Having been called both disrespectful and racist in the last few days I thought I'd do a bit of digging and find out some more about the history of the princes of Wales.
This is the story I recall from school days. It is possibly apocryphal.
In 1284 Eleanor, wife of Edward I, gave birth to a son in Caernarfon Castle. Following that Edward invited several powerful Welsh leaders to the castle for a feast. After wining and dining them he asked if they would be happy to serve a prince who spoke not a word of English. Assuming he meant one of them or their clansmen they agreed.
The cunning Edward then introduced his baby son as the new Prince of Wales, and having given their word the Welsh lords were obliged to accept him.
Since then the title Prince of Wales has been given traditionally to the English monarch's eldest son but it's an appointment not a birth right.
Before this there had been a number of Welsh princes although their rule was largely over individual princedoms within Wales, although Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, ‘Llywelyn the Last’, was officially recognised as the Prince of Wales by King Henry III in 1267.
His good fortune was not to last. He joined the Barons' revolt against the next king, which led to Llywelyn the Last being declared a rebel by Edward I who gathered an enormous army to march against him.
He was eventually killed in 1282 and was succeeded by his brother, Dafydd ap Gruffydd, who was soon condemned to death for high treason against the king. Dafydd would be first prominent person in recorded history to be hanged, drawn and quartered. The last independent Welsh kingdom fell and the English gained control of the country, control they retain to this day. Leading us back to Edward and Eleanor's baby son and the continuing practice of appointing English Princes of Wales.
Actually thinking about it I wonder if my great-great-grandfather had this story in mind when he made a bet with some customers in his pub.
Mumbles at the time was a big yachting centre and during one regatta a Turkish Pasha had been staying in the village. Some of the pub customers must have said that he'd left and my great-great-grandfather argued with them and bet them that Pasha was not only still in Mumbles but in the pub itself. The bet was taken and my great-great-grandfather went upstairs to return moments later with his new born son, who forever had to live with the name Hobart Pasha.
1 comment:
I remember learning that trick with the baby. Now seems to be when Wales needs to seize the moment. Once the funeral is over, more Commonwealth countries are likely to devolve and I hope Scotland revisits their independence vote. Can Wales work as an independent country? Maybe join the EU? Just a thought.
I speak as one with relatives from all four nations!
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