Dindaethwy facts for kids

Dindaethwy was an important historical area, or commote, located in the southeast part of the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. In medieval times, Anglesey was divided into smaller regions called cantrefs, and these were further split into commotes. Dindaethwy was one of two commotes within the Rhosyr cantref. It was situated between the Menai Strait and Conwy Bay to the south, and the Irish Sea and Red Wharf Bay to the north.

Where Was Dindaethwy?

Dindaethwy covered the easternmost point of Anglesey, which is a place called Penmon. Right across from Penmon is a small island known as Puffin Island, or Ynys Seiriol. Dindaethwy shared its borders with other commotes. To its west was the Menai commote, which was also part of Rhosyr. To the north, it bordered the commote of Twrcelyn, which belonged to a different cantref called Cemais.

Important Places

The main center of Dindaethwy was a settlement called Llanfaes. This is where the commote's court was held, and it was also home to the maerdref, which was like the main farm or estate of the local lord. Later in the Middle Ages, a famous Welsh leader named Llywelyn the Great founded a monastery at Llanfaes. His wife, Siwan, was even buried there.

Before the monastery at Llanfaes, another very important religious community in Dindaethwy was at Penmon. This community became a priory (a type of monastery) in the 12th century, known as Penmon Priory.

Famous Connections

Dindaethwy also has a connection to a very famous Welsh family: the Tudors of Anglesey. The family estate of the Tudors, who later became the royal family of England, was located in Penmynydd, within Dindaethwy.

The name Dindaethwy itself means "Fort of the Daethwy." This might refer to an ancient hillfort called Bwrdd Arthur ("Arthur's Table"). The Daethwy were a local Celtic tribe who lived in this area. They also gave their name to the village of Porthaethwy, which is now known as Menai Bridge. Sometimes, Dindaethwy was also called Tindaethwy or Tyndaethwy. Another old fort, called Dinas, located in the parish of Llandysilio, might have been the main center for this tribe.

A king of Gwynedd from the early 9th century, named Cynan Dindaethwy, also had this name as part of his title. This shows that he came from this part of Anglesey.