page_title: Culture of Gwynedd during the High Middle Ages
section_title: Government and law
hierarchical_section_title: Culture of Gwynedd during the High Middle Ages / Government and law
caption_attribution_description: English: Map of the cantrefi, principal forts and political centres of Gwynedd at the kingdom's maximum extent, based on the historic borders of "between Dyfi and Dee". Map based on freeware outline from welshgraphics.com. The maps found in J.Beverley Smith's "Llywelyn ap Gruffudd" (1998) were used as a visual guide.
context_page_description: Culture and Society in Gwynedd during the High Middle Ages refers to a period in the History of Wales spanning the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries. The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and followed by the Late Middle Ages. Gwynedd is located in the north of Wales.
  Distinctive achievements in Gwynedd during this period include further development of Medieval Welsh literature, for instance in the poetry of those of the Beirdd y Tywysogion associated with the court of Gwynedd, the reformation of bardic schools, and the continued development of Cyfraith Hywel; all three of which further contributed to the development of a Welsh national identity in the face of Anglo-Norman encroachment of Wales and the threat of conquest by the Crown of England.
  Gwynedd's traditional territory included Anglesey and all of north Wales between the River Dyfi in the south and River Dee in the northeast. The Irish Sea lies to the north and west, and lands formerly part of the Powys border the south-east. Gwynedd's strength was due in part to the region's mountainous geography which made it difficult for foreign invaders to campaign in the country and impose their will effectively.
context_section_description: Aberffraw's traditional sphere of influence in north Wales included the Isle of Anglesey as their early seat of authority, and Gwynedd Uwch Conwy (Gwynedd above the Conway, 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 those of Ceredigion, Powys Fadog, and Powys Wenwynwyn. However these areas were always considered additions to Gwynedd, never as part of Gwynedd itself.
  The extent of the kingdom varied with the strength of the current ruler. The kingdom was administered under Welsh custom through 13 cantrefi (hundreds, plural of cantref), each containing, in theory, one hundred settlements or trefi. Most cantrefi were divided further into cymydau (English: commotes).
caption: Principal administrative divisions of medieval Gwynedd (traditional territorial extent)
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