom of Dyfed in Wales.
This area was found between two rivers, the Nyfer and the Teifi. It included several villages and their surrounding lands, such as Eglwyswrw, Monington, St Dogmaels, Llanfair-Nant-Gwyn, Llantood, Moylgrove, and Bayvil. Parts of Nevern and Meline were also included. Today, all these places are in Pembrokeshire. The total size of Cemais Is Nyfer was about 100 square kilometers. The main center for its government and religious activities was at Nevern.
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What Was Cemais Is Nyfer?
Cemais Is Nyfer was a "commote" (pronounced KOM-oat). In medieval Wales, a commote was a small administrative area. It was used for managing local laws, taxes, and justice. It was like a county or district in modern times, but much smaller. These commotes were important parts of how Welsh kingdoms were organized.
How Did Cemais Is Nyfer Change?
In the 12th century, the Normans arrived in Wales. They were a powerful group from France who had conquered England. They took control of Cemais Is Nyfer and made it part of the Welsh Marches. The Marches were borderlands between England and Wales. These areas were often controlled by powerful Norman lords.
Norman Castles in the Commote
To keep control, the Normans built at least five castles in Cemais Is Nyfer. These castles were strongholds used to defend their new lands. Some of these castles were at Nevern, Pen-yr-allt, Eglwyswrw, Llain Fawr, and Dyffryn Mawr. They helped the Normans rule the area.
Why Did Cemais Is Nyfer Disappear?
Cemais Is Nyfer stopped being an important administrative area around the 1500s. This happened when the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 were passed. These laws changed how Wales was governed. They brought Wales more fully under English law. The old system of commotes was replaced by larger areas called "Hundreds." The functions of Cemais Is Nyfer were taken over by the Hundred of Cemais.
Today, this area is still known for being a place where many people speak the Welsh language. It is in the northern part of Pembrokeshire, where Welsh culture remains strong.
