Dyfed

Dyfed Preserved County (since 1996) administrative county (1974–1996)
Dyfed
Districts 1974–1996	Carmarthen Ceredigion Dinefwr Llanelli Preseli Pembrokeshire South Pembrokeshire
Principal Areas since 1996	Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Pembrokeshire
Capital	Carmarthen
surface	5,766 km²
population	374,600 (2009)
Population density	65 people / km²

Dyfed [ ˈdəvɛd ] is a Preserved County and a former administrative county of Wales . A Preserved County in Wales includes the jurisdiction of the ceremonial offices of Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff . The name Dyfed refers to one of the ancient Celtic kingdoms in Wales prior to the subjugation of William the Conqueror .

history

The name Dyfeds is derived from the Demetae tribe . In the early Middle Ages , Dyfed was an independent kingdom, whose kings boasted Irish descent ( Déisi ). At the beginning of the 16th century the royal line died out and Dyfed was incorporated into the new Kingdom of Deheubarth . The seven historic Cantrefi Dyfeds before it went up in Deheubarth were Cemais, Pebidiog, Rhos, Penfro, Deugleddyf, Emlyn and Cantref Gwarthaf.

In 1974 the new administrative county of Dyfed was formed from the counties of Cardiganshire , Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire and divided into six districts . Since the administrative reform of 1996, Dyfed is no longer an administrative county , but a Preserved County . Today there are three principal areas on its territory , which largely correspond to the traditional counties:

• Carmarthenshire
• Ceredigion
• Pembrokeshire

Today's Dyfed extends much further north and east than the old kingdom.

mythology

In the first branch of the Mabinogi , Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed ("Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed"), Pwyll is mentioned as the ruler of the seven Cantrefi Dyfeds.

In the third branch, Manawydan fab Llŷr ("Manawydan, the son of Llŷr"), Pryderi , Pwyll's son, married his comrade Manawydan to his mother Rhiannon and left him with Dyfed, whose ruler he nominally remained. Together they ward off a harmful spell against their country by Gwawl's helper Llwyd ap Cil Coed .

In the fourth branch, Math fab Mathonwy ("Math, the son of Mathonwys"), Gwydyon , the nephew of King Math of Gwynedd , provokes a war with Pryderi, whom he kills in a duel.

See also

• List of Welsh rulers
• Myths and legends from Wales and Britain

literature

• Bernhard Maier : Lexicon of Celtic Religion and Culture (= Kröner's pocket edition . Volume 466). Kröner, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-520-46601-5 .
• Bernhard Maier: The legend book of the Welsh Celts . The four branches of the Mabinogi . Dtv Munich, April 1999, ISBN 3-423-12628-0 .

Web links

• Dyfed High Sheriff's website
• Preserved Counties Act

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Official population figures 2009
2. ↑ ^{a b} Bernhard Maier: Lexicon of the Celtic religion and culture . P. 106.
3. ↑ Bernhard Maier: The legend book of the Welsh Celts. P. 117, note 9.2f.
4. ↑ Bernhard Maier: The legend book of the Welsh Celts. P. 9 f.
5. ↑ Bernhard Maier: The legend book of the Welsh Celts. P. 55 f.
6. ↑ Bernhard Maier: The legend book of the Welsh Celts. P. 72 f.