The Growth of Law in Medieval Wales, c.1100-c.1500

A ground-breaking study of the lawbooks created in post-conquest Wales during the turbulent Middle Ages, which reveals that they were not just shaped by, but shaped, medieval Welsh law. The study considers the background to the creation of the law from the earliest period, the golden age of lawmaking in thirteenth-century Gwynedd, and the nature of the law in south Wales.

Format: Hardback
Length: 270 pages
Publication date: 23 August 2022
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

A groundbreaking exploration of the legal manuscripts produced during the turbulent post-conquest period in Wales. The Middle Ages in Wales were characterized by societal and cultural upheaval, with Edward I of England's conquest in 1282 introducing significant changes to society, governance, power, and identity. Despite these disruptions, the development of law in Wales and the March flourished, resulting in the creation of numerous manuscripts and lawbooks to cater to the needs of legal practitioners. This study, the first to comprehensively reassess the entire corpus of law manuscripts since Aneurin Owen's seminal 1841 edition, delves into the historical background of lawmaking, particularly from the 11th century onwards. It also examines the nature of law in south Wales, focusing on later developments, including the unique use of legal texts in that region and its 14th- and 15th-century manuscripts. Instead of relying on later historiography, the author approaches medieval Welsh law, its practice, texts, and redactions within their own contexts. Notably, the study demonstrates that much of the previously considered supplementary or anomalous manuscript material actually contains new legal material and texts written for specific purposes. The adaptability and flexibility of Welsh lawbooks allowed them to be shaped by, and indeed shape, medieval Welsh law, making them an invaluable resource for understanding the legal system of this period.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783277261