Lordship of Glamorgan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lordship of Glamorgan
Arglwyddiaeth Morgannwg
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| 1091–1536 | |||||||||
 Arms of Gilbert de Clare
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Wales (1267–1277):
Gwynedd, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd's principality Territories conquered by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd Territories of Llywelyn's vassals Lordships of the Marcher barons Lordships of the King of England Kingdom of England |
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| Status | Client state of the Kingdom of England | ||||||||
| Capital | Cardiff | ||||||||
| Government | Lordship | ||||||||
| Lord | |||||||||
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• 1093–1107
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Robert Fitzhamon | ||||||||
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• 1217–1230
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Gilbert de Clare | ||||||||
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• 1509–1536
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Henry VIII of England | ||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||
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• Conquered by Robert Fitzhamon
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1091 | ||||||||
| 1536 | |||||||||
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The Lordship of Glamorgan was a very powerful and rich area in Wales during the Middle Ages. It was located in the region we now call Glamorgan. The main castle and center of power for this lordship was Cardiff Castle.
This lordship was created after an Anglo-Norman nobleman named Robert FitzHamon took control of Glamorgan. He conquered it from its Welsh ruler around 1091. Robert FitzHamon was helped by a group of famous followers known as the Twelve Knights of Glamorgan.
Contents
What Was a Marcher Lordship?
The Lordship of Glamorgan was part of the Welsh Marches. This was a special border area between England and Wales. Lords in this area were called "Marcher lords."
Special Powers of Marcher Lords
Marcher lords had a lot of power. They ruled their lands almost like small kings. They could:
- Declare war on their neighbors.
- Collect their own taxes from people living on their land.
- Set up their own courts to judge crimes and settle arguments.
- Build castles wherever they wanted.
- Create markets for trade.
They did all this without needing permission from the King of England. This was very different from other lords inside England. These special powers lasted until the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 were passed. These laws made Glamorgan a regular part of England.
Who Ruled Glamorgan?
Over the centuries, many powerful families ruled the Lordship of Glamorgan. The title of Lord of Glamorgan was passed down through families or sometimes taken through marriage.
Early Rulers
After Robert FitzHamon, the lordship passed to his family. One important early ruler was Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester. He was the illegitimate son of King Henry I of England.
The de Clare Family
Later, the powerful de Clare family became Lords of Glamorgan. They were very important in both English and Welsh history.
- Gilbert de Clare, 5th Earl of Gloucester took over in 1217.
- His son, Richard de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester, ruled for many years.
- Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Gloucester, known as "Red Gilbert," was another famous de Clare lord.
The Despenser Family
After the de Clares, the Despenser family gained control.
- Hugh the younger Despenser became Lord through his marriage to Eleanor de Clare. He was a very powerful and controversial figure in England.
- Later, other members of the Despenser family, like Edward le Despenser, 1st Baron le Despenser, held the title.
Other Important Lords
The lordship also passed through other noble families, including the Beauchamps and the Nevilles. These families were often connected to the English royal family.
Becoming Part of the English Crown
Eventually, the Lordship of Glamorgan became directly controlled by the King of England.
- In 1495, Henry VII of England took control of Glamorgan. This meant the special powers of the Marcher lords in Glamorgan ended.
- His son, Henry VIII of England, continued to rule Glamorgan as part of the Crown. In 1536, the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 officially made Glamorgan a county of England. This ended its long history as a separate Marcher Lordship.
Images for kids
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A map showing Wales in the Middle Ages.
Sources
- R. R. Davies, The Age of Conquest: Wales 1063–1415 (Oxford History of Wales, 2)
- T. B. Pugh, Glamorgan County History:The Middle Ages: The Marcher Lordships of Glamorgan and Morgannwg and Gower and Kilvey from the Norman Conquest to the Act of Union of England and Wales
