Taeog facts for kids

A taeog was a person who lived in the old Welsh kingdoms during the Middle Ages. They were a type of serf or villein, which means they were tied to the land and worked for a lord or the king. In south Wales, they were called taeogion. This word meant "belonging to the house" of the lord. In north Wales, they were known as aillt or mab aillt.

Who Were the Taeogion?

The taeogion were different from the rich nobles (called boneddigion) and also from people who came from other lands (alltudion) or slaves (caethion). Even though they might use family names like we do today, they were seen as having no special family history or "pedigree." They were connected to the land they lived on and could not leave it easily.

Life as a Taeog

Taeogion lived in special settlements called taeogtrev, which means "serf town." They worked on the land belonging to the king or a noble. The king's taeogion were looked after by an official called a maer, who was like a manager. Their lives were often hard, as they had many duties and payments to make to their lord.

How Could a Taeog Become Free?

It was very difficult for a taeog to become free, but there were a few ways it could happen:

• They could be chosen for one of the 24 main jobs in the Welsh court.
• They could become a priest or a religious person (a "tonsured cleric").
• If a new church was built in their town, and the king agreed, they could gain their freedom.