Earliest reliably-dated "modern human" burial with artefacts, first discovered in the 1820s on the Gower in Swansea. After the Red Lady of Paviland bones were recalibrated in 2009,[1] the (male) Homo sapiens bones were determined to be from 33,000 years ago.[2]
c. 6000 BC
Following the end of glaciation and sea level stabilisation, Wales becomes roughly the shape it is today and is inhabited by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers.[3]
c. 4000 BC
The earliest farming communities become established in Wales, marking the beginning of the Neolithic period.[4]Megalithic tombs still survive from this period, such as the Pentre Ifan Dolmen in Pembrokeshire.[5]
Bronze and Iron Ages
Year
Date
Event
c. 2500โ2100 BC
Metal tools first appear, as copper ores are extracted from deep open cast mines in central and northern Wales. Implements are initially made from copper, followed by bronze (made by adding tin and lead to copper).[6]
c. 2500โ700 BC
Wales is part of Bronze Age Britain, a maritime trading culture,[7] selling tin, lead, iron, silver, gold, pearls, corn, cattle, hides, skins, fleeces, trained hunting dogs and slaves, and buying ivory, amber, glass vessels and other luxuries;[8]: 12 bronze axeheads from this area have been found on the coasts of Brittany and Germany.[9]
c. 650 BC
Implements start to be produced from iron, the earliest examples are believed to come from Llyn Fawr in South Wales.[10]
c. 400 BC
Iron Age settlements emerge in Wales, two of the earliest being Castell Odo, a small hillfort near the tip of the Llลทn Peninsula[11] and Lodge Wood Camp, above the later Roman fort at Caerleon.[12]
c. 150 BC
Gold coins are being minted at least as early as this date, imitating Macedonian designs.[8]: 12
Caratacus, a defeated chieftain from east England, encourages the Silures and Ordovices to attack Roman territories, ultimately unsuccessfully;[16] he is betrayed by the Brigantes and taken to Rome as a prisoner[17]
Gaius Suetonius Paulinus completes the Roman conquest of Wales, ending with his campaign to capture Anglesey;[20] the conquest has involved at least thirteen campaigns, up to 30,000 soldiers and, due to Wales's particular terrain, the development of new tactics which were subsequently adopted in other parts of the empire[15]
2nd century
Year
Date
Event
c. 100โ200
Roman rule over Britannia is less evident in Wales than in other parts of Britain; there are few Roman settlements, but a number of roads, camps and forts;[21] the Romans exploit resources such as metal ores,[22] and to a lesser extent coal[23]
Hoard of more than 3,000 Roman coins buried in a ceramic pot in Powys, discovered in 2011[26]
c. 280
Vines introduced into Britain, including Glamorganshire; also first established around this time, fruit tree, vegetable and game species not previously indigenous[8]: 46
4th century
Year
Date
Event
311โ313
The edicts of Serdica[27] and Milan allow Christians throughout the Empire to worship without restriction; there had been periods of persecution in Wales, including two martyrdoms: Julius and Aaron[28]
350โ369
Influx of settlers from Ireland take advantage of soft Roman rule in Wales[29][30]
383
Effective end of Roman rule in Wales;[31]de facto Roman ruler Magnus Maximus leaves Wales defenceless when he embarks on a military campaign with considerable forces, and remains on the continent with his troops[32]
Germanus of Auxerre promotes Christianity more widely in Wales and, as a former general, puts himself at the forefront of a British force in a confrontation with raiders near Mold[36]
c. 450
Cunedda Wledig (possibly the grandson of a Roman or Romano-Briton with military rank on the border with Scotland)[37] comes "from the north" and founds Gwynedd by driving out the Irish settlers[38]
Dubricius is appointed archbishop of Caerleon and Llandaff; he founds several colleges, including asylums for the aged and schools for the young[40]
6th century
Year
Date
Event
c. 500โ542
The supposed time of the legendary King Arthur, of Welsh parentage and crowned at Caerleon, referred to by early writers such as Nennius, Geoffrey of Monmouth and many others, but considered by more modern historians as a combination of "monkish legends and chivalrous fiction"[41]
Dewi moves the seat of the primacy to Mynyw, where the see became known as St David's, but the settlement was called Menevia at least until the 13th century,[44] and later became the city of St David's[45][43]
547
Death of Maelgwn Gwynedd, king of Gwynedd, known for funding the foundation of Christian churches throughout Wales;[46] Maelgwn may have died of the bubonic plague, a pandemic that spread across Europe and beyond in the early 540s, mostly via trade routes[47]
c.560
Death of Bishop Dewi. His episcopal see at Menevia is renamed Ty Ddewi (The House of David) in his honour[48]
Cadwallon ap Cadfan, king of Gwynedd, dies in battle in the north of England[52][53]
c. 655โ682
Reign of Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon, king of Gwynedd; 660 is the earliest date recorded[54]: 3 in the 14th century Brut y Tywysogion (Chronicle of the Princes), an important Welsh history source[55]
8th century
Year
Date
Event
700โ750
At the height of its powers, Mercia expands westwards to the Dee, Wye, and Severn rivers, at the expense of the Welsh kingdom of Powys; forced back into the upland regions, the Welsh launch a series of raids throughout the late 7th and early 8th centuries, in a bid to regain the rich farming territory of the lowlands.[8]: 108โ117
c. 753
An invading army from Wessex is beaten back by the Welsh at Hereford[8]: 113โ114
c. 754
Death of king Rhodri Molwynog, whose lineage is unclear, and whose predecessor and date of succession are not known; the reign of king Rhodri's successor, Cynan (probably Rhodri's son), was one of incessant warfare; Rhodri may have been succeeded by Caradog ap Meirion, or Caradog may have been a district ruler[8]: 115โ116
c. 755โ794
Offa of Mercia and Cynewulf of Wessex campaign vigorously along the length of the border with the Welsh kingdoms, causing the Welsh to lose lands they would never recover and largely establishing the eastern borders of Wales that exist today; internal Welsh strife continues[8]: 114โ117
c. 757โ796
Offa's Dyke is built along the WalesโEngland border to mark the boundary between Anglian Mercia and the Welsh kingdom of Powys; however, radiocarbon dating of samples taken from excavations in 2014 reveal that it may have been constructed much earlier than this, and over an extended time period[56]
Battle at Rhuddlan Marsh, between the Saxons and Welsh; there is confusion between possible battles at Rhuddlan Marsh (Denbighshire) in 795 and Rhuddlan (Flintshire) in 796[57]
Nennius, a 9th-century Welsh monk, is thought to have written Historia Brittonum, a history of the Celtic Britons, although some experts argue that the work was written anonymously[59]
844
Rhodri ap Merfyn (later known as Rhodri the Great) becomes King of Gwynedd, Powys and Deheubarth by right of succession, uniting the three kingdoms under one rule[58]
Cadell ap Rhodri invades Powys, capturing Merfyn's territory[54]: 17
c. 885
Several Welsh kings submit to Alfred the Great's lordship; Asser, a Welsh cleric, is invited to join Alfred in Wessex; in 893, Asser writes a biography of Alfred[60]
892
Anarawd ap Rhodri takes over Ceredigion and attacks Dyfed; Merfyn ap Rhodri is killed by his own men[54]: 19
893
(spring)
The Battle of Buttington ends in victory for a combined Anglo-Saxon and Welsh force against the Danish Vikings;[61] the Buttington Oak, believed to have been planted around this time to commemorate the battle, survives until February 2018[62]
(autumn)
Danish Vikings occupy the town of Chester, but when Alfred the Great cuts off their food supplies, they move west and carry out raids in north Wales before returning to Essex[citation needed]
Hywel ap Cadell unites the kingdoms of Dyfed and Seisyllwg, to create the new realm of Deheubarth ("southern district")[citation needed]
c. 926
Hywel convenes a council from all parts of Wales to establish a set of Laws for the whole country; he takes the transcript to Rome and obtains the Pope's approval[64]
928
King รthelstan of England asserts authority over the Welsh kings, and fixes the border between England and Wales at the River Wye;[65] this may have been the first time a border dispute (involving the Welsh in the Witangemot) was settled by discussion, rather than by war[64]
943
Hywel ap Cadell (known by this time as Hywel Dda or "Hywel the Good") assumes control of Gwynedd after a joint Danish and Saxon incursion leads to the death of their king and his brother;[66] Hywel eventually extends his rule to most of Wales[67]
948
Death of king Hywel Dda,[68] followed by several decades of inter-family warfare, interspersed with battles with the Saxons and Danes[54]: 25
950
Hywel Dda's nephews, Iago ab Idwal and Ieuaf ab Idwal, reclaim the kingdom of Gwynedd by driving out their cousins at the Battle of Carno[54]: 25
952โ954
Territorial struggles continue between the sons and nephews of Hywel Dda, ending in defeat for the southern princes at a major battle near Llanrwst[54]: 25โ27
969
Iago ab Idwal imprisons his brother Ieuaf, then continues to rule Gwynedd unimpeded for the next decade[54]: 33
972
King Edgar of England comes to Chester in person to broker peace between the regional kings, but the conflicts resume after his departure[69]
979
Iago ab Idwal is defeated in battle by his nephew Hywel ap Ieuaf, who becomes the next king of Gwynedd[54]: 33
985
After the death of Hywel ap Ieuaf, his brother Cadwallon ab Ieuaf takes on the rule of Gwynedd for a brief period[54]: 37
986
Maredudd ab Owain captures the kingdom of Gwynedd, which is later annexed with Deheubarth; Danes invade in the south[54]: 37
987
After carrying out several major raids on Wales in previous years, Norse king Godfrey Haroldson takes two thousand captives from Anglesey for ransom[70]
Aeddan ap Blegywryd subjugates north Wales; the hereditary heir, Iago, flees to Ireland; Cynan ap Hywel, though supported by Irish Danes, fails to recover his possessions[71]
1005
On the death of Cynan, the pretender Aeddan is ruler of Gwynedd[72]
1018
Llywelyn ap Seisyll, with distant claims to Gwynedd and Deheubarth, defeats Aeddan (who is killed along with his four sons)[73] and takes control of the kingdoms of Gwynedd and Powys[74]
Iago ab Idwal ap Meurig is killed by his own men,[74] and replaced as ruler of Gwynedd and Powys by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (King Llywelyn ap Seisyll's son, and great-great-grandson of Hywel Dda)[77]
1055
24 October
Gruffydd ap Llywelyn sacks Hereford, one of several territories that he is able to seize in Wales and along the border with England[77]
1056
16 June
Gruffydd ap Llywelyn defeats an English army at the Battle of Glasbury (Claftbyrig), near Hereford;[77] around this time, he begins to be recognised as the true King of Wales[78]
Bleddyn ap Cynfyn becomes king of both Gwynedd and Powys after the Battle of Mechain[82]
1075
Death of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn leads to a civil war in which the Normans take the opportunity to seize lands in northern Wales[80]
1081
Gruffudd ap Cynan becomes king of Gwynedd following the Battle of Mynydd Carn, but is captured and imprisoned by Norman invaders soon afterwards;[83] William the Conqueror leads a Norman army into Deheubarth, and worships at the shrine of St David[84]
1088โ1092
Lordships of Welsh lands apportioned to Normans and their Welsh allies; Normans accelerate building or strengthening castles across the country[54]: 73โ77
1094โ1098
Welsh revolt against Norman rule leads to territories being regained by the Britons;[83]William II of England attempts to suppress the revolt in north Wales with little success[54]: 81โ85
Gruffudd ap Cynan escapes from imprisonment again and rules Anglesey with the consent of the Normans[83]
12th century
Year
Date
Event
1100
With the death of William II, much of Wales is under Welsh rule but, with constant struggles for local control, there is no cohesive national identity[85]
Construction begins on Ogmore Castle in Glamorgan, one of the earliest Norman stone castles in South Wales[86]
1111โ1114
Normans move into south and north Wales; peace is agreed between King Henry I and Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd; Owain ap Cadwgan is knighted by King Henry I for his service in Normandy[54]: 95โ97
1115โ1130
A period of inter-family differences and rights of succession, mainly in the south and east (but to some extent in Gwynedd), are marked by warfare and brutality; Owain ap Cadwgan is killed in battle and most of Powys passes to his uncle, Maredudd ap Bleddyn[54]: 97โ111 [87]
Death of Gruffudd ap Cynan; he is succeeded as king of Gwynedd by his son Owain ap Gruffudd (who later becomes known as Owain Gwynedd)[54]: 113
1157
July
Owain Gwynedd, with an army of around 3,000, forces the retreat of Henry II's much larger army (supported by Madog of Powys, who has yielded to Henry the previous year)[93] at the Battle of Ewloe in Flintshire;[94][95] following the campaign, Owain yields to Henry, but retains his rule and territory[93]
Death of Owain Gwynedd throws the kingdom of Gwynedd into disarray; within weeks, his nominated heir Hywel is dead, and his illegitimate son Dafydd usurps the rule of Gwynedd, but he fails to maintain his father's hold on south Wales, which falls into the hands of Rhys ap Gruffydd[54]: 133
1171
Henry II leads a large army into south Wales, meets amicably with Rhys ap Gruffydd, and after making an offering at St David's shrine, he sails from Pembroke with his army for Ireland[99]
1172
Rhys ap Gruffydd is appointed justice of south Wales by Henry II, essentially becoming ruler in Henry's stead[96]
Gerald of Wales writes Descriptio Cambriae; he writes of Wales as a nation, with defined borders, and a common ancestry and identity who "if they would be inseparable, they would be insuperable"[104]
13th century
Year
Date
Event
1200
By this date, the title of regional rulers as "king" has given way to the title "prince"[96]
After five years of lobbying, including directly to the Pope, Gerald of Wales fails to have St David's raised to an archbishopric[106]
1205
Llywelyn the Great consolidates his position by marrying King John's illegitimate daughter Joan[105]
1211
August
Suspicious of Llywelyn's expansion of Gwynedd into neighbouring territories, King John invades Gwynedd, assisted by most of the other Welsh princes, forcing Llywelyn to seek terms with John and accept abandonment by his allies[105]
1212
John's clear intent of intrusive overlordship of Wales leads to Welsh leaders rallying to Llywelyn the Great, who recaptures all of Gwynedd; King John plans another invasion but this attempt is abandoned[105]
1215
May
Llywelyn, in support of the disaffected English barons, seizes Shrewsbury, a factor in King John's submission to the barons[105]
15 June
When King John is forced to sign Magna Carta, Llywelyn the Great is rewarded with several favourable provisions relating to Wales, in particular the rights to its own laws[105]
1218
After three more years of conflict within Wales, Llywelyn overcomes all opposition and receives the homage of all the other Welsh rulers, and his pre-eminence is confirmed by the English crown in the Treaty of Worcester[107]
1234
21 June
The "Peace of Middle" establishes a truce between Llywelyn the Great and the English Crown; Llywelyn styles himself "Prince of Aberffraw" and "Lord of Snowdonia"[107]
1240
11 April
Death of Llywelyn the Great; Dafydd ap Llywelyn succeeds his father as Prince of Gwynedd, but King Henry III does not support his overlordship as prince of all Wales, thus deliberately undermining Welsh unity[108]
1244
King Henry III of England attacks Gwynedd; Dafydd styles himself prince of Wales; he offers Wales as a vassal state to the Pope, to free Wales from English dominion, but this is denied[108]
1246
25 February
Dafydd ap Llywelyn dies without issue; his nephew Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (grandson of Llywelyn the Great) eventually succeeds as Prince of Gwynedd[108]
1247
After three years of devastating war, Wales is reduced again to lordships under English rule by the Treaty of Woodstock[108]
1258
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd begins to use the title of "Prince of Wales"[109]
1267
29 September
King Henry III accepts Llywelyn ap Gruffudd as Prince of Wales under the terms of the Treaty of Montgomery[109]
Madog is defeated at the Battle of Maes Moydog; he escapes, but subsequently surrenders unconditionally and is taken to London, but his fate is unknown.[112]
14th century
Year
Date
Event
1301
7 February
Edward of Carnarvon is invested as the first English Prince of Wales (as the title is transferred to the heir apparent to the English or British throne)[113]
Llywelyn Bren launches a surprise attack on Caerphilly Castle in a revolt against English rule in Wales; he lays siege to the castle for six weeks and surrenders unconditionally to King Edward II's forces on 18 March[116]
King Edward II retreats to Wales with his forces after his regime collapses; he is captured by rebel forces north of Caerphilly, escorted back to England via Monmouth Castle and relinquishes his crown two months later[118]
1330
The construction of Beaumaris Castle is halted and, despite a huge sum of money being spent on it (ยฃ15,000) the building is never completed[114][115]
Owain Lawgoch launches an unsuccessful invasion attempt on Wales in a bid to take back his confiscated lands[121]
1372
May
In Paris, Owain Lawgoch announces his intention of claiming the throne of Wales, and then mobilises his forces in readiness for another invasion attempt[121]
At the Battle of Tuthill at Caernarfon, Owain Glyndลตr first raises the royal standard bearing a golden dragon on a white field.[122]
1402
22 June
Battle of Bryn Glas (also known as the Battle of Pilleth) ends in victory for Owain Glyndลตr, prolonging the Welsh rebellion against English rule.[122]: 22, 231
August
Owain Glyndลตr receives a warm welcome in southeast Wales.[127]
Owain Glyndลตr writes to the King of France requesting military support.[131]
July
Owain Glyndลตr holds a Welsh Parliament in Machynlleth, where he is crowned Prince of Wales[132] in the presence of envoys from France, Scotland and Castile.[131]
Aberystwyth Castle surrenders to the English, and Owain Glyndลตr moves his court to Harlech.[137]
1409
Harlech Castle is captured by English forces; Glyndลตr and his supporters flee to the mountains, from where they continue sporadic attacks for several years;[137] Glyndลตr's wife Margaret Hanmer is taken prisoner, along with her children and grandchildren, most of whom probably die later in captivity (Hanmer herself dies c. 1420).[citation needed]
1413
Nothing is heard of Owain Glyndลตr after this date.[138]
1415
21 September
End of the Glyndลตr Rising; approximate date of Owain Glyndลตr's death, possibly in Herefordshire[138]
25 October
Welsh archers play a key part in the victory of King Henry V of England over a much larger French army at the Battle of Agincourt;[139] some Welsh combatants fight on the French side.[140]
1417
30 April
Owain Glyndลตr's son, Maredudd ab Owain Glyndลตr, declines the offer of a pardon from King Henry V for both himself and his father.[141]
1421
Maredudd ab Owain Glyndลตr finally accepts a pardon (for himself alone) from King Henry V.[142]
1437
Work begins on the construction of the (present) Raglan Castle, replacing an earlier structure.[143][144]
Whilst residing at Ludlow Castle, 12-year-old King Edward V of England receives news of his father's sudden death and his own accession to the English throne; the Council at Ludlow comes to an end.[149]
1485
1 August
Henry Tudor lands near Dale, Pembrokeshire, and marches through Wales (8 to 14 August)[150] and England where, on 22 August, he defeats King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field[151] to become the third and last Welsh-born King of England.
An insurrection breaks out in Meirionydd in north Wales and the rebels capture Harlech Castle; the revolt is the last of the medieval era in Wales.[citation needed]
A new national flag is created by royal decree to mark the union between England and Scotland; Wales is not represented in the design because it is legally a part of England[165]
1607
30 January
Bristol Channel floods cause devastation on the south coast of Wales, affecting Pembrokeshire, Glamorgan, and Monmouthshire;[166] Cardiff is the worst affected town, with the foundations of St Mary's Church destroyed[167]
Bishop William Morgan's Bible translation into Welsh (first published in 1588) is revised by Bishop Richard Parry and Dr John Davies as Y Bibl Cyssegr-lan, and published in London[169]
Cardiff Castle is besieged by Royalists, but relieved by Parliamentarians[182]
AprilโJune
Aberystwyth Castle, after a long siege, surrenders to Parliamentary forces; most castles in north Wales are under siege; Caernarvon, Anglesey and Beaumaris submit to Parliament[183]
Holt Castle surrenders to Parliamentary forces after a siege lasting several months[186]
16 March
Harlech Castle surrenders to Parliamentary forces; it is the last Royalist stronghold of the English Civil War in mainland Britain[187]
1648
8 May
The Battle of St. Fagans takes place near Cardiff, a pitched battle (termed by some an insurrection) between Parliamentarians and Royalists (more accurately disaffected Parliamentary forces), part of the Second English Civil War,[188] in which there is fighting throughout south Wales[189]
June
Fighting breaks out in north Wales; the insurrection is suppressed[190]
July
After a long siege, Pembroke surrenders to Parliament[191]
JulyโOctober
Anglesey is the last area in Wales to submit to the rule of Parliament, which demands the sum of ยฃ7,000 for military expenditure; end of the English Civil War in Wales[192]
1649
January
Welsh politicians, Thomas Wogan (Pembroke) and John Jones Maesygarnedd (Merioneth), are among the signatories to the death warrant of Charles I; after the restoration, Wogan flees the country and Jones is executed[193][194]
The first of two copper mills opens in the Neath Valley, powered by waterfalls on the River Neath. Copper smelting, refining and working becomes a prime commercial concern in Wales in the late 17th century.[6]
The Workhouse Test Act (also known as Knatchbull's Act) is passed by UK government, leading to the establishment of numerous workhouses in England and Wales over the next two decades[206][207]
A rich seam of copper ore is discovered at Parys Mountain, Anglesey, leading to the formation of the Parys Mine Company, soon to become the world's most productive copper mining concern. Wales dominates the world copper markets throughout this period.[6]
Pont-y-Cafnau, the world's earliest surviving iron railway bridge, is constructed to support a tramway and aqueduct for the transport of raw materials to the Cyfarthfa Ironworks[212]
1797
22โ24 February
The Pembrokeshire coast is invaded by Republican France in the Battle of Fishguard, often referred to as the "last invasion of Britain" as it represents the last assault launched on British soil by a hostile foreign power[213]
Merthyr Tydfil is by now the largest town in Wales, mainly populated by workers in the iron and coal industries, and their families[217]
1831
June
An armed uprising takes place in Merthyr Tydfil, as thousands of workers protest against their poor wages and working conditions[217]
13 August
Despite a petition for his release, a young miner called Richard Lewis (also known as Dic Penderyn) is hanged outside Cardiff Gaol for stabbing a soldier with a bayonet during the Merthyr Rising; later proven to be innocent, he is remembered as a working-class martyr[217][218]
1833
Samuel Lewis publishes the comprehensive, two-volume, historical and geographical A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (the 4th edition, 1849, is online)[219]
1834
14 August
Poor Law Amendment Act is passed by UK government, replacing earlier poor relief legislation and fundamentally reforming the poverty relief system in England and Wales (later repealed in 1948 at the rise of the British welfare state)[220]
The Swansea Philosophical & Literary Society is granted a royal charter in recognition of the high quality of scientific research by its members; the society is renamed the Royal Institution of South Wales[221]
Opening of Swansea Museumโthe oldest museum in Walesโby the Royal Institution of South Wales[230]
1842
12 April
Morgan Williams travels to the Chartist Convention in London, to present to parliament a petition signed by 36,000 people from south Wales[231]
May
The Royal Children's Employment Commission publishes its first report on the employment of children in the British coal industry, which reveals that children as young as five are working long shifts underground[232]
June
The Rebecca Riots begin in earnest in south and west Wales, as local farmers and agricultural workers launch a series of attacks on tollhouses and other symbols of economic oppression[233]
10 October
Official opening of the Town Dock (later known as the "Old Dock"), the first floating dock facility in Newport harbour, able to accommodate the largest ships in the world[234]
The small village of Llanwddyn, at the head of the Vyrnwy valley, is flooded to create the Lake Vyrnwy reservoir for supplying fresh water to Liverpool and Merseyside[245]
1890
6 February
An explosion at the Llanerch Colliery in Abersychan claims the lives of 176 men and boys[246]
An explosion at the Albion Colliery in Cilfynydd claims the lives of 290 men and boys; one of the worst mining accidents ever to occur in the United Kingdom, it is the second worst mining disaster in Welsh history (after the Senghenydd colliery disaster in 1913)[249]
An earthquake strikes near Swansea, causing some minor structural damage to buildings; measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, it is one of the most significant earthquakes to occur in the UK in the 20th century[252]
The 1911 Coal Mines Act is passed, following a series of mine disasters in the 19th and early-20th centuries, including several in Wales; the Act amends existing laws covering safety and other aspects of the UK coal mining industry[257]
1911โ1913
A significant prehistoric metalwork hoard, thought to have been deposited in a sacred ritual, is discovered at Llyn Fawr when the lake is partially drained for the construction of a new reservoir[10]
The Welsh social-democratic political party Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru (meaning "The National Party of Wales") is formed in Pwllheli, later changing its name to Plaid Cymru (or simply "The Party of Wales")[264]
1929
May
The first Urdd National Eisteddfod, a competitive youth festival of literature, music and performing arts, is held in Corwen, Denbighshire[265]
1930
October
Closure of Newport's "Old Dock", as resources are concentrated on the modern Alexandra Dock complex[234]
Production of Y Chwarelwr (The Quarryman), the first audio feature film recorded in the Welsh language[267]
1936
8 September
Arson attack at RAF Penrhos "bombing school" by three members of Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru, known as the Tรขn yn Llลทn (Fire in Llลทn) protest; the culmination of an ongoing opposition campaign, it is considered to be a defining moment in the history of the political party[268]
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is designated as the second national park in Wales; noted for its spectacular coastline, the park covers a total area of 236 square miles (612 km2)[275]
Brecon Beacons National Park is designated as the third of three national park in Wales; incorporating Pen y Fan, the highest peak in south Wales, the park covers a total area of 520 square miles (1,347 km2)[275]
1958
14 January
Independent television comes to Wales when TWW starts broadcasting across South Wales. Four years later, Wales West and North Television begins broadcasting to the northern areas of Wales.
Peak production at the Abbey Steelworks in Port Talbot: by the mid-1960s, the site has grown to be Europe's largest steel-producing complex and the largest single employer in Wales, with a workforce of over 18,000[274]
1961
Closure of the original steel mill at Port Talbot; the site is demolished a few years later[274]
17 August
The Lower Swansea Valley Project is launched,[279] with the aim of reclaiming the land that has been devastated by industrial processes over the past two centuries; the land will eventually house new developments such as the Maritime Quarter, a shopping complex, sports complex and industrial park[280]
1962
4 August
The Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg) is established, to campaign for the right of Welsh people to use the Welsh language in every aspect of their lives[281]
BBC Radio Cymru launches and becomes the first broadcasting outlet dedicated wholly to programmes in Welsh. The service is part-time, and it is not until the end of the decade that the station is on air for a significant number of hours each day.[citation needed]
1978
23 November
BBC Radio Wales launches on the former Radio 4 Welsh medium wave opt-out wavelength, initially with very limited broadcast hours; establishing a separate network is made possible by the transfer of Radio 4 to a fully UK-wide network on moving from medium wave to long wave.[citation needed]
S4C begins broadcasting as Wales' fourth television channel. The channel broadcasts Welsh programming during peaktime and airs programmes from Channel 4, which launches the nest day, during off-peak hours.[295]
An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale strikes the Llลทn Peninsula in Gwynedd, the largest earthquake to occur in the UK since instrumental measurements began[297]
Welsh Language Act 1993 (c. 38) (Welsh: Deddf Yr Iaith Gymraeg 1993) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which put the Welsh language on an equal footing with the English language in Wales[301]
Official opening of Cardiff Bay Barrage, one of the largest civil engineering projects in Europe.[312]
July
Welsh communities pressure group Cymuned (meaning "Community") is launched at a meeting in Mynytho on the Llลทn Peninsula;[313] the group aims to protect and foster the Welsh language and way of life.[314]
The North Wales edition of the Daily Post separates from the Liverpool Daily Post to become a standalone title.[321] (Liverpool edition has since ceased)
Aยฃ1.1 million DTI grant is awarded to Energybuild, the private owner of the Aberpergwm Colliery in the Neath Valley, to upgrade facilities and allow new coal reserves to be accessed.[325]
The new National Assembly building opens in Cardiff Bay; designed by Richard Rogers and costing ยฃ67m, it is known as the Senedd (the Welsh word for "parliament").[294]
Labour and Plaid Cymru announce their intention to form a coalition government, and enter into the One Wales agreement which includes holding a referendum on full law-making powers for the Welsh Assembly.[294]
Cardiff Castle opens a new interpretation centre at a cost of ยฃ6 million.[337]
12 September
Completion of the Meridian Tower in Swansea's Maritime Quarter; the Tower is the tallest building in Wales, standing at a height of 107 metres (351 feet).[338]
Digital switchover is completed in Wales when the analogue transmissions at Wenvoe are switched off.[343] Consequently, S4C begins broadcasting solely in Welsh and the channel no longer carries Channel 4 programmes due to Channel 4 becoming available full-time across all of Wales for the first time.[344]
Barry-born Julia Gillard becomes Australia's first female prime minister.[347]
2011
3 March
A further Welsh devolution referendum is held, which results in the Welsh Assembly receiving full law-making powers on all matters in the twenty fields (subject areas) where it has jurisdiction.[294]
On the centenary of Britain's worst-ever mining disaster, the Welsh National Mining Memorial is unveiled within a dedicated garden at Senghenydd, in memory of all those who have died in the Welsh mines.[258]
2014
Excavations carried out by the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, on parts of Offa's Dyke near Chirk, place construction in the period 541โ651 AD, with lower layers dating to as early as 430 AD, suggesting that the Dyke may have been a long-term project by several Mercian kings.[56]
The 2014 NATO Summit is held at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport; it is the first NATO summit to be held in the UK since 1990 and the first held anywhere in the UK other than London.[360]
2015
15 April
After a ยฃ12m restoration project, Cardigan Castle reopens as a heritage attraction and events venue.[361]
25 September
Ford approves a new ยฃ181 million range of petrol engines to be built at its car manufacturing plant in Bridgend, South Wales, securing 750 skilled jobs at the facility; production of the new engines will begin in 2018.[362]
1 December
Wales becomes the first nation in the UK to introduce a presumed consent scheme for organ donation, whereby adults are regarded as consenting to become donors unless they have specifically opted out.[363]
Tata Steel announces its intention to invest ยฃ30m in its Port Talbot Steelworks, in a bid to safeguard the jobs of 4,000 employees at the plant, following plans to merge with German steel manufacturer ThyssenKrupp.[366]
2018
20 March
Planning permission is granted by Neath Port Talbot Council to restart coal production at Aberpergwm Colliery, the last surviving drift mine in Wales, after operations were previously suspended in July 2015.[367]
2 July
Prince Charles attends a lowkey ceremony to rename the Second Severn Crossing as the "Prince of Wales Bridge", a move which is widely disliked by the Welsh public.[368]
2019
January
Completion of a major blast furnace upgrade at the Port Talbot Steelworks after a ยฃ50m investment by Tata Steel; this follows years of uncertainty at the plant, with particular concerns over the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.[369]
The Welsh Government approves the construction of a new bridge across the river Dyfi at Machynlleth, at a cost of ยฃ46 million.[373]
24 January
The Slate Landscape of North West Wales is nominated by the UK government for consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[374]
28 February
Authorities confirm the first case of COVID-19 in Wales, an individual who recently returned from holiday in Italy.[375]
18 March
The Welsh Government announces that all schools in Wales will close from the end of the week as a measure to help contain the spread of COVID-19 in Wales;[376] the school closure lasts until the end of June.[377]
The National Assembly for Wales becomes "Senedd Cymru โ Welsh Parliament" and its members become "Members of the Senedd" (MS) (Aelodau o'r Senedd (AS) in Welsh).[379]
25 September
Ford's Bridgend Engine Plant closes for decommissioning, ending 40 years of engine production at the site.[380]
2021
28 July
The Slate Landscape of North West Wales is added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, making it the fourth World Heritage Site in Wales.[381]
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Blackstone, William; Stewart, James (December 2010) [1839]. The rights of persons, according to the text of Blackstone: incorporating the alterations down to the present time. Gale. ISBN978-1-240-18846-8.
Gilbert, Bentley Brinkerhoff (December 1987). David Lloyd George: A Political Life: The Architect of Change 1863โ1912. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. ISBN978-0-7134-5558-8.
Laws, Edward (March 2011) [1888]. The History of Little England Beyond Wales, and the Non-Kymric Colony settled in Pembrokeshire. British Library, Historical Print Editions. ISBN978-1-241-43497-7.
Pollard, Joshua (December 2001). "Wales' Hidden History c.25,000 BC โ c.AD 383, Hunter-Gatherer Communities in Wales: The Neolithic". In Morgan, Prys; Aldhouse-Green, Stephen (eds.). History of Wales 25,000 BC โ AD 2000. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Tempus Publishing. ISBN978-0-7524-1983-1.
Rosen, William (December 2007). Justinian's Flea: Plague, Empire and the Birth of Europe (1st ed.). Viking Press. ISBN978-0-224-07369-1.
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