Ystrad Tywi facts for kids
Ystrad Tywi (pronounced "Us-trad Tur-wee") means "Valley of the River Towy". It's a historical area in southwest Wales, located along both sides of the River Towy. This region was very important because of its location and resources. Even though Ystrad Tywi was never its own kingdom, many powerful groups wanted to control it. Different kings from places like Dyfed, Deheubarth, and Gwynedd, as well as the Normans, often fought over this valuable land.
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A Look at Ystrad Tywi's Past
Ystrad Tywi has a long and interesting history, with many changes in who ruled it.
Early History and Dyfed
At the start of the 700s, Ystrad Tywi was part of a kingdom called Dyfed. Around the year 730, a king named Seisyll ap Clydog from Ceredigion took control of Ystrad Tywi from Rhain ap Cadwgan, who was the king of Dyfed. Seisyll ap Clydog then added Ystrad Tywi to his own kingdom. This new, larger kingdom was then called Seisyllwg. Because of this change, another area called Brycheiniog became separate from Dyfed again.
Battles and New Kingdoms
Later, in 894, King Anarawd ap Rhodri of Gwynedd wanted to get back lands his father, Rhodri Mawr, once ruled. So, he teamed up with Alfred the Great and his English forces. They caused a lot of damage in Ystrad Tywi and Ceredigion during their campaign.
In 920, a very important king named Hywel Dda brought Seisyllwg and Dyfed together. He created a new, larger kingdom called Deheubarth.
How Ystrad Tywi Was Divided
During the Middle Ages, Ystrad Tywi was split into three main areas called cantrefi. A cantref was like a large county.
- Cantref Mawr was on the north side of the river.
- Cantref Bychan and Cantref Eginawc were on the south side.
Eginawc included smaller areas like Gŵyr, Carnwyllion, and Kidwelly. Welsh and Norman forces fought over Eginawc many times in the 1000s. After that, for the rest of the Middle Ages, only Cantref Mawr and Cantref Bychan were usually considered part of Ystrad Tywi.
Becoming Carmarthenshire
Ystrad Tywi changed into the county of Carmarthen after King Edward I of England won his war against Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, who was the Prince of Wales. In 1284, King Edward I made a new law called the Statute of Rhuddlan. This law changed how Wales was governed.
Even though Gŵyr became part of another area called Glamorgan, the rest of Eginawc was later added back to Ystrad Tywi. This area then joined with Gwarthaf (except for one small part called Efelfre) to form what we know today as the county of Carmarthenshire.
Ystrad Tywi in Old Legends
Ystrad Tywi also appears in old Welsh stories and legends. In the first part of the famous collection of tales called the Mabinogi, there's a story called Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed. This tale tells how Pryderi, the son of Pwyll, became king of Dyfed after his father. The story says that Pryderi then added the three cantrefi of Ystrad Tywi and four cantrefi of Ceredigion to his kingdom, making it even bigger.
