Why is Wales classed as a principality? Is it becuse it has a prince and?

Question

if so when was it first classed as one and who was the first prince?

Answer 1

If Wales is a principality because it is headed by a Prince, And England a kingdom because it is meant to be headed by a King, Then does anyone know why America is a Country?

Answer 2

It is classed as a prinicipality because when it was an independent country it's reigning monarch was a Prince not a King.

The "Prince of Wales" is an English title, not Welsh. Although Prince Charles is the first Prince of Wales to actaully speak Welsh.

The first English Prince of Wales was the son of Edward I - later Edward II.

Answer 3

I hate to steal the above posters' melodramatic thunder, but the Treaty of Montgomery between Henry III of England and Llywellyn ap Gruffydd, the prince of Gwynedd, formed the principality of Wales in 1267.  After the English conquest of Wales in 1282, the term "the Principality of Wales" applied only to that part of Wales under direct control of the English king prior to the Wales Acts of 1535-1542, at which time England formally annexed all of Wales and abolished Welsh law.  Before this time, the Welsh Marches were under the control of the Earl of March and various monasteries.

Wales, or in the Welsh language "Cymru", with all regions united under one government, never was a sovereign state, although rival principalities were independent until the Anglo-Norman conquest.  The word "Wales" originally meant "foreigner" in Anglo-Saxon.  

Recently, Wales has achieved some measure of autonomy, devolving from the central British government in London just as Scotland and Northern Ireland have. The National Assembly of Wales formed in 1999.

P. S. The Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the Heir Apparent to the throne of the United Kingdom.  In 1218, Henry III (then age 11) bestowed the title on his brother-in-law, Llywelyn the Great. When Edward I of England deposed Llywelyn the Last in 1282, the title became dormant until Edward I, having completed the conquest of Wales, gave the title to his oldest son, the future Edward II in 1301.  The current Prince of Wales is Elizabeth II's oldest son, Charles (b. 1948).

Answer 4

Ho hey Taffy lets blame the English it's easier than living

Answer 5

Wales was a kingdom once, until the English stole the power. To maitain this state the title of Prince of Wales was given to the Eldest son of the English monarch. This meant that he could not claim kingship for his self without killing his own father, also he would defend the territory against any contenders.

Edward I first gave the title to his son Edward II, it was subsequently passed down. Edward I wanted Wales and Scotland for his kingdom and was known as the "Hammer of theScots." he was a hard nosed politician and soldier, relentless in his ambition.

One of his adverseries was William Wallace, the name Wallace or Wallis is thought to mean

"Wales man" or man from Wales.

Answer 6

What rubbish is being spouted here.

I'm Welsh and nobody was "murdered"by the "English"  - Wales was conquered by the NORMAN King Edward I (ie not English but French) nearly 1000 years ago.

Before then it had been a collection of squabbling little kingdoms and chieftans.  Llywelyn the Last  - ie the "Last Prince of Wales" was actually a Prince of NORTH Wales who had beaten all the other regional princes into submission and as a South Walian I wouldn't see him as "My" prince anymore than I'd see Edward I.

What a lot of c**p is spoken by supposedlly "Patriotic" Welsh who know nothing about Welsh history!

Edward made his son the Prince of Wales and the title has been handed down to the UK monarch's eldest son since then.

The idea all Welsh "hate" the English is bollox too.  I don't and I love being part of the UK.  My other half is English.   I have a lot of respect for Prince Charles.

God Bless the Prince of Wales.

Answer 7

Oh no, you will get all the welsh going on & on about how they hate the English,

Answer 8

The true Prince was murdered by the English.