Pembroke. It remained in the possession of lords who were subject to the King of England, but who ruled almost like kings in their own lordships. The laws and customs of the various lordships differed greatly; sometimes the lord used English law, and sometimes Welsh law. The great ruling families changed much in wealth and power, from century to century. InLlywelyn's time the most important were the Clares (Gloucester andGlamorgan), the Mortimers (Wigmore and Chirk), Lacy (Denbigh),Warenne (Bromfield and Yale), Fitzalan (Oswestry), Bohun (Brecon),Braose (Gower), and Valence (Pembroke).
Llywelyn was the last prince of independent Wales. From that time on, the title is conferred by the King of England on his eldest son,who is then crowned. The present Prince of Wales also comes, through a daughter of Llywelyn the Great, from the House of Cunedda, the princes of which ruled Wales from Roman times to 1284. Of all the houses that have gone to make the royal house, this is the most ancient.
