COMMERCE, CASH AND POLITICS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE BEHAVIOUR OF DEHEUBARTH'S WELSH LORDS IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY

Abstract

Although the thirteenth century was a period of significant economic development little has been written about the potential influence this may have had on the political behaviour of native elsh lords his is an important issue because whereas trade generally went with the grain of archer lords political loyalties elsh lords did not enjoy the same easy synergy ack of documentary evidence is a big problem but this article adds to the picture by focusing on eheubarth and the lords of ryslwyn in particular drawing on the results of archaeological excavation ttention has traditionally focused on the contest for territory but the article argues that commerce and the growing use of money had a significant role in shaping the political behaviour of these lords as they grasped opportunities to gain the resources necessary to maintain their position and sense of status