Tywysog facts for kids

Tywysog (pronounced "tuh-WUH-sog") is a special Welsh word. Today, it usually means "Prince". But a long time ago, it was used for many different kinds of rulers in Wales. The word for a female ruler was Tywysoges.

What Does Tywysog Mean?

The word Tywysog comes from the Welsh word tywys, which means "to lead". So, Tywysog literally means "one who leads". It's a bit like saying "leader" or "chief".

Tywysog Through History

For many centuries, Wales was made up of several smaller kingdoms, not just one big country. The rulers of these kingdoms were often called Tywysog.

A famous old book called Brut y Tywysogion tells the stories of these Welsh rulers. It covers a long period, from when the Romans left Britain around 410 AD, all the way to 1282.

The Last Native Tywysog

In 1282, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd was the last native Welsh Tywysog to rule all of Wales. He was from the Kingdom of Gwynedd. Llywelyn was also the first person to be officially called Tywysog Cymru, which means "Prince of Wales". Sadly, he died in 1282, and Wales was then taken over by England.

Owain Glyndŵr: A Later Tywysog

Much later, in 1400, another important Welsh leader named Owain Glyndŵr was also proclaimed Tywysog Cymru. He was the Lord of Glyndyfrdwy and claimed to be the heir to the old Kingdom of Powys. Owain led a big rebellion against English rule, but his time as Tywysog ended around 1412.

How Tywysog Connects to Other Languages

The word Tywysog is similar to words in other Celtic languages:

• In Irish, the word is taoiseach. Today, Taoiseach is the title for the head of government in Ireland.
• In Scottish Gaelic, the word is tòiseach. This word was used for a Scottish clan chief. You can even see it in the name "MacIntosh" (Mac an Tòisich), which means "Son of the Chief".

So, while these words have different meanings today, they all originally came from the idea of a "leader" or "chief".