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{{Short description|Welsh medieval land division}}
{{distinguish|text=[[commode]]}}
[[File:WalesCommotesMap.png|right|thumb|{{center|'''Commotes of Medieval Wales'''}}Note that some areas are shown as reorganised by the Normans, for ''[[hundred (administrative division)|hundred]]-style'' purposes<!--eg. Brycheniog, which treats Talgarth as distinct from Selyf, but ignores Tewdows and Ida-->, or in a manner that is not chronologically consistent<!-- eg. Ceri is shown in Powys, not Maelienydd, even though Penllyn is also shown in Powys, not Gwynedd; Arwysti and Cedewain are shown in Powys not Rhwng Gwy a Hafren, even though Buellt is still included in the latter-->]]
A '''commote''' ({{langx|cy|cwmwd}}, sometimes spelt in older documents as {{lang|cy|cymwd}}, plural {{lang|cy|cymydau}}, less frequently {{lang|cy|cymydoedd}})<ref name="Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru p643">''[[Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru]]'' (University of Wales Dictionary), p. 643</ref> was a [[secular]] division of land in [[Medieval]] [[Wales]]. The word derives from the prefix {{lang|cy|cym-}} ("together", "with") and the noun {{lang|cy|bod}} ("home, abode").<ref name="Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru p643"/> The English word "commote" is derived from the Middle Welsh {{lang|wlm|cymwt}}.<ref>Brown, Lesley (ed), "New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary", Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1993 {{ISBN|0-19-861134-X}}</ref>

The basic unit of land was the {{lang|cy|tref}}, a small basic village or settlement. In theory, 100 {{lang|cy|trefi}} made up a {{lang|cy|[[cantref]]}} (literally, "one hundred settlements"; plural: {{lang|cy|cantrefi}}), and half or a third of a {{lang|cy|cantref}} was a {{lang|cy|cymwd}}, although in practice the actual numbers varied greatly. Together with the {{lang|cy|cantrefi}}, commotes were the geographical divisions through which defence and justice were organised. In charge of a commote would be a chieftain probably related to the ruling Prince of the Kingdom. His court would have been situated in a special {{lang|cy|tref}}, referred to as a {{lang|cy|maerdref}}. Here, the bonded villagers who farmed the chieftain's estate lived, together with the court officials and servants.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Rhys|Brynmor-Jones|1906|pp=401–402}}, ''The Welsh People''</ref> Commotes were further divided into {{lang|cy|maenorau}} or {{lang|cy|maenolydd}}.
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==Domesday Book and later history==

[[Domesday Book]] has entries for those commotes that in 1086 were under [[Normans|Norman]] control, but still subject to Welsh law and custom. However, it refers to them using the Anglo-Norman word "commot" instead of [[hundred (county subdivision)|hundred]]{{Citation needed|reason=this is erroneous or misleading, the Welsh equivalent of a hundred is a Cantref|date=August 2021}}, the word used at the time for the equivalent land division in [[England]]. The commotes mentioned in the Domesday Book, in general, represented recent [[Anglo-Normans|Anglo-Norman]] advances into Welsh territory. Although the commotes were assessed for military service and taxation, their obligations were rated in [[carucate]]s (derived from Latin for cattle or oxen), not in hides as on the English side of the border.

The customs of the commotes are described in the Domesday accounts of the border earldoms of [[Gloucestershire]], [[Herefordshire]], [[Shropshire]] and [[Cheshire]]. The principal commotes described in Domesday were [[Archenfield]], [[Ewias]], and the commotes of [[Kingdom of Gwent|Gwent]] in the south; [[Cynllaith]], [[Edeirnion]], and [[Iâl]] (Shropshire accounts); and [[Tegeingl|Englefield]], [[Rhos (north Wales)|Rhos]] and [[Rhufoniog]] ([[Cheshire]] accounts).

In legal usage, the English word 'commote' replaced {{lang|cy|cwmwd}} following the [[Conquest of Wales by Edward I|Edwardian conquest of Wales]] in the 13th century, when English was made the official language for all legal documents. The Welsh, most of whom knew not a word of English, naturally continued to use {{lang|cy|cwmwd}} and still do so today. In much of Wales, commotes had become more important than {{lang|cy|cantrefi}} by the mid-13th century and administration of [[Cyfraith Hywel|Welsh law]] became the responsibility of the commote court rather than the {{lang|cy|cantref}} court. [[Owain Glyndŵr]] called representatives from the commotes for his two parliaments during the [[Owain Glyndŵr#Welsh Revolt|rising of 1400–1409]].

The boundaries of commotes, or in some cases cantrefi, were in many cases subsequently more accurately represented by church rural deaneries than by the hundreds issuing from the 16th century Acts of Union.

==''Is'' and ''Uwch'' in commote names==
A considerable number of the names of adjacent medieval Welsh commotes contain {{lang|cy|is}} (meaning "lower", or "below" as a preposition) and {{lang|cy|uwch}} (originally ''uch'' and meaning "higher", or "above" as a preposition), with the dividing line between them being a natural boundary, such as a river, mountain or forest. Melville Richards noted that, in almost every instance where this occurs, the point of central authority was in the "{{lang|cy|is}} division" when the commote was named, and he suggested that such commotes were originally named in the sense of 'nearer' and 'farther' based on the location of that central authority—''i.e.'', the terminology is for administrative purposes and not a geographical characterisation.<ref name=richards1>{{Harvcolnb|Richards|1964|pp=9–10}}</ref>

Richards attributed the use of {{lang|cy|is}} and {{lang|cy|uwch}} to some confusion in translating Latin {{lang|la|sub}} (meaning "lower") and {{lang|la|supra}} (meaning "upper") into Welsh in too literal a sense, when the proper sense was to consider ''sub'' to be an administrative synonym for Latin {{lang|la|cis}} (meaning "this side of"), and to consider ''supra'' to be an administrative synonym for Latin {{lang|la|trans}} (meaning "the other side of").<ref name=richards1/>

A number of smaller units, such as manors, parishes and townships, also use the administrative distinction of {{lang|cy|is}} and {{lang|cy|uwch}}, sometimes in their Latin forms (''e.g.'', the manor of Clydach in Uwch Nyfer, divided into Sub Clydach and Ultra (Supra) Clydach).<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Richards|1964|pp=17–18}}</ref>

This is unrelated to the common use of {{lang|cy|isaf}} and {{lang|cy|uchaf}} in farm names, where the terms are used in the geographical sense.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Richards|1964|p=18}}</ref>

==List of commotes, organised by cantref==
{{Cleanup lang|section|iso=cy|date=April 2023 }}
The [[Red Book of Hergest]] (1375–1425) provides a detailed list of commotes in the late 14th and early 15th centuries.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Rhys|Evans|1890|pp=407–412}}, ''Red Book of Hergest'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=VJ0PAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA407 Cantreds and Commotes of Wales].</ref> The list has some overlaps and is ambiguous in parts, especially in the Gwynedd section. It should also be borne in mind that the number and organisation of the commotes was different in the earlier Middle Ages; some of the units and divisions listed here are late creations. The original orthography of the manuscript is given here together with the standard modern Welsh equivalents.

===[[Kingdom of Gwynedd|Gwynedd]]===
*Cantref Tegigyl ([[Cantref Tegeingl]]):
**Kymwt Insel ([[Cwmwd Insel]])
**Kymwt Prestan ([[Cwmwd Prestatyn]])
**Kymwt Rudlan ([[Cwmwd Rhuddlan]])
*Cantref Dyffryn Clwyt ([[Cantref Dyffryn Clwyd]]):
**Kymwt Colyan ([[Cwmwd Colian]])
**Kymwt Llannerch ([[Llannerch|Cwmwd Llannerch]])
**Kymwt Ystrat ([[Cwmwd Ystrad]])
*Cantref Rywynyawc ([[Cantref Rhufoniog]])
**Kymwt Rhuthyn ([[Cwmwd Rhuthyn]])
**Kymwt Uch Alech ([[Uwchaled Rural District|Cwmwd Uwch Aled]])
**Kymwt Is Alech ([[Cwmwd Is Aled]])
*[[Cantref Rhos]]
**Kymwt Uch Dulas ([[Cwmwd Uwch Dulas]])
**Kymwt Is Dulas ([[Cwmwd Is Dulas]])
**Kymwt Y kreudyn ([[Creuddyn, Rhos|Cwmwd Creuddyn]])
*Cantrefoed Mon ([[Anglesey]]) – [[Aberffraw cantref|Aberffraw]], [[Cemais (Anglesey cantref)|Cemais]], [[Rhosyr (cantref)|Rhosyr]]
**Kymwt Llan Uaes ([[Cwmwd Llanfaes]], properly called [[Dindaethwy]])
**Kymwt Kemeis ([[Cwmwd Cemais]])
**Kymwt Talebolyon ([[Cwmwd Talebolyon]])
**Kymwt Aberffraw ([[Cwmwd Aberffraw]])
**Kymwt Penn Rhos ([[Cwmwd Penrhos]])
**Kymwt Rosvyrr ([[Cwmwd Rhosyr]])
*Cantref Arllechwed ([[Cantref Arllechwedd]])
**Kymwt Treffryw ([[Cwmwd Trefriw]])
**Kymwt Aber ([[Cwmwd Aber]])
*Cantref Aruon ([[Cantref Arfon]])
**Kymwt Uch Konwy ([[Cwmwd Uwch Conwy]])
**Kymwt Is Conwy ([[Cwmwd Is Conwy]])
*[[Cantref Dinodyn]]
**Kymwt Rifnot
**Kymwt Ardudwy ([[Cwmwd Ardudwy]])
*Cantref Llyyn ([[Cantref Llŷn]])
**Kymwt Dinmael ([[Cwmwd Dinmael]])
**Kymwt is Clogyon ([[Cwmwd Is Clogion]]
**Kymwt Cwmdinam ([[Cwmwd Cwm Dinam]])
*Cantref Meiryonyd ([[Cantref Meirionnydd]])
**Kymwt Eftumaneyr ([[Cwmwd Ystumaner]])
**Kymwt Talybont ([[Cwmwd Tal-y-bont]])
*[[Cantref Eryri]]
**Kymwt Cyueilawc ([[Cwmwd Cyfeiliog]])
**Kymwt Madeu
**Kymwt Uch Meloch
**Kymwt Is Meloch
**Kymwt Llan Gonwy ([[Cwmwd Llangonwy]])
**Kymwt Dinmael (Cwmwd Dinmael)
**Kymwt Glyndyudwy ([[Cwmwd Glyndyfrdwy]])

===[[Kingdom of Powys|Powys]]===
*Cantrefoed [[Powys Fadog|Powys Madawc]]
**Kymwt Iaal ([[Cwmwd Iâl]], later "Yale")
**Kymwt Ystrad Alun
**Kymwt Yr Hop ([[Hope, Flintshire|Cwmwd Yr Hob]], later "Hope")
**Kymwt Berford
**Kymwt Wnknan
**Kymwt Trefwenn
**Kymwt Croesosswallt
**Kymwt y Creudyn
**Kymwt Nant Odyn
**Kymwt Ceuenbleid (possibly Cwmwd [[Cynllaith]])
**Kymwt Is Raeadyr (Cwmwd [[Mochnant]] Is Rhaiadr)
*Cantrefoed [[Powys Wenwynwyn|Powys Gwennwynwyn]]
**Kymwt Uch Raeadyr (Cwmwd [[Mochnant]] Uwch Rhaiadr)
**Kymwt Deu Dyswr (Cwmwd [[Deuddwr]] in cantref [[Ystlyg]])
**Kymwt Llannerchwdwl (Cwmwd [[Llanerchydol|Llanerch Hudol]] in cantref [[Ystlyg]])
**Kymwt [[Ystrad Marchell]] (in cantref [[Ystlyg]])
**Kymwt Mecheyn ([[Mechain|Cwmwd Mechain Is Coed and Cwmwd Mechain Uwch Coed]])
**Kymwt Caer Einon ([[Caereinion]])
**Kymwt Uch Affes
**Kymwt Is Affes
**Kymwt Uch Coet (Cwmwd Uwch Coed in cantref [[Arwystli]])
**Kymwt Is Coet (Cwmwd Is Coed in cantref [[Arwystli]])

===[[Maelienydd]]===
*Cantrefoed Maelenyd
**Kymwt [[Kerry, Powys|Ceri]]
**Kymwt Gwerthrynnyon
**Kymwt Swyd Uudugre
**Kymwt [[Dinieithon|Swyd Yethon]]

**Kymwt Llwythyfnwc

===[[Buellt]]===
*[[Cantref Buellt]]
**Kymwt Penn Buellt ([[Cwmwd Pen Buellt]])
**Kymwt Swydman (Cwmwd Swyddfan(?) : [[Cwmwd Dinan]])
**Kymwt Treflys ([[Cwmwd Treflys]])
**Kymwt Is Iruon ([[Cwmwd Is Irfon]])

===[[Elfael]]===
*Cantref Eluael ([[Cantref Elfael]])
**Kymwt Uch Mynyd ([[Cwmwd Uwch Mynydd]])
**Kymwt Is Mynyd ([[Cwmwd Is Mynyd]])

===Brecheinawc ([[Brycheiniog]])===
*[[Cantref Selyf]]
**Kymwt Brwynllys ([[Cwmwd Brwynllys]])
**Kymwt Talgarth ([[Cwmwd Talgarth]])
*[[Cantref Tewdos]]
**Kymwt Dyffryn Hodni ([[Cwmwd Dyffryn Hoddni]])
**Kymwt Lly''wel'' ([[Cwmwd Llys Hywel]])
**Kymwt Tir Rawlf ([[Cwmwd Tir Rawlff]])
*[[Cantref Ida]]
**Kymwt Ystrat Yw ([[Cwmwd Ystrad Yw]])
**Kymwt Cruc Howel ([[Cwmwd Crughywel]])
**Kymwt Evyas ([[Cwmwd Euyas]])

===[[Ystrad Tywi]]===
*Cantref Bychan
**Kymwt Hirvryn
**Kymwt Perued
**Kymwt Iskennen
*Cantref Eginawc (Eginog)
**Kymwt Kedweli (Cydweli)
**Kymwt Carnywyllawn (Carnwyllion or Carnwyllon now [[Llanelli]])
**Kymwt Gwhyr (Gŵyr now [[Swansea]])
*[[Cantref Mawr]]
**Kymwt Mallaen
**Kymwt Caeaw
**Kymwt Maenawr Deilaw
**Kymwt Cetheinawc
**Kymwt Mab Eluyw
**Kymwt Mab Utryt
**Kymwt Widigada

===Ceredigyawn ([[Ceredigion]])===
*[[Penweddig (cantref)|Cantref Penweddig]]
**Kymwt Geneurglyn (Cwmwd Genau'r Glyn)
**Kymwt Perued (Cwmwd Perfedd)
**Kymwt Creudyn ([[Creuddyn (Ceredigion)|Cwmwd Creuddyn]])
*Cantref Mabwynyon (Cantref Mabwnion)
**Kymwt Meuenyd (Cwmwd Mefenydd)
**Kymwt Anhunyawc (Cwmwd Anhuniog)
**Kymwt Pennard (Cwmwd Penardd)
*Cantref Caer Wedros (Cantref Caerwedros)
**Kymwt Wenyionid (Cwmwd Gwinionydd)
**Kymwt Is Coed (Cwmwd Is Coed)

===[[Kingdom of Dyfed|Dyfed]]===
*Cantref Cemeis ([[Cemais (Dyfed cantref)|Cemais]])
**Kymwt Is Neuer ([[Cemais Is Nyfer]])
**Kymwt Uch Neuer ([[Cemais Uwch Nyfer]])
*Cantref Deugledyf ([[Dungleddy (hundred)|Daugleddyf]])
**Kymwt Castel Hu ([[Castell Gwis (cwmwd)|Castell Gwis]])
**Kymwt Llan y Hadein ([[Llanhuadain (cwmwd)|Llanhuadain]])
*Cantref [[Emlyn]]
**Kymwt Is Cuch ([[Cilgerran (hundred)|Emlyn Is Cuch]])
**Kymwt Uch Cuch ([[Emlyn Uwch Cuch]])
*Cantref Wartha ([[Cantref Gwarthaf (Dyfed)|Gwarthaf]])
**Kymwt Amgoet ([[Amgoed (cwmwd)|Amgoed]])
**Kymwt Derllys ([[Derllys (cwmwd)|Derllys]])
**Kymwt y Uelfre ([[Efelfre]])
**Kymwt Eluyd ([[Elfed (cwmwd)|Elfed]])
**Kymwt Pennryn ([[Penrhyn (Dyfed cwmwd)|Penrhyn]])
**Kymwt Peluneawc ([[Peuliniog]])
**Kymwt Talacharn ([[Talacharn (cwmwd)|Talacharn]])
**Kymwt Estyrlwyf ([[Ystlwys]])
*Cantref Pebideawc ([[Dewisland (hundred)|Pebidiog]])
**Kymwt Menew ([[Mynyw (cwmwd)|Mynyw]])
**Kymwt Penncaer ([[Pencaer (cwmwd)|Pencaer]])
*Cantref Pennbrwc ([[Penfro (cantref)|Penfro]])
**[[Coedrath (cwmwd)|Coedrath]]
**[[Penfro (cwmwd)|Penfro]]
*Cantref Rhos ([[Roose (hundred)|Rhos]])
**Kymwt Castell Gwalchmei ([[Castell Gwalchmei (cwmwd)|Castell Gwalchmei]])
**Kymwt Hawlfford ([[Hwlffordd (cwmwd)|Hwlffordd]])

===[[Kingdom of Morgannwg|Morgannwg]]===
*Cantref [[Gorfynydd|Gorvynyd]]
**Kymwt Rwng Net A Thawy
**Kymwt Tir Yr Hwndryt
**Kymwt Rwng Neth ac Avyn
**Kymwt Tir Yr Iarll
**Kymwt Y Coety
**Kymwt Maenawr Glyn Ogwr
*Cantref [[Penychen|Penn Ychen]]
**Kymwt Meisgyn
**Kymwt Glyn Rodne
**Kymwt Maenawr Tal y Vann
**Kymwt Maenawr Ruthyn
*Cantref Breinyawl
**Kymwt Is Caech
**Kymwt Uch Caech
**Kymwt Kibwr (Ceibwr; later [[Kibbor]])
*Cantref [[Gwynllwg|Gwynllwc]]
**Kymwt Yr Heid
**Kymwt Ydref Berued
**Kymwt Edelygyon
**Kymwt Eithyaf
**Kymwt Y Mynyd
*Cantref [[Kingdom of Gwent|Gwent]]
**Kymwt Is Coed
**Kymwt Llemynyd
**Kymwt Tref y Gruc
**Kymwt Uch Coed

==Citations==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Citation
|year=1890
|editor1-last=Rhys
|editor1-first=John
|editor1-link=John Rhys
|editor2-last=Evans
|editor2-first=John Gwenogvryn
|editor2-link=John Gwenogvryn Evans
|title=Y Llyvyr Coch o Hergest
|volume=II
|publisher=J. G. Evans
|publication-date=1890
|publication-place=Oxford
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VJ0PAAAAQAAJ
}}
* {{Citation
|last1=Rhys
|first1=John
|author1-link=John Rhys
|last2=Brynmor-Jones
|first2=David
|author2-link=David Brynmor Jones
|year=1906
|title=The Welsh People
|edition=Fourth
|publisher=T. Fisher Unwin
|isbn=9780722223178
|publication-date=1906
|publication-place=London
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t50ZAAAAMAAJ
}}
*{{Cite journal
|last=Richards |first=Melville
|year=1964
|editor-last=Williams
|editor-first=Glanmor
|title=The significance of ''is'' and ''uwch'' in Welsh commote and cantref names
|journal=[[Welsh History Review|The Welsh History Review]]
|issue=1
|volume=2
|publisher=University of Wales Press
|publication-date=1964
|publication-place=Cardiff
|pages=9–18
}}
*{{cite book |first=G. Melville |last=Richards |title=Welsh Administrative and Territorial Units, Medieval and Modern |place=Cardiff |publisher=University of Wales Press |year=1969 }}
*{{Citation |last= RCAHMW |author-link=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales|title=Mapping the Historic Boundaries of Wales: Commotes and Cantrefs |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |publication-date=2017|publication-place=Aberystwyth |url=https://rcahmw.gov.uk/mapping-the-historic-boundaries-of-wales-commotes-and-cantrefs}}
*{{Citation |last= Fulton |first=Helen|title=Mapping the Marches of Wales |publisher=The University of Bristol |publication-date=2018|publication-place=Bristol |url=https://mappingwelshmarches.ac.uk/}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
*{{Citation
|year=2005
|editor-last=Koch
|editor-first=John T.
|title=Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia
|publisher=ABL-CLIO
|publication-date=2006
|isbn=978-1-85109-440-0
}} — discussions of the terms 'cantref' and 'commote', with maps.
*{{Citation
|last=Lloyd
|first=John Edward
|author-link=John Edward Lloyd
|year=1911
|title=A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest
|volume=I
|edition=2nd
|publisher=Longmans, Green, and Co
|publication-date=1912
|publication-place=London
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NYwNAAAAIAAJ
}} — discusses (but does not give a pure list) the cantrefi known to him, with passing references to several of the cymydau.

{{Geography of Wales}}
{{Types of administrative country subdivision}}

[[Category:Commotes| 01]]
[[Category:Former subdivisions of Wales]]
[[Category:Medieval history of Wales]]
[[Category:Commotes of Gwynedd| 01]]