Commote
Encyclopedia
A commote sometimes spelt in older documents as cymwd, was a secular division of land in Medieval Wales
. The word derives from the prefix cym- ("together", "with") and the noun bod ("home, abode"). The English word "commote" is derived from the Middle Welsh cymwt.
has entries for those commotes that in 1086 were under Norman
control, but still subject to Welsh law and custom. However it refers to them using the Anglo-Norman word "commot" instead of "hundred", the word used at the time for the equivalent land division in England
. The commotes mentioned in the Domesday book, in general, represented recent Anglo-Norman
advances into Welsh territory. Although the commotes were assessed for military service and taxation, their obligations were rated in carucate
(derived from Latin for cattle or oxen), not in hides as on the English side of the border.
The customs of the commotes are described in the Domesday accounts of the border earldoms of Gloucestershire
, Herefordshire
, Shropshire
and Cheshire
. The principal commotes described in Domesday were Archenfield
, Ewias, and the commotes of Gwent in the south; Cynllaith
, Edeirnion
, and Iâl
(Shropshire accounts); and Englefield
, Rhos and Rhufoniog
(Cheshire
accounts).
became the responsibility of the commote court rather than the cantref court. Owain Glyndŵr
called representatives from the commotes for his two parliaments during the rising of 1400-1409.
The boundaries of commotes or in some cases cantrefi were in many cases subsequently represented more accurately by church rural deaneries than by the hundreds issuing from the sixteenth century Acts of Union.
(1375–1425) provides a detailed list of commotes in the late 14th and early 15th century. The list has some overlaps and is ambiguous in parts, especially in the Gwynedd section. It should also be borne in mind that the number and organisation of the commotes was different in the earlier Middle Ages; some of the units and divisions listed here are late creations. The original orthography of the manuscript is given here together with the standard modern Welsh equivalents.
Gwynedd
Maelienydd
Elfael
Brecheinawc (Brycheiniog
Ystrad Tywi
Ceredigyawn (Ceredigion
Dyfed
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The word derives from the prefix cym- ("together", "with") and the noun bod ("home, abode"). The English word "commote" is derived from the Middle Welsh cymwt.
Medieval Welsh land organisation
The basic unit of land was the tref - a small village or settlement. In theory, 100 trefi made up a cantref (literally, "one hundred settlements"), and half or a third of a cantref was a cwmwd although in practice the actual numbers varied greatly. The plural of cantref is cantrefi. Together with the cantrefi, commotes were the geographical divisions through which defence and justice were organised. In charge of a commote would be a chieftain probably related to the ruling Prince of the Kingdom. His court would have been situated in a special tref, referred to as a maerdref. Here the bonded villagers who farmed the chieftain's estate lived, together with the court officials and servants. Commotes were further divided into maenorau or maenolydd.Commotes in the Domesday Book
The Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
has entries for those commotes that in 1086 were under Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
control, but still subject to Welsh law and custom. However it refers to them using the Anglo-Norman word "commot" instead of "hundred", the word used at the time for the equivalent land division in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The commotes mentioned in the Domesday book, in general, represented recent Anglo-Norman
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
advances into Welsh territory. Although the commotes were assessed for military service and taxation, their obligations were rated in carucate
Carucate
The carucate or ploughland was a unit of assessment for tax used in most Danelaw counties of England, and is found for example in Domesday Book. The carucate was based on the area a plough team of eight oxen could till in a single annual season...
(derived from Latin for cattle or oxen), not in hides as on the English side of the border.
The customs of the commotes are described in the Domesday accounts of the border earldoms of Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
and Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. The principal commotes described in Domesday were Archenfield
Archenfield
Archenfield is the historic English name for an area of southern and western Herefordshire in England. Since the Anglo-Saxons took over the region in the 8th century, it has stretched between the River Monnow and River Wye, but it derives from the once much larger Welsh kingdom of...
, Ewias, and the commotes of Gwent in the south; Cynllaith
Cynllaith
Cynllaith was a cwmwd of north east Wales which was once part of the Kingdom of Powys and later part of the smaller Kingdom of Powys Fadog. Cynllaith, or at least the part of it called Cynlaith Owain, was part of the inheritance of Owain Glyndŵr in 1370...
, Edeirnion
Edeirnion
Edeirnion is an area of the county of Denbighshire and an ancient commote of medieval Wales. According to tradition, it was named after its eponymous founder Edern or Edeyrn....
, and Iâl
IAL
IAL may refer to:*International auxiliary language, a language for communication between people who do not share a native language*International Algebraic Language or ALGOL 58*Intel Architecture Labs, a research arm of Intel Corporation during the 1990s...
(Shropshire accounts); and Englefield
Englefield
-Geography:In England:* Englefield, a village in the county of Berkshire, England.* Englefield Green, a village in the county of Surrey, England.In Wales:* Englefield, an alternative name for the Cantref of Tegeingl in north Wales.-People:...
, Rhos and Rhufoniog
Rhufoniog
Rhufoniog was a small sub-kingdom of the Dark Ages Gwynedd, and later a cantref in medieval Wales. According to tradition, it was ruled by its eponymous founder Rhufon, the third son of the first King of Gwynedd, Cunedda, and his direct descendants from the year 445 until the year 540 when it was...
(Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
accounts).
History
In legal usage, the English word 'commote' replaced cwmwd following the Edwardian conquest of Wales in the 13th century when English was made the official language for all legal documents. The Welsh, most of whom knew not a word of English, naturally continued to use cwmwd and still do so today. In much of Wales commotes had become more important than the cantrefs by the mid-13th Century and administration of Welsh lawWelsh law
Welsh law was the system of law practised in Wales before the 16th century. According to tradition it was first codified by Hywel Dda during the period between 942 and 950 when he was king of most of Wales; as such it is usually called Cyfraith Hywel, the Law of Hywel, in Welsh...
became the responsibility of the commote court rather than the cantref court. Owain Glyndŵr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
called representatives from the commotes for his two parliaments during the rising of 1400-1409.
The boundaries of commotes or in some cases cantrefi were in many cases subsequently represented more accurately by church rural deaneries than by the hundreds issuing from the sixteenth century Acts of Union.
List of commotes, organised by cantref
The Red Book of HergestRed Book of Hergest
The Red Book of Hergest is a large vellum manuscript written shortly after 1382, which ranks as one of the most important medieval manuscripts written in the Welsh language. It preserves a collection of Welsh prose and poetry, notably the tales of the Mabinogion, Gogynfeirdd poetry...
(1375–1425) provides a detailed list of commotes in the late 14th and early 15th century. The list has some overlaps and is ambiguous in parts, especially in the Gwynedd section. It should also be borne in mind that the number and organisation of the commotes was different in the earlier Middle Ages; some of the units and divisions listed here are late creations. The original orthography of the manuscript is given here together with the standard modern Welsh equivalents.
GwyneddKingdom of GwyneddGwynedd was one petty kingdom of several Welsh successor states which emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain in the Early Middle Ages, and later evolved into a principality during the High Middle Ages. It was based on the former Brythonic tribal lands of the Ordovices, Gangani, and the...
- Cantref Tegigyl (Cantref Tegeingl):
- Kymwt Insel (Cwmwd Insel)
- Kymwt Prestan (Cwmwd Prestatyn)
- Kymwt Rudlan (Cwmwd Rhuddlan)
- Cantref Dyffryn Clwyt (Cantref Dyffryn Clwyd):
- Kymwt Colyan (Cwmwd Colian)
- Kymwt Llannerch (Cwmwd Llannerch)
- Kymwt Ystrat (Cwmwd Ystrad)
- Cantref Rywynyawc (Cantref Rhufoniog)
- Kymwt Rhuthyn (Cwmwd Rhuthyn)
- Kymwt Uch Alech (Cwmwd Uwch Aled)
- Kymwt Is Alech (Cwmwd Is Aled)
- Cantref Rhos
- Kymwt Uch Dulas (Cwmwd Uwch Dulas)
- Kymwt Is Dulas (Cwmwd Is Dulas)
- Kymwt Y kreudyn (Cwmwd y Creuddyn
- Cantrefoed Mon (AngleseyAngleseyAnglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
)- Kymwt Llan Uaes (Cwmwd Llan-faes
- Kymwt Kemeis Cwmwd Cemais
- Kymwt Talebolyon (Cwmwd Talebolyon)
- Kymwt Aberffraw (Cwmwd Aberffraw)
- Kymwt Penn Rhos (Cwmwd Penrhos)
- Kymwt Rosvyrr (Cwmwd Rhosyr)
- Cantref Arllechwed (Cantref Arllechwedd)
- Kymwt Treffryw (Cwmwd Trefriw)
- Kymwt Aber (Cwmwd Aber)
- Cantref Aruon (Cantref ArfonCantref ArfonThe mediaeval Welsh cantref of Arfon in north-west Wales was the core of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. Later it was included in the new county of Caernarfonshire, together with Llŷn and Arllechwedd under the terms of the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284...
)- Kymwt Uch Konwy (Cwmwd Uwch Conwy)
- Kymwt Is Conwy (Cwmwd Is Conwy)
- Cantref Dinodyn
- Kymwt Rifnot
- Kymwt Ardudwy (Cwmwd Ardudwy)
- Cantref Llyyn (Cantref LlŷnCantref LlynThe ancient Welsh cantref of Llŷn in north-west Wales was part of the kingdom of Gwynedd for much of its history until it was included in the new county of Caernarfonshire, together with Arfon and Arllechwedd under the terms of the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284....
)- Kymwt Dinmael (Cwmwd Dinmael)
- Kymwt is Clogyon (Cwmwd Is Clogion
- Kymwt Cwmdinam (Cwmwd Cwm Dinam)
- Cantref Meiryonyd (Cantref Meirionnydd)
- Kymwt Eftumaneyr (Cwmwd Ystumaner)
- Kymwt Talybont (Cwmwd Tal-y-bont)
- Cantref Eryri
- Kymwt Cyueilawc (Cwmwd Cyfeiliog)
- Kymwt Madeu
- Kymwt Uch Meloch
- Kymwt Is Meloch
- Kymwt Llan Gonwy (Cwmwd Llangonwy)
- Kymwt Dinmael (Cwmwd Dinmael)
- Kymwt Glyndyudwy (Cwmwd Glyndyfrdwy)
Powys
- Cantrefoed Powys MadawcPowys FadogPowys Fadog or Lower Powys was the northern portion of the former princely realm of Powys which split in two following the death of Madog ap Maredudd of Powys in 1160...
- Kymwt Iaal
- Kymwt Ystrad Alun
- Kymwt Yr Hop
- Kymwt Berford
- Kymwt Wnknan
- Kymwt Trefwenn
- Kymwt Croesosswallt
- Kymwt y Creudyn
- Kymwt Nant Odyn
- Kymwt Ceuenbleid
- Kymwt Uch Raeadyr
- Cantrefoed Powys GwennwynwynPowys WenwynwynPowys Wenwynwyn or Powys Cyfeiliog was the southern portion of the former princely state of Powys which split following the death of Madog ap Maredudd of Powys in 1160...
- Kymwt Is Raeadyr
- Kymwt Deu Dyswr
- Kymwt Llannerchwdwl
- Kymwt Ystrad Marchell
- Kymwt Mecheyn
- Kymwt Caer Einon
- Kymwt Uch Affes
- Kymwt Is Affes
- Kymwt Uch Coet
- Kymwt Is Coet
MaelienyddMaelienyddMaelienydd, sometimes spelt Maeliennydd, was a cantref and lordship in east central Wales covering the area from the River Teme to Radnor Forest and the area around Llandrindod Wells. The area, which is mainly upland, is now in Powys...
- Cantrefoed Maelenyd
- Kymwt Ceri
- Kymwt Gwerthrynnyon
- Kymwt Swyd Uudugre
- Kymwt Swyd Yethon
- Kymwt Llwythyfnwc
Buellt
- Cantref Buellt
- Kymwt Penn Buellt (Cwmwd Pen Buellt)
- Kymwt Swydman (Cwmwd Swyddfan(?) : Cwmwd Dinan)
- Kymwt Treflys (Cwmwd Treflys)
- Kymwt Is Iruon (Cwmwd Is Irfon)
ElfaelElfaelElfael was one of a number of Welsh kingdoms occupying the region between the River Wye and river Severn, known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren, in the early Middle Ages. Later in the Middle Ages it became a cantref. After the Laws in Wales Act of 1535, it became part of the new county of Radnorshire. ...
- Cantref Eluael (Cantref Elfael)
- Kymwt Uch Mynyd (Cwmwd Uwch Mynydd)
- Kymwt Is Mynyd (Cwmwd Is Mynyd)
Brecheinawc (BrycheiniogBrycheiniogBrycheiniog was a small independent petty kingdom in South Wales in the Early Middle Ages. It often acted as a buffer state between England to the east and the powerful south Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth to the west. It was conquered and pacified by the Normans between 1088 and 1095, though it...
)
- Cantref Selyf
- Kymwt Brwynllys (Cwmwd Brwynllys)
- Kymwt Talgarth (Cwmwd Talgarth)
- Cantref Tewdos
- Kymwt Dyffryn Hodni (Cwmwd Dyffryn Hoddni)
- Kymwt Llywel (Cwmwd Llys Hywel)
- Kymwt Tir Rawlf (Cwmwd Tir Rawlff)
- Cantref Ida
- Kymwt Ystrat Yw (Cwmwd Ystrad Yw)
- Kymwt Cruc Howel (Cwmwd Crughywel)
- Kymwt Evyas (Cwmwd Euyas)
Ystrad TywiYstrad TywiYstrad Tywi is an area of south-west Wales situated on the banks of the Tywi river as it approaches the sea to join the Bristol Channel at Carmarthen...
- Cantref Bychan
- Kymwt Hirvryn
- Kymwt Perued
- Kymwt Iskennen
- Cantref Eginawc
- Kymwt Kedweli
- Kymwt Carnywyllawn
- Kymwt Gwhyr
- Cantref MawrCantref MawrCantref Mawr was a cantref in south-west Wales. It was of strategic importance in medieval Wales as the location of the main seat of the princes of Deheubarth at Dinefwr....
- Kymwt Mallaen
- Kymwt Caeaw
- Kymwt Maenawr Deilaw
- Kymwt Cetheinawc
- Kymwt Mab Eluyw
- Kymwt Mab Utryt
- Kymwt Widigada
Ceredigyawn (CeredigionCeredigionCeredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
)
- Cantref Penweddig
- Kymwt Geneurglyn (Cwmwd Genau'r Glyn)
- Kymwt Perued (Cwmwd Perfedd)
- Kymwt Creudyn (Cwmwd Creuddyn)
- Cantref Mabwynyon (Cantref Mabwnion)
- Kymwt Meuenyd (Cwmwd Mefenydd)
- Kymwt Anhunyawc (Cwmwd Anhuniog)
- Kymwt Pennard (Cwmwd Penardd)
- Cantref Caer Wedros (Cantref Caerwedros)
- Kymwt Wenyionid (Cwmwd Gwinionydd)
- Kymwt Is Coed (Cwmwd Is Coed)
DyfedKingdom of DyfedThe Kingdom of Dyfed is one of several Welsh petty kingdoms that emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain in south-west Wales, based on the former Irish tribal lands of the Déisi from c 350 until it was subsumed into Deheubarth in 920. In Latin, the country of the Déisi was Demetae, eventually to...
- Cantref Cemeis (CemaisCemais (Dyfed cantref)thumb|200px|right|Ancient Dyfed showing the cantref of Cemais and its commotesthumb|200px|right|Pembrokeshire showing the hundred of CemaisCemais was a cantref of Dyfed, and now part of Pembrokeshire, Wales...
)- Kymwt Is Neuer (Cemais Is NyferCemais Is Nyferthumb|250 px|right|Location of the commote of Cemais Is NyferCemais Is Nyfer was a commote in the Dyfed cantref of Cemais, Wales. It consisted of the territory between the rivers Nyfer and Teifi, and comprised the parishes of Eglwyswrw, Monington, St. Dogmaels, Llanfair-Nant-Gwyn, Llantood,...
) - Kymwt Uch Neuer (Cemais Uwch NyferCemais Uwch NyferCemais Uwch Nyfer was a commote in the Dyfed cantref of Cemais. It consisted of the territory between the Afon Nyfer and Fishguard. Its civil headquarters were at Newport...
)
- Kymwt Is Neuer (Cemais Is Nyfer
- Cantref Deugledyf (DaugleddyfDungleddy (hundred)thumb|200px|right|Ancient [[Kingdom of Dyfed|Dyfed]] showing Deugleddyf Cantref and its "commotes"thumb|200px|right|Pembrokeshire showing Dungleddy Hundred...
)- Kymwt Castel Hu (Castell Gwis)
- Kymwt Llan y Hadein (Llanhuadain)
- Cantref EmlynEmlynEmlyn was one of the seven cantrefi of Dyfed, an ancient district of Wales. It subsequently became part of Deheubarth in around 950. It consisted of the northern part of Dyfed bordering on the River Teifi...
- Kymwt Is Cuch (Emlyn Is CuchCilgerran (hundred)thumb|200px|right|Pembrokeshire showing Cilgerran HundredThe Hundred of Cilgerran was a hundred in the north of Pembrokeshire, Wales...
) - Kymwt Uch Cuch (Emlyn Uwch Cuch)
- Kymwt Is Cuch (Emlyn Is Cuch
- Cantref Wartha (GwarthafCantref Gwarthaf (Dyfed)thumb|250 px|right|Location of the Cantref GwarthafCantref Gwarthaf was the largest of the seven cantrefi of Dyfed. It subsequently became part of Deheubarth in around 950. It consisted of the southeastern part of Dyfed containing most of the basin of the River Tâf.The name means "upper-most...
)- Kymwt Amgoet (Amgoed)
- Kymwt Derllys (Derllys)
- Kymwt y Uelfre (Efelfre)
- Kymwt Eluyd (Elfed)
- Kymwt Pennryn (Penrhyn)
- Kymwt Peluneawc (Peuliniog)
- Kymwt Talacharn (Talacharn)
- Kymwt Estyrlwyf (Ystlwys)
- Cantref Pebideawc (PebidiogDewisland (hundred)thumb|250px|right|The cantref of Pebidiog in ancient DyfedThe Hundred of Dewisland was a hundred in the north west of Pembrokeshire, Wales...
)- Kymwt Menew (Mynyw)
- Kymwt Penncaer (Pencaer)
- Cantref Pennbrwc (Penfro (cantref)Penfro (cantref)thumb|250 px|right|Location of the cantref of Penfro within ancient DyfedPenfro was one of the seven cantrefi of Dyfed. It subsequently became part of Deheubarth in around 950. It consisted of the long peninsular part of Dyfed south of the Eastern Cleddau and the Daugleddau estuary, and bordered...
)- Coedrath
- Penfro
- Cantref Rhos (RhosRoose (hundred)The Hundred of Roose was a hundred in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was formed by the Act of Union of 1536 and was essentially identical to the pre-Norman cantref of Rhos. It derives its Welsh name from its position nearly surrounded by water, bounded east by the tidal Western Cleddau, south by Milford...
)- Kymwt Castell Gwalchmei (Castell Gwalchmei)
- Kymwt Hawlfford (Hwlffordd)
Morgannwg
- Cantref GorvynydGorfynyddGorfynydd was a cantref in Morgannwg, Wales lying between the rivers Thaw and Neath . The name survived in ecclesiastical use until recently as the rural deanery of Gronneath ....
- Kymwt Rwng Net A Thawy
- Kymwt Tir Yr Hwndryt
- Kymwt Rwng Neth ac Avyn
- Kymwt Tir Yr Iarll
- Kymwt Y Coety
- Kymwt Maenawr Glyn Ogwr
- Cantref Penn YchenPenychenPenychen was a possible minor kingdom of early mediæval Wales and later a cantref of the Kingdom of Morgannwg. Penychen was one of three cantrefs that made up the kingdom of Glywysing, the other two being Gwynllwg and Gorfynydd...
- Kymwt Meisgyn
- Kymwt Glyn Rodne
- Kymwt Maenawr Tal y Vann
- Kymwt Maenawr Ruthyn
- Cantref Breinyawl
- Kymwt Is Caech
- Kymwt Uch Caech
- Kymwt Kibwr
- Cantref GwynllwcGwynllwgGwynllŵg was a kingdom of mediæval Wales and later a Norman lordship and then a cantref.-Location:It was named after Gwynllyw, its 5th century or 6th century ruler and consisted of the coastal plain stretching between the Rhymney and Usk rivers, together with the hills to the north...
- Kymwt Yr Heid
- Kymwt Ydref Berued
- Kymwt Edelygyon
- Kymwt Eithyaf
- Kymwt Y Mynyd
- Cantref Gwent
- Kymwt Is Coed
- Kymwt Llemynyd
- Kymwt Tref y Gruc
- Kymwt Uch Coed