Rhufoniog facts for kids
Rhufoniog was a small but important area in medieval Wales. It was once a sub-kingdom of Gwynedd, a powerful Welsh kingdom. Later, it became known as a cantref, which was a type of land division in Wales. Think of it like a county today.
Contents
Where Was Rhufoniog?
Rhufoniog was located in what is now North Wales. It was next to another area called Rhos. Sometimes, these two areas were even grouped together as "Rhos and Rhufoniog." This combined area is similar to the old county of Denbighshire.
Natural features helped define Rhufoniog's borders. The Irish Sea was to its west, beyond Rhos. Rivers like the Elwy, Clwyd, and Clywedog formed natural boundaries to the north and east. The land was often wild and quiet, much like some parts of the area are today.
Parts of Rhufoniog
Rhufoniog was divided into three smaller areas called commotes. These were like smaller districts within the cantref. Two of these commotes were named Upper Aled and Lower Aled. The River Aled acted as a border between them. The third commote was Ceinmerch, also known as 'Cymeirch' or 'Ystrad'. It was located in the north-east, between the River Lliwen and the River Clywedog.
Rhufoniog's Past
The very early history of Rhufoniog is not fully clear. Stories say that a person named Rhufon ruled it. He was the third son of Cunedda, who was the first King of Gwynedd. Rhufon and his family supposedly ruled Rhufoniog from about 445 AD until 540 AD. After that, it likely became a direct part of the larger Gwynedd kingdom again.
Roman Times and Beyond
During the time when the Romans were in Wales, Rhufoniog was part of the land of the Deceangli tribe. Later, during the Middle Ages, much of the land in Rhufoniog belonged to important church leaders, like the bishops of Bangor and Llanelwy. The town of Denbigh became the main center or capital of the cantref during this period.
Changes in Control
In 1277, the area of Rhufoniog was given to a Welsh prince named Dafydd ap Gruffudd. However, he died five years later. After his death, the land was given to an English noble, Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln. Rhufoniog was then joined with the nearby cantref of Rhos. Together, they formed a larger area known as the Lordship of Denbigh.
Today, most of the land that was once Rhufoniog is now part of Denbighshire. Some western parts of the old cantref are now in Conwy.
See also
- Moreith ap Aidan
- Perfeddwlad
