Principality of Wales

The Principality of Wales (Welsh: Tywysogaeth Cymru) was the territory ruled over by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd from 1267 to 1282, and afterwards by his brother Dafydd ap Gruffudd from 1282 to 1283. Following the conquest of Wales by Edward I of England of 1277 to 1283, those parts of Wales retained under the direct control of the English crown, principally in the north and west of the country, were re-constituted as a new Principality of Wales and ruled either by the monarch or the monarch's heir though not formally incorporated into the Kingdom of England. This was ultimately accomplished with the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 when the Principality ceased to exist as a separate entity.

The Principality was founded in 1267 by the Prince of Gwynedd, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, who after conquering much of Wales in 1257 and proclaiming himself Prince of Wales in correspondence with Scottish barons, was acknowledged in this title by Henry III of England in the Treaty of Montgomery.

The period of de facto independence ended with Edward I's conquest of the principality between 1277 and 1283. Under the Statute of Rhuddlan, the principality lost its independence and became effectively an annexed territory of the English crown. From 1301, the crown's lands in north and west Wales formed part of the appanage of England's heir apparent, with the title "Prince of Wales". On accession of the prince to the English throne, the lands and title became merged with the Crown again. On two occasions Welsh claimants to the title rose up in rebellion during this period, although neither ultimately succeeded.

Since the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542, which formally incorporated all of Wales within the Kingdom of England, there has been no geographical or constitutional basis for describing any of the territory of Wales as a principality, although the term has occasionally been used in an informal sense to describe the country, and in relation to the honorary title of Prince of Wales.