A taeog (pl. ''taeogion'';

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power ...

: ''villanus'') was a native

serf Serfdom was the status of many peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to manorialism, and similar systems. It was a condition of debt bondage and indentured servitude with similarities to and differences from slavery, which develo ...

villein A villein, otherwise known as '' cottar'' or '' crofter'', is a serf tied to the land in the feudal system. Villeins had more rights and social status than those in slavery, but were under a number of legal restrictions which differentiated them ...

of the medieval

Welsh kingdoms Wales in the early Middle Ages covers the time between the Roman departure from Wales c. 383 until the end of the 10th century. In that time there was a gradual consolidation of power into increasingly hierarchical kingdoms. The end of the early ...

. The term was used in

south Wales South Wales ( cy, De Cymru) is a loosely defined region of Wales bordered by England to the east and mid Wales to the north. Generally considered to include the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, south Wales extends westwards ...

and literally denoted someone "belonging to the house" (''ty'') of the lord's manor. The equivalent term in

north Wales North Wales ( cy, Gogledd Cymru) is a region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders Mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdonia N ...

was aillt or mab aillt ( "shorn" or "shaven fellow").. The ''taeogion'' were distinguished both from the nobility (''boneddigion'') above them and the foreign-born (''alltudion'') and slaves (''caethion'') below. Although they might use patronymics, they were considered as having no pedigree and were bound to their land until they were freed in one of three ways: if they were elevated to one of the 24 principal offices of the Welsh court; if they became a tonsured cleric; or if a new church were built within their town with the king's permission.. The class of all ''taeogion'' were divided between the serfs of the king's land and those of the nobles', with the

wergild Weregild (also spelled wergild, wergeld (in archaic/historical usage of English), weregeld, etc.), also known as man price ( blood money), was a precept in some archaic legal codes whereby a monetary value was established for a person's life, to ...

of the former valued at twice that of the latter. Those of the king were administered by the

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well as ...

. Both groups were restricted to land holdings in special settlements set aside for them, the ''taeogtrev'' (lit. "serf town"). In the case of the northern Welsh kingdoms, at least, the ''taeogion'' represented the original Roman and Irish inhabitants of the region subjugated by the Men of the North under

Cunedda Cunedda ap Edern, also called Cunedda ''Wledig'' ( 5th century), was an important early Welsh leader, and the progenitor of the Royal dynasty of Gwynedd, one of the very oldest of western Europe. Name The name ''Cunedda'' (spelled ''Cunedag ...

References

Medieval Wales {{wales-stub

See also

References