Unlike Scotland, which was united politically with England in a single Act of Union in 1707, Wales was not united with England but annexed, and this took place in a series of separate acts, each with different implications for Wales.
Following completion of England’s military conquest of Wales in the 12th & 13th century, the ‘Statute of Rhuddlan’ in 1284 divided Wales into the Principality and Marches. This did not unite Wales with England, but instead placed Wales firmly under England’s direct rule, and this situation continued for around 250 years.
Then in 1535 the ‘First Act of Union’ (officially called the ‘Laws in Wales Act 1535’ but originally called ‘An Act for Laws & Justice to be ministered in Wales in like form as it is in this Realm’) formally annexed Wales into England and divided Wales into its traditional 13 counties. This transferred some land from the Welsh Marches into Herefordshire and Shropshire, but also had the effect of formally establishing the border of Wales which has remained virtually unchanged to this day.
This was followed in 1542 by the ‘Second Act of Union’ (officially called the ‘Laws in Wales Act 1542’ but originally called ‘An Act for certain Ordinances in the Kings Majesties, Dominion and Principality of Wales’) which brought Wales fully into the English legal system. This divided 12 of the counties of Wales into 4 legal circuits, but placed Monmouthshire into an English circuit, with the unintended effect of confusing the status of Monmouthshire between England and Wales.
Despite these Acts, Wales remained as a distinct legal entity until 1746 when the ‘Wales & Berwick Act’ categorically stated that any reference to England would henceforth include Wales (and Berwick).
This was arguably the lowest point in our national status, and it is from here that our journey to independence must begin.
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