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The Description of WalesCambrensis Giraldus

The Description of Wales

by OpenStories

Original author: Cambrensis Giraldus

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"The Description of Wales" by Giraldus Cambrensis is a geographical and ethnographic treatise written in 1193 or 1194. This two-part work examines the Welsh people through contrasting lenses: their virtues and their faults. Gerald, a churchman of mixed Norman-Welsh ancestry, chronicles Wales's geography, military tactics, cultural practices, and social customs. He offers strategic advice for conquering Wales while simultaneously counseling the Welsh on resistance. The treatise captures a medieval perspective on Welsh identity, blending observation, historical analysis, and pointed cultural commentary about a nation's character and future.

The Description of Wales, by Cambrensis Giraldus. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #1092.

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  • 31chapters
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31 Chapters

  1. 1.Front Matter1,995 words
  2. 2.Book I151 words
  3. 3.Book II110 words
  4. 4.Chapter I236 words
  5. 5.Chapter II: Of the Ancient Division of Wales Into Three Parts222 words
  6. 6.Chapter III: Genealogy of the Princes of Wales223 words
  7. 7.Chapter IV: How Many Cantreds, Royal Palaces, and Cathedrals There Are in Wales315 words
  8. 8.Chapter V1,084 words
  9. 9.Chapter VI: Concerning the Pleasantness and Fertility of Wales327 words
  10. 10.Chapter VII: Origin of the Names Cambria and Wales301 words
  11. 11.Chapter VIII736 words
  12. 12.Chapter X: Of Their Hospitality and Liberality589 words
  13. 13.Chapter XI237 words
  14. 14.Chapter XII: Of Their Quickness and Sharpness of Understanding688 words
  15. 15.Chapter XIII: Of Their Symphonies and Songs235 words
  16. 16.Chapter XIV: Their Wit and Pleasantry567 words
  1. 17.Chapter XV: Their Boldness and Confidence in Speaking392 words
  2. 18.Chapter XVI1,516 words
  3. 19.Chapter XVII: Their Love of High Birth and Ancient Genealogy479 words
  4. 20.Chapter XVIII: Of the Antiquity of Their Faith, Their Love of Christianity and Devotion514 words
  5. 21.Preface220 words
  6. 22.Chapter I233 words
  7. 23.Chapter II569 words
  8. 24.Chapter III: Of Their Deficiency in Battle, and Base and Dishonourable Flight365 words
  9. 25.Chapter IV: Their Ambitious Seizure of Lands, and Dissensions Among Brothers232 words
  10. 26.Chapter V: Their Great Exaction, and Want of Moderation166 words
  11. 27.Chapter VI364 words
  12. 28.Chapter VII: Of Their Sins, and the Consequent Loss of Britain and of Troy644 words
  13. 29.Chapter VIII: In What Manner This Nation Is to Be Overcome1,136 words
  14. 30.Chapter IX: In What Manner Wales, When Conquered, Should Be Governed709 words
  15. 31.Chapter X: In What Manner This Nation May Resist and Revolt1,797 words