District of Arfon

Arfon was one of five districts of the County of Gwynedd (Wales ) in 1974 and 1996. During the Middle Ages Arfon was a cantref of the Kingdom of Gwynedd.

Etymology

The name is derived from Arfon welsh ar and fon, meaning " opposite of Anglesey " means - Môn is the Welsh name of Anglesey (mutation of MON to FON ). This designation of the area is in use since the early Middle Ages, cantref Arfon was already the name of the administrative unit of the erstwhile kingdom of Gwynedd and the geo-cultural designation survived until today. Arfon it is also used as a Welsh first name.

Political Structure

Through the Local Government Act 1972 this District was formed on 1 April 1974 from parts of the county Caernarfonshire, namely the municipalities of Bangor, Caernarfon and Bethesda, the counties Ogwen and Gwyrfai (but excluding the municipalities of Beddgelert and Clynnog ). On 1 April 1996, when Gwynedd again became a unitary authority, the District division was completed. Today Arfon is a Borough.

Cantref Arfon

The medieval cantref of Arfon was the core of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. Later it was included in the new district Caernarfonshire. Separated by the Straits of Menai Strait cantref of Anglesey ( Ynys Môn ) was in the north, in the east of cantref Arllechwedd, to the south and west of Pen Llŷn Eifionydd. Since Arfon together with Anglesey controlled the Menai Strait, it was an important strategic power factor.

The cantref Arfon is very different in its geography, fertile land and productive grazing on shores of the Menai Strait and in the valleys, forests on the slopes of the mountains in the south, where the highest mountains of Wales, Snowdon and Tryfan as include.

During the Iron Age and the Roman era, the country was inhabited by the tribe of the Ordovicer. The Roman fort of Segontium ( Caernarfon today ) and the Dinorwig hilltop castle, and Dolbadarn Castle (both in the village of Llanberis ) were important defense system. Religious centers were located in Bangor, where the bishops of Bangor resided and ruled in Clynnog Fawr, large parts of Anglesey.

Ioan Arfon

The Welsh poet, critic and geologist John Owen Griffith ( * 1828, † 1881) was known as the Welsh poet named Ioan Arfon, he also served as an arbitrator of the National Eisteddfod ( festival of literature, music and singing in Wales). He died on November 22, 1881 at the age of 53 years.

Mythology

In the " Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi " (Math fab Mathonwy, " Math, the son Mathonwys " ) is the Virgin Goewin the Fußhalterin of King Math of Gwynedd. She is the daughter Pebins from Dol Bebin in Arfon and is described as the most beautiful girl of her time. Because of the love of Gilfaethwy to her and the deceitfulness Gwydyons it comes to war with Pryderi and Maths to a rift with his nephews. The court of King Math was Caer Dathyl, the Caer Arianrhod Arianrhod of; Llew Llaw Gyffes fled after the murder trial of Goronwy than eagles in the Nantlle Valley. All these places are located in cantref Arfon.