Wales Cantrefi

This map, titled “Wales Cantrefi”, shows many of the cantefri/cantrefs that existed in medieval Cymru during the height of the individual Welsh kingdoms.

So, what is (or was) a cantref?

Cantrefs were defined as land divisions in medieval Cymru. They were of crucial importance in the administration and application of Welsh law. The actual translation of the word can be broken down as “cant” (which means a hundred) and “tref” (which means town).

Each cantref was distinguished not only by spoken dialects but also by their own individual courts. These courts consisted of an assembly of what was known as the uchelwyr, who were essentially the main landowners within these cantrefi.

Of course, the uchelwyr would be overseen by the one person containing even more power: the king (unless he was not present, as then he would be represented by the next highest power in attendance, such as a representative or seneschal).

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