Hywel Dda
- He was the son of Cadell and grandson of Rhodri Mawr (Rhodri the Great).
- 920: Hywel’s brother Clydog died, and he inherited the southern part of Seisyllwg – Ceredigion and Ystrad Tywi.
- He married Elen, daughter of Llywarch ap Hyfaidd of Dyfed.
- 926: Hywel went to Hereford to acknowledge the authority of Athelstan, King of England.
- 928: One of the most important events of his life was his pilgrimage to Rome.
- 942: He became 'King of all Wales' (except Morgannwg and Gwent) after taking possession of Idwal Foel’s lands, who was killed in battle by the English.
- 945: Six representatives from each part of his kingdom were summoned to his court, to agree on the laws that are known today as 'The Laws of Hywel Dda'.
- It is said that the laws are written in three parts: firstly, the law of his daily court; secondly, the law of the land; and thirdly, the custom of each of them.
- Historians acknowledge that the national consciousness among the Welsh of the Middle Ages originated mainly from Hywel’s Law.
- The oldest manuscripts of the Laws of Hywel Dda dates to the end 12th century.
‘By the end of Hywel’s time, Wales was more or less a united country, with definite borders with England. It had its own language, church, literature and laws, and its own system of government.’ – Gwyn A. Williams, ‘When was Wales? A History of the Welsh’ (Penguin 1985), p. 58