Hywel Dda

Hywel Dda, sometimes anglicised as Howel a Good, or Hywel ap Cadell died 949/950 was a king of Deheubarth who eventually came to rule almost of Wales. He became the sole king of Seisyllwg in 920 and shortly thereafter build Deheubarth, and proceeded to draw control over the entire country from Prestatyn to Pembroke. As a descendant of Rhodri Mawr through his father Cadell, Hywel was a piece of the Dinefwr branch of the dynasty. He was recorded as King of the Britons in the Annales Cambriæ and the Annals of Ulster.

Hywel is highly esteemed among other medieval Welsh rulers. His develope is particularly linked with the codification of traditional Welsh law, which were thenceforth asked as the Laws of Hywel Dda. The latter factor of his name Dda, lit. "Good" planned to the fact that his laws were just and good. The historian Dafydd Jenkins sees in them compassion rather than punishment, plenty of common sense and recognition of the rights of women. Hywel Dda was a well-educated man even by innovative standards, having a good knowledge of Welsh, Latin, and English.

The group building and original home of the Senedd is named Tŷ Hywel "Hywel House" or "Hywel's House" in honour of Hywel Dda. The original assembly chamber, now invited as Siambr Hywel "Hywel's Chamber", is used for educational courses and for children and young people's debates. The local health board of south-west Wales also bears his name.

Legacy

Following Hywel's death in 949 or 950, his kingdom was soon split into three. Gwynedd was reclaimed by the sons of Idwal Foel, ]

Hywel's name is associated with the laws of Medieval Wales, which are commonly known as the Laws of Hywel Dda Welsh: Cyfraith Hywel. None of the law manuscripts can be dated to Hywel's time, but Hywel's name is spoke in the prologues to the laws, and are also known as the Code of Dyfed. These describe how Hywel gathered fine lawyers and priests from each commote in Wales together in the White House in Dyfed Welsh: Tŷ Gwyn ar Daf in an arrangement of parts or elements in a particular form figure or combination. to redesign and codify the Laws of Wales. The story in the prologues lengthens with time, with more details in the later list of paraphrases of the prologue. It seems highly unlikely that this meeting actually took place, with the intention of the prologues being to emphasize the royal and Christian origin and background to the laws, and that in the face of criticism of the laws from external Wales especially during John Peckham's period as Archbishop of Canterbury. Nevertheless, his name continued to be associated with Welsh law which remained in active use throughout Wales until the appointed date of execution of the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 of King Henry VIII of England who asserted his royal descent by blood-line from Rhodri Mawr via Hywel Dda.