pp xlii257 1984 Hardback
ISBN 0-7083-0850-3
This book investigates the governance exercised by the 13th-Century Princes of Gwynedd, particularly Llywelyn the Great (fl. 1194-1240) and Llywelyn the Last (fl.1243-1282) as they strove to extend their political control over much of Wales. The analysis rests on the combination of many different classes of evidence, literary texts, Welsh Laws, 13th and 14th century record sources and the results of archaeological work. After a descriptive survey of the work of the Princes officials, the range of revenues available to the Princes is discussed, as are their attempts to increase their income. The recruitment of a privileged Ministerial elite is examined and detailed prosopographical analysis revealed the Princes attempts to overcome the segmentary nature of the political structure. Finally, attention is focused on the ways in which the rise of the Llywelyns and the increased pressures of governance imposed by their ambitions created tensions within Gwynedd and contributed to the final collapse of native rule in Wales.
`Carefully researched and elegantly written, this challenging and exciting volume represents a most significant contribution to our understanding of thirteenth-century Welsh politics, economy and society, and also of fascinating processes and problems of medieval governance.' (History)