Fifteen Tribes of Wales facts for kids

The lists known as The five royal tribes of Wales and The fifteen tribes of Gwynedd were special family tree records. Welsh bards, who were like poets and historians, created these lists in the middle of the 15th century. The main idea behind them was to show that many important Welsh families of that time could trace their ancestors back to these "five royal tribes" or "fifteen noble tribes."

Welsh Tribes: Family Trees from the Past

These lists helped people understand the history and connections of important families in Wales. They were not exactly the same, but they shared a similar purpose: to record who was related to whom.

What Were the Royal and Noble Tribes?

The "five royal tribes" were thought to be the most important families, often linked to kings or rulers. The "fifteen noble tribes" were also very important families, but perhaps not directly royal. These lists were a way to show a family's status and history.

Where Can We Find These Lists?

We can find these old lists in handwritten books called manuscripts. These manuscripts are very old and valuable, giving us clues about the past.

Early Records: Peniarth MS 131

One of the first places we see the "fifteen tribes of Gwynedd" mentioned is in a manuscript called Peniarth MS 131. Parts of this book were written by a bard named Gutun Owain. For example, on pages 85 and 90, there are headings above family trees that say something like "one of the 15 tribes" in Welsh (llwyth). These sections talk about families like Eunydd of Dyffryn Clwyd, Hwfa ap Cynddelw, and Gollwyn ap Tangno.

Other Important Manuscripts

Another similar list can be found in a manuscript at the British Library, called Add MS 14919. It's on page 121v. A more detailed example is in another British Library manuscript, Harley MS 1970, on pages 34r-v. This one is from the 16th or 17th century and even includes pictures of family symbols, like coats of arms.

How Were These Lists Used Later?

The idea of these royal and noble tribes became very popular. Later, a historian and expert in family trees named Philip Yorke used this concept. He wrote a book in 1799 called Royal Tribes of Wales. He used the idea of the five royal and fifteen noble tribes as a model for his own work, helping to preserve their history.