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The Principality of Wales (Welsh: ''Tywysogaeth Cymru'') existed between 1216 and 1536, encompassing two-thirds of modern Wales during its height between 1267–1277. For most of its history it was "annexed and united" to the English Crown. However, for a few generations, specifically the period from its foundation in 1216 to Edward I's completion of the conquest of Wales in 1284, it was ''de facto'' independent under a Welsh Prince of Wales, albeit one who swore fealty to the King of England. The Principality was formally founded in 1216 at the Council of Aberdyfi and later recognised by the 1218 Treaty of Worcester between Llywelyn the Great of Wales and Henry III of England.〔 〕 The treaty gave substance to the political reality of 13th century Wales and England, and the relationship of the former with the Angevin Empire. The principality retained a great degree of autonomy, characterized by a separate legal jurisprudence based on the well established laws of ''Cyfraith Hywel'', and by the increasingly sophisticated court of the House of Aberffraw. Although it owed fealty to the Angevin king of England, the principality was ''de facto'' independent, with a similar status in the empire to the Kingdom of Scotland. Its existence has been seen as proof that all the elements necessary for the growth of Welsh statehood were in place.〔 The period of ''de facto'' independence ended with Edward I's conquest of the Principality between 1277 and 1283. Under the Statute of Rhuddlan the Principality lost its independence and became effectively an annexed territory of the English crown. From 1301, the crown's lands in north and west Wales formed part of the appanage of England's heir apparent, with the title "Prince of Wales". On accession of the Prince to the English throne, the lands and title became merged with the Crown again. On two occasions Welsh claimants to the title rose up in rebellion during this period, although neither ultimately succeeded. Since the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542, which formally incorporated all of Wales within the Kingdom of England, there has been no geographical or constitutional basis for describing any of the territory of Wales as a principality, although the term has occasionally been used in an informal sense to describe the country, and in relation to the honorary title of Prince of Wales. == Foundations == The 13th century Principality of Wales was based on the historic lands ruled by the Aberffraw family, lands in north Wales traditionally including Ynys Môn, Gwynedd-Uwch-Conwy (''Gwynedd above the Conwy'', or ''Upper Gwynedd''), and the Perfeddwlad (''the Middle Country'') also known as Gwynedd-Is-Conwy (''Gwynedd below the Conwy'', or ''Lower Gwynedd''). Additional lands were acquired through vassalage or conquest, and by regaining lands lost to Marcher lords, particularly that of the Perfeddwlad, Powys Fadog, Powys Wenwynwyn, and Ceredigion. Previous Welsh rulers had styled themselves in a variety of ways, usually in relation to a certain patrimony like "Lord of Ceredigion" or "King of Builth". The most powerful were often referred to (by others at least) as "King of the Britons". As Wales was a defined geographical area with agreed borders, yet outside the bounds of England, anyone bestowed with the title Prince of ''Wales'' would have suzerainty over any local Welsh ruler but without the territorial ambitions on England of a ''King of the Britons'' - which implied "liberating" the Britons who still resided in places long considered a part of England such as Devon, Cornwall, Cumberland and other places, albeit in fewer and fewer numbers. The Aberffraw family had long claimed primacy over all other Welsh lords, including over those rulers of Powys and of Deheubarth. In ''The History of Gruffydd ap Cynan'', written in the late 12th century, the family asserted its rights as the senior line of descendants from Rhodri the Great, who had ruled most of Wales between 820-870, and whose sons came to rule in Gwynedd, Deheubarth, and Powys.〔〔Rhodri inherited Gwynedd from his father and Powys from his mother, married Angharad, heiress Seisyllwg (modern Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire).〕 Gruffudd ap Cynan's biography was first written in Latin and intended for a wider audience outside Wales.〔 The significance of this claim was that the Aberffraw family owed nothing to the English king for its position in Wales, and that they held authority in Wales "by absolute right through descent," wrote historian John Davies.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Principality of Wales」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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