Pengwern is the name of a dark age kingdom that existed in what is now the West Midlands region of England. Nothing is known about the foundation of the kingdom although the territory may have been governed as part of Powys from Caer Guricon (the former Roman town of Viroconium now known as Wroxeter). Evidence suggests that this town was abandoned in about 520AD when it became indefensible and the last vestiges of Romano-British central government broke down. Pengwern and Powys are perhaps divisions of the ancient pre-Roman Cornovi tribe whose civitas or administrative centre was Viroconium Cornoviorum. Petrarch, who conceived the idea of a European Dark Age. From Cycle of Famous Men and Women, Andrea di Bartolo di Bargillac, c. ... The West Midlands is a geographical term describing the western half of central England, based upon the Anglian Kingdom of Mercia, known today as The Midlands. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the British Isles Languages English (de facto) Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st... Medeival kingdoms of Wales. ... The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed. ... Viroconium was a Roman city in England. ... Wroxeter is a village in the county of Shropshire, England, on the east bank of the River Severn, at grid reference SJ563082. ... Events February 20 - Epiphanius elected Patriarch of Constantinople. ... The Cornovii (perhaps meaning people of the horn), were one of the Iron Age tribes living in the British Isles before and after the Roman invasion of Britain. ... Viroconium was a Roman city in England. ...

At an uncertain date Powys appears to have been divided with a new eastern capital at Llys Pengwern. The exact location of this town is not known, but it thought that it could either be the foundations of the modern town of Shrewsbury (which many Welsh people to this day call Pengwern) or perhaps the Berth at Baschurch where there is a dramatic hill fort overlooking the village. Map sources for Shrewsbury at grid reference SJ4912 Porthill Bridge crossing the Severn at Shrewsbury Shrewsburys Old Market Hall and The Square Market Street, behind the Old Market Hall, with the Music Hall on the left Shrewsbury (pronounced either /ˈʃɹuːzbɹiː/ or /ˈʃɹəʊzbɹiː/) is a town of... For an explanation of often confusing terms such as Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom and England, see British Isles (terminology). ... Baschurch is a large rural village in North Shropshire, north of Shrewsbury. ...

In 613 it is known that Pengwern was held by King Cyndrwyn Fawr who took part in the disastrous Battle of Caer Legion (Chester) where the British alliance of Gwynedd, Powys and Rheged were defeated by a combined Anglo-Saxon force and the City of the Legions fell. It is known that Cyndrwyn Fawr survived the battle and returned home to defend his land before dying in about 620AD. Events Clotaire II reunites the Frankish kingdoms by ordering the murder of Sigebert II. Saint Columbanus founds the monastery of Bobbio in northern Italy. ... Chester is the county town of Cheshire in North West England. ... Gwynedd was one of the kingdoms or principalities of medieval Wales. ... Medeival kingdoms of Wales. ... Entrance to the Rheged Discovery Centre Rheged was a nation in Early Mediaeval Great Britain. ... The Anglo-Saxons refers collectively to the groups of Germanic tribes who achieved dominance in southern Britain from the mid-5th century, forming the basis for the modern English nation. ... Events Medina is converted to Islam. ...

His son Cynddylan ap Cyndrwyn Fawr succeeded him and made alliances with both Powys and Mercia to protect his realm against the increasingly powerful Anglian Kingdom of Northumbria. His exploits are recorded in the tragic poems Marwnad Cynddylan and the Canu Heledd (a cycle of poems named after Cynddylan's sister). Mercia, sometimes spelled Mierce, was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon heptarchy, in what is now England, in the region of the Midlands, with its heart in the valley of the River Trent and its tributary streams. ... For the ice period see Anglian glaciation The Anglian was an English tricar manufactured in Beccles, Suffolk from 1905 to 1907. ... Section from Shepherds map of the British Isles about 802 AD showing the kingdom of Northumbria Northumbria is primarily the name of a petty kingdom of Angles which was formed in Great Britain at the beginning of the 7th century, and of the much smaller earldom which succeeded the...

Cynddylan joined forces with King Penda of Mercia and fought against Northumbria at the Battle of Maes Cogwy (Oswestry) in 642 where their mutual enemy King Oswald of Northumbria was slain. This seems to have bought a period of peace to Pengwern until Penda's death when a Northumbrian raiding party led by Oswald's brother Oswiu of Northumbria overran Cynddylan's royal seat at Llys Pengwern in a surprise attack. Caught completely off guard and without defence the royal family, including the king, were slaughtered. Princess Heledd was the only survivor and lived her life in Powys. Penda (died November 15, 6551) was a 7th century King of Mercia. ... The Battle of Maserfield (or Maserfeld), Welsh: Maes Cogwy, was fought on August 5, 642, between the Anglo-Saxon kings Oswald of Northumbria and Penda of Mercia, ending in Oswalds defeat, death, and dismemberment. ... Map sources for Oswestry at grid reference SJ2929 Oswestry (Welsh: Croesoswallt) is a town in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. ... Events August 5 - In the Battle of Maserfield, Penda king of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald, king of Bernicia. ... Oswald (c. ... Oswiu (612–February 15, 670), also written as Oswio, Oswy, and Osuiu was an Anglo-Saxon Bretwalda. ...

After this the Kingdom of Pengwern collapsed and was absorbed between Mercia and Powys. The Western portion of Pengwern became what was known as Y'r Paradys Powys or the "Paradise of Powys" which remained in Welsh hands until the reign of Offa of Mercia and the construction of his dyke. Mercia, sometimes spelled Mierce, was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon heptarchy, in what is now England, in the region of the Midlands, with its heart in the valley of the River Trent and its tributary streams. ... Offa (or Alavivaz Olauus) (? - c. ...

In Shrewsbury there is the Pengwern Boat Club on the banks of the River Severn, opposite The Quarry park, as well as other shops and businesess that use the name. The Severn is the name of a river in the United Kingdom. ... The Quarry is the name of the main park in the Shropshire county town of Shrewsbury, England. ...

References

Peter L Kessler