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The astonishing laws of medieval Wales

The astonishing laws of medieval Wales

Sara Elin Roberts explores the remarkable medieval Welsh laws attributed to Hywel Dda, revealing a legal system designed to keep society functioning in a turbulent age

Elinor Evans

Published: June 29, 2026 at 1:46 PM

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From divorce settlements and cattle disputes to surprisingly modern ideas about gender and compensation, the laws of Hywel Dda shed unique light on how society functioned, in a turbulent age of rival princes and conquest.

Speaking to Elinor Evans, legal historian Sara Elin Roberts explains the laws often attributed to a tenth century king, and what they tell us about Wales in the Middle Ages.

Authors

Elinor EvansHead of digital (web and video)

Elinor Evans is head of digital (web and video)

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