Kymry, Walenses, Brytaniaid, Britones: Naming the Welsh in the Middle Ages

Thomas, Rebecca 2025. Kymry, Walenses, Brytaniaid, Britones: Naming the Welsh in the Middle Ages. Early Medieval England and its Neighbours 51 , e6. 10.1017/ean.2024.8

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Abstract

This article surveys how the Welsh and their territory have been described, from the early Middle Ages to the present. It begins by examining the terms used by Welsh writers in the early medieval period, before proceeding to consider English nomenclature and the important shift from Brit(t)ones to Walenses in the twelfth century. This shift is re-examined through the lens of the Vita Griffini, which reveals the political motivations behind the increasing focus on Wales and the Welsh. Despite this development in nomenclature, the island of Britain remained central to the identity of the Welsh. This is evident in vernacular texts, especially poetry, and this article explores the different names used in this context. It concludes with a brief foray into the early modern period, ultimately illustrating the continued relevance and significance of the identities fashioned in the early Middle Ages to writers in subsequent centuries.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	History, Archaeology and Religion
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
ISSN:	3033-3679
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	23 January 2025
Date of Acceptance:	7 November 2024
Last Modified:	10 Feb 2025 12:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/175536

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