Hywel Dda was born towards the end of the ninth century and ruled over most of Wales. His greatest achievement was the creation of the Welsh legal system. The “Laws of Hywel Dda” remained a cornerstone of Welsh government and culture for several centuries and were a unifying force in an often bitterly divided land. This legal system became known for its wisdom and justice and was in force in Wales until the Act of Union with England in 1536.
One of the remarkable features of these Welsh laws is their recognition of the legal status of women and children. Elsewhere in Europe women were regarded merely as the property of their men folk, a status that persisted for centuries.
In ancient Roman society divisions were stratified into nobility, the ordinary citizens and slaves but not with natural law as such. The laws in Wales were partly derived from ancient Brehon law – the justice system in Ireland where the focus was on the human being, freedom and equality and restitution for crimes rather than violent punishment. These were remarkably liberal for their time. There are many commonalities between the laws of Hywel Dda and Brehon law.
The laws of nature were usurped by Papal Bulls by the Roman Catholic Empire and her minions. It has progressed to today where we live in a master-slave society. The law today is used to diminish your natural rights. Educating yourself on natural law is your best defense against civil matters.
“The sale of the ‘Boston manuscript’ of the Laws of Hywel Dda for £541,250 at Sotheby’s last month caused a stir in the usually sedate world of medieval Welsh history. It was bought by the National Library of Wales with a grant of £467,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Why did we buy it?” Read Article here
