Politics
Main article: Politics of Wales
Wales has been a principality -- since the 13th century, initially under the Welsh prince Llywelyn the Great, and later under his grandson, Llywelyn the Last, who took the title Prince of Wales around 1258, and was recognised by the English Crown in 1277 by the Treaty of Aberconwy. Following his defeat by Edward I, however, Welsh independence in the 14th century was limited to a number of minor revolts. The greatest such revolt was that of Owain Glyn Dwr, who gained popular support in 1400, and defeated an English force at Pumlumon in 1401. In response, the English parliament passed repressive measures denying the Welsh the right of assembly. Glyn Dwr was proclaimed Prince of Wales, and sought assistance from the French, but by 1409 his forces were scattered under the attacks of King Henry IV of England and further measures imposed against the Welsh.
The 1536 Act of Union divided Wales into thirteen counties: Anglesey, Brecon, Caernarfon, Cardigan, Carmarthen, Denbigh, Flint, Glamorgan, Merioneth, Monmouth, Montgomery, Pembroke and Radnor and imposed the Law of England on Wales as well as outlawing the Welsh language for official purposes, excluding most native Welsh from any formal office.
Wales was considered by the English and later Great Britain and United Kingdom governments to be part of England until 1955, when it proclaimed Cardiff as the capital of Wales. Since then legislation has referred to 'England and Wales' where previously only 'England' was used.
The National Assembly for Wales sitting in Cardiff, first elected in 1999, is elected by the Welsh people and has its powers defined by the Government of Wales Act, 1998. The Prince of Wales is a title given by the reigning British monarch to his or her eldest son, but in modern times the Prince does not live in Wales or have anything to do with its administration or government. He rarely visits the country and has only an extremely limited knowledge of the language.
Geography
Main article: Geography of Wales
Wales has thirteen (traditional) counties: Anglesey, Brecknockshire, Caernarvonshire, Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Glamorgan, Merionethshire, Montgomeryshire, Pembrokeshire, Radnorshire, and Monmouthshire, the last-named county being sometimes described as part of England because it was linked to English counties for legal purposes. Between 1888 and 1974 it had been divided into four county boroughs and thirteen administrative counties based on the traditional ones.
Administrative reorganisation resulted in eight administrative counties, divided on the basis of population size: Clwyd, Dyfed, Gwent, Gwynedd, Powys, Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan and West Glamorgan. Following the introduction of unitary authorities during the 1990s, a free-for-all took place, with some administrative counties reverting to traditional county names, leaving a confusing situation where some organisations, eg. the police authorities, straddle county boundaries, and some towns and cities qualify as counties, eg Cardiff, Swansea.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Wales
Parts of Wales have been heavily industrialised since the eighteenth century. Coal, copper, iron, lead, and gold have been mined in Wales, and slate has been quarried. Ironworks and tinplate works, along with the coal mines, attracted large numbers of immigrants during the nineteenth century, particularly to the valleys north of Cardiff, which is now the capital city.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Wales
Culture
Main article: Culture of Wales