Cynllibiwg facts for kids

Cynllibiwg was an old place name in Wales during the early Middle Ages. We don't know exactly where it was, but it appears in some very old writings.

What Was Cynllibiwg?

Cynllibiwg was likely the name of a region or district in early medieval Wales. Historians believe its name came from adding -wg (a common ending for place names) to a personal name, perhaps "Cunalipi" or "Cynllib."

Early Mentions of Cynllibiwg

The oldest mention of Cynllibiwg is in a book called the Historia Brittonum. This book, written a very long time ago, talks about a wonderful spring in a region called Cinlipiuc. This spring was special because it had lots of fish, even though no stream flowed into it.

Cynllibiwg in Other Records

• The Domesday Book, a famous record from 1086, mentions a place called Calcebuef. Some people think this might be a changed version of Cynllibiwg. This place was said to be worth ten shillings.
• However, historian John Edward Lloyd thought Calcebuef was actually linked to a different area called Buellt.
• Another old book, the Red Book of the Exchequer (mostly from the 1200s), talks about a region of seven cantrefs (which were like large districts). This area, between the River Severn and the River Wye, was known as Kenthlebiac around the time of Rhys ab Owain (who died in 1078).

Where Was Cynllibiwg Located?

If Kenthlebiac was indeed Cynllibiwg, it would have been in the area later known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren. This region is in central Wales. However, these old records don't tell us exactly how big Cynllibiwg was or what it was like.

Some historians have suggested that Cynllibiwg might have been an early kingdom in Wales. But most historians don't mention it as a kingdom, suggesting it was more likely a smaller region or district.