Wales Country History

YEAR

EVENT

4000 BC	Neolithic peoples built stone-chambered tombs (cromlechs).
2400 BC	Distinctive pottery introduced by Bronze Age Beaker folk.
1400 BC	Numerous hill forts built by late Bronze Age peoples.
600 BC	Occupation by Celts with Iron Age tools and Druidic religion.
AD 70	Subjugation of Welsh peoples by Roman invaders.
400	Roman rule ended.
600	Emergence of distinctive Welsh language and four major Welsh kingdoms.
785	Offa built dyke marking boundary between English and Welsh kingdoms.
11th cent.	William the Conqueror recognized as sovereign by Welsh princes, but Normans driven from large parts of Wales in 1094.
1267	Llywelyn ab Gruffudd recognized as Prince of Wales with authority over all other Welsh rulers.
1273	Llywelyn refused to pay homage to Edward I of England. Wales invaded by Edward I and Llywelyn killed in battle in 1282. Wales conquered by the English in 1284 and made a principality.
1301	Principality conferred on Edward, eldest son of Edward I, with the title Prince of Wales.
1402	Rebellion led by Owain Glyn Dwr (Owen Glendower).
1543	Unification of England and Wales through an Act of Union.
18th cent.	Growth of non-conformist religious practices, an assertion of renewed Welsh nationalism.
1863	Liberal Party leader David Lloyd George born.
1920	Creation of the Anglican Church of Wales.
1925	Plaid Cymru established, initially concerned with arresting the decline in the number of Welsh speakers. First MP elected in 1966.
1951	First British government minister for Welsh affairs appointed.
1955	Cardiff established as capital of Wales.
1979	Devolved parliament for Wales rejected in a referendum by a proportion of four to one.
1982	Welsh-language television channel established.
1997	Welsh people vote for a Welsh assembly, with limited powers of governance, by a tiny majority.
1999	Labour Party led minority administration in new Welsh Assembly.
2003	2001 Census revealed increase in number of native Welsh speakers.
2006	Queen Elizabeth II opened the new Welsh Assembly building in Cardiff.