Welsh chronicles facts for kids

Imagine reading old diaries or history books from hundreds of years ago! In Wales, people kept special records called chronicles. These chronicles tell us about the past, from ancient times up to the Middle Ages. They are like a window into how people lived and what happened long ago in Wales.

Welsh Chronicles: Stories from the Past

What are Welsh Chronicles?

• Chronicles are like historical diaries. They record important events in order, year by year.
• Many medieval Welsh chronicles still exist today. Medieval means the "Middle Ages," a time from about 500 AD to 1500 AD.
• Two very old and important chronicles are the Historia Brittonum from the 9th century and the Annales Cambriae from the 10th century.
• These early chronicles were written in Latin, which was the language of learning back then.
• Later, from the 12th century onwards, some chronicles were written in Middle Welsh. This was an older form of the Welsh language.
• The oldest copies of these chronicles that we still have today are from the 13th century. You can find them at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.

Early Welsh History in Chronicles

• The history of Wales becomes clearer from the 7th century onwards.
• Some chronicles talk about a time called "Dark Age Wales" (the 5th and 6th centuries).
• These older stories might include famous names like King Arthur, Vortigern, and Maelgwn Gwynedd.
• It's important to know that these early accounts might mix real history with legends. We can't always be sure if every detail is true.

Famous Welsh Chronicles

• Brut y Brenhinedd is a Welsh version of a famous book called Historia Regum Britanniae by Geoffrey of Monmouth. It tells stories about the kings of Britain.
• Brut y Tywysogion is like a follow-up to Historia Regum Britanniae. It covers events in Wales from 682 AD to 1332 AD. It's a very important source for Welsh history.
• The Brenhinoedd y Saeson is another chronicle. Copies of it from the 14th century still exist. This chronicle tells about events from 682 AD to 1282 AD.
• The Annals of Owain Glyndwr is a special chronicle. It tells the story of the Glyndŵr Rising. This was a big rebellion led by Owain Glyndŵr against English rule. It covers the years from 1400 AD to 1422 AD.

See also

• Wales in the Early Middle Ages
• King of the Britons
• List of legendary kings of Britain