List of Welsh historical documents

This is a list of Welsh important historical documents connected to Wales and/or the Welsh language, starting from the early medieval period. These documents are written in various stages of the Welsh language as well as other languages such as Latin.

List

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List of important historic documents (in order of time written)
Title Date Language Translation Contents Author/Translator
Early Middle Ages
Historia Brittonum Around 828 Latin The History of Britain Includes Arthurian legends Nennius
High Middle Ages
Historia Regum Britanniae 1136 Latin The Regal History of Britain Pseudo-historical account of British history & kings from the founding of Celtic Britain until 682AD.[1][2] Geoffrey of Monmouth
Llyfr Du Gaerfyrddin Before 1250 Middle Welsh The Black Book of Carmarthen Vellum codex: 9th-12th C poetry
Annales Cambriae 12th Century Latin The Annals of Wales Welsh history timeline from 447AD to 954AD [3]
Late Middle Ages
Brut y Tywysogion 1330 Middle Welsh translation
of lost Latin work
Chronicle of the Princes Continues Welsh history from the end of History Regum Britanniae beginning with the death of Cadwaladr Fendigaid in 682. Ends with a later addition of the period 1282-1332.[2] An unknown Welshman[2]
Cyfraith Hywel 1350 Welsh Laws of Hywel Include a core of laws of King of Deheubarth, Hywel Dda likely passed during the reign 942–948, although this text contains later laws of the 12th and 13th centuries.[4]
Leges Hywel Dda Mid 13th century Latin Laws of Hywel Latin version of Laws of Hywel Dda.[5]
Llyfr Du y Waun Mid 13th century Welsh The Black Book of Chirk Codex; First record of Hywel Dda's Welsh laws Llywelyn ap Gruffudd
Llyfr Aneirin 2nd half of 13th century Old/Middle Welsh The Book of Aneurin Poetry Aneurin
Cronicon de Wallia Late 13th Century Latin The Chronicles of Wales Welsh history during the period 1190–1266. From Exeter Cathedral.[6]
Llyfr Coch Hergest Shortly after 1382 Welsh The Red Book of Hergest Vellum manuscript: Mabinogion; the poetry of the Gogynfeirdd
Llythr Pennal 1406 Latin Pennal Letter A vision of an independent Wales Owain Glyndŵr
Llyfr Taliesin 1st half of 14th century Old/Middle Welsh Book of Taliesin Early medieval poetry Taliesin
Llyfr Gwynedd Rhydderch Mid 14th century Welsh The White Book of Rhydderch Four branches of the mabinogi.
Renaissance
Yny lhyvyr hwnn 1546 Welsh In this book The first book printed in Welsh Literary heritage of Wales Sir John Price
Y Beibl cyssegr-lan 1588 Welsh The Bible The old and new testaments of the Bible. William Morgan

References

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  1. ^ Dalton, Paul (October 2005). "The Topical Concerns of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britannie: History, Prophecy, Peacemaking, and English Identity in the Twelfth Century". Journal of British Studies. 44 (4): 688–712. doi:10.1086/431937. ISSN 1545-6986. S2CID 162626954.
  2. ^ a b c "Chronicle of the Princes | The National Library of Wales". www.library.wales. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  3. ^ "Internet History Sourcebooks". sourcebooks.fordham.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  4. ^ "A Welsh text of the Laws of Hywel Dda | The National Library of Wales". www.library.wales. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  5. ^ "Laws of Hywel Dda | The National Library of Wales". www.library.wales. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  6. ^ "Cronicon de Wallia | Welsh Chronicles | Bangor University". croniclau.bangor.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-02-15.