History The Romans established several strongholds in the south and in its western part, as Caerfyrddin / Carmarthen (Maridunum). They also built the great fortress of Caerleon (Isca), where the amphitheater is the best preserved in Britain.
The Saxons have always failed to conquer Wales, both because of the mountainous terrain, as the stubborn resistance of the people of Wales. One of the Saxon kings, Offa of Mercia eventually erect a great wall of earth, " Offa's Dyke , on the border of his country, that demarcate the area of Powys he had just conquered. Some vestiges of this building are still visible. The Anglo-Saxons eventually dominate the country, but this dominance was more progressive than the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. Started by the Saxons in the sixth century , the conquest of Wales was not finished until 1282 on a battlefield, with the victory of Edward I of Llywelyn the Last , the last independent prince. To consolidate his rule, Edward built in the region several great castles, including that of Caernarfon , one of Conwy or that of Harlech.
The country remained Celtic and use of the Welsh language has always perpetuated, even in England and Scotland , the use of Celtic languages were lost or greatly diminished.
The word English Wales to designate the country of the word comes from Germanic Wahl which translates to "speaking a Celtic language or Romance" (while the word Welsh means "countryman"). It could also be derived from the French because the W G became Germanic in French (eg Wilhelm Guillaume). We find this term in other languages and in other regions to designate people who speak a Celtic language or Romance, or the lands they inhabit.
Geography
Wales is located on a peninsula in central-western Britain. Its area is about 20.779 km (about one quarter the size of Scotland ). It has a length of 270 km from north to south and 97 km from east to west. Wales is bordered by England to the east and by sea in three directions. In total, Wales has over 1,200 km of coastline.
There are several islands off its coast, the largest being Ynys Mn ( Anglesey ) in north-west. Most of the population and major industrial areas are in South Wales , comprising the cities of Cardiff (Caerdydd), Swansea (Abertawe) and Newport (Casnewydd) and surrounding area, with another significant population in the north-east around Wrexham (Gwrecsam). Much of the territory of Wales is mountainous, particularly in northern and central regions. The highest mountains in Wales are in Snowdonia (Eryri), and especially Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), which culminates at 1085 m and is the highest peak in Wales. Wales has three National Parks: Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) and Pembrokeshire Coast (Arfordir Sir Benfro). It also has four Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Cities
Subdivisions
Politics
Wales is a principality since the XIII century , under the Welsh prince, Llywelyn the Great and his little son, Llywelyn the Last, who became known as the Prince of Wales around 1258 and was recognized by the English kings by the Treaty of Aberconwy in 1277.
Economy
Culture
Languages
The first language spoken today is the English. The second language is Welsh , historical language of Wales, the family of languages Celtic and more specifically the branch Brythonic , closely related to Breton and mainland Cornish.
Since 1993 , a statute recognizes the equality between the two languages , therefore, amount of information and documents in the bilingual road signs in double form English / Welsh. According to the Population Census 1991 , there were 508,098 people who speak Welsh in Wales. A subsequent survey conducted in 1992 by the Welsh Office ( Welsh Office ), but estimated that the number of people speaking Welsh was 930,200, including 467,300 who spoke a little Welsh, the 94 900 relatively speaking fluently and 368 000 people on fluency.
In the early twentieth century , 50% of the population spoke Welsh in everyday life. The proportion fell to 20% at the end of the century. With the integration of Welsh in education, she has risen to 23% in 2001 and continues to grow. Today is the first Welsh Celtic language spoken in the world, with over 580,000 registered users in Wales (source: Welsh Language Board ) and 133 000 in England. There is a television channel that broadcasts exclusively in that language (S4C), and other channels broadcast regular broadcasts in Welsh. Most signs are provided in both English and Welsh. Welsh is enjoying a renaissance.
In education, Welsh has a remarkable place, with 20% of children are enrolled in the study and Welsh is compulsory until sixteen. Accordingly, it is in the age groups younger found most of Welsh speakers. The image of the Welsh media is associated with the campaign and the past.
Welsh Symbols
The dragon red (Y ddraig goch in Welsh), who symbolizes the struggle between Saxons and Celts. A legend tells that King Uther Pendragon (father of King Arthur ) wanted to build a castle but the ground shook and destroyed constantly foundations. Merlin called Myrddin in Welsh, who had the gift of clairvoyance, saw that the tumult was caused two tigers: one, the white dragon had taken the place of another, the red dragon in its cave. The red dragon, metaphorically representing the Britons, would eventually prevail over the Saxon invaders. There are a few poems, probably apocryphal, of Merlin. It is likely that this emblem is a remnant of the Roman occupation that was used as the emblem of cohort. It is the royal insignia of Wales since 1901 and since 1959 on the orders of Queen, the flag representing it on a green background and white is the official Welsh flag.
On March 1 is the feast of St. David , Wales evangelist. But the day is not a holiday.
In honor of the patron saint of Wales, it is traditional to wear a leek on March 1. Nowadays, leek (cenhinen, Cennini plural) is often replaced by the daffodil (which is almost the same name in Welsh: cenhinen Beder).
The origin of the leek as a symbol dates back to a battle that took place in a field of leeks, where St David advised the Welsh fighters to carry one to distinguish themselves from their attackers. It was a great victory for Wales. For others, the original symbol is not a leek, but a bunch of ostrich feathers (also a warrior trophy), quickly interpreted as a leek, a more familiar object.
Even today, every March 1 , the youngest member of the Welsh Guards regiment of eating a raw leek the cheers of his peers.
And similarly, part of a Welsh sterling door on one side a leek, and the motto on its edge: "I'm gwlad pleidiol WYF" ("I am loyal to my country"). Also note that the team of team Wales rugby union is familiarly called by his supporters the "XV of the leek.
Religion
The Druidism , the foundation of the Celtic civilization has gradually disappeared from Wales, with romanization and the massacre of the Druids by the Romans in 61 AD. AD. The Christianity took root in the sixth century : St David (Dewi Sant 515 - 589 ), the patron saint of the country, is famous for going on pilgrimage to Rome and his return have established the Diocese of Wales, before even that Augustine of Canterbury does not found the Diocese of Canterbury and embarks to evangelize England. Wales has developed and maintained a Christianity tainted with older practices and beliefs. However contemporary movements that now benefit from the Druidic tradition, as the " Gorsedd "or assembly of bards , have no historical continuity with the druids of the Roman era, but scholars are reinventions of the eighteenth century.
Today, the rate of assistance to religious celebrations in Wales is 8.6%, the lowest in the UK. The two most widespread religious organizations in the country are the Anglican Church in Wales (Yr Eglwys yng Nghymru / The Church in Wales) and the Catholic Church. The latter is mainly composed of people from other European countries, especially the Irish. There are also many independent churches (chapels) - from the Welsh nonconformist tradition strong - most of which are grouped into three associations: the Presbyterian Church of Wales (Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Cymru / The Presbyterian Church of Wales) - about 38 000 members, the Union of Welsh Independents (Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg / The Union of Welsh Independents) - 36 000; the Baptist Union of Wales (Undeb Bedyddwyr Cymru / The Baptist Union of Wales) - 25 000.
Music
Wales is renowned for the number and quality of its choirs.
Famous Personalities Wales
The official anthem of Wales is Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (The old land of my Fathers), while God Save the Queen is the official anthem of the United Kingdom.
Wales is, in the words of the official anthem, "gwlad beirdd has chantorion", a "land of bards and singers." One can cite a number.
- Roger Glover , bass player of Deep Purple;
- Tom Jones , singer of pop and variety;
- John Cale , producer, musician, The Velvet Underground ;
- Mary Hopkin , folk singer representing the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970;
- Super Furry Animals , rock band;
- The Stereophonics rock band;
- Manic Street Preachers , a rock band;
- Grant Nicholas , lead singer, guitarist of rock band Feeder;
- The Automatic , rock band;
- Lostprophets rock band;
- Bullet For My Valentine , rock band (metalcore / emocore);
- Lemmy Kilmister , composer, bassist and singer in Motrhead ;
- Shirley Bassey , singer;
- Catatonia , pop group, not to be confused with Katatonia , Swedish metal band;
- Cerys Matthews , former singer of Catatonia , solo folk singer;
- Charlotte Church , singer;
- Richard D. James aka Aphex Twin aka AFX , composer of electronic music;
- Katherine Jenkins , singer;
- Bryn Terfel , opera singer;
- Margaret Price , soprano;
- Gwyneth Jones , soprano;
- Michael Jones , singer;
- Elaine Morgan , singer;
- Bonnie Tyler , singer;
- Sian Evans , singer Kosheen ;
- Duffy , a singer of pop / soul;
- Jem , singer
- David Williams , former guitarist / bassist / singer of the band Son of Dork ;
- Los Campesinos! , indie rock band.
But he also provided a number of individuals outside the field of music:
- Patrick Ireland , evangelist of Ireland;
- Henry VII of England ;
- Bertrand Russell , mathematician, philosopher, Nobel Prize for Literature;
- David Lloyd George , politician of the early twentieth century ;;
- Aneurin Bevan , socialist politician, founder of the British social security;
- Gwynfor Evans , nationalist politician
- Owain Glyndwr , Welsh prince, liberating the country in the fifteenth century
- Roald Dahl , writer, author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- Ken Follett , writer;
- Richard Llewelyn , writer, author of How Green Was My Valley;
- Dylan Thomas , RS Thomas , poet
- Richard Burton , Sir Anthony Hopkins , John Rhys-Davies , Timothy Dalton , actors;
- Catherine Zeta-Jones , Clio Goldsmith, actresses;
- Augustus John , painter of the twentieth century ;
- Barry John , Gareth Edwards , JPR Williams , Neil Jenkins , Phil Bennett , rugby players of the twentieth century ;
- Christian Bale , an actor playing in the beginning of Batman and The Prestige , among others.
- Ryan Giggs , playing professional football.
- Matthew Rhys , actor.
- Ian Rush , professional football player and celebrated striker of Liverpool FC.
- Penelope Kathryn Clarke , wife of French Prime Minister Francois Fillon.
- Lindsay Owen-Jones , president of L'Oreal;
- Siwan Morris , actress (Angie in Skins );
- Raymond Williams (1921-1988), literary critic, writer and leading theoretician of the Cultural Studies ;
- Shane Williams player of rugby moving to the Ospreys as a winger;
- Gavin Henson , rugby player moving to the Ospreys for the post of 3 / 4 center;
- Gareth Thomas , rugby player moving to Cardiff Blues ;
- Tom Shanklin , Rugby Union player for Cardiff Blues ;
- John Protheroe , astronomer, friend of Harriot , the leading manufacturer of telescopes on the British Isles;
- Gareth David-Lloyd , actor best known for his role as Ianto Jones in the science fiction series Torchwood ;
- Rhys Ifans , actor known for his role as the eccentric Gavin Kavanagh in the movie Rocked ;
- Terry Jones , actor / director known for being a member of Monty Python.
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