Dyfed
Dyfed is the name of
sub-Roman and
Early Medieval kingdom and a late
20th/early
21st century county of
Wales.
Dyfed, or in its
Latin form
Demetia, was one of the ancient kingdoms of
Wales prior to the
Norman Conquest. It succeeded to the former
Roman administrative
civitas of the
Demetae tribe. It originally occupied an area roughly corresponding to modern Pembrokeshire.
In the
10th century Hywel Dda united Dyfed and the neighbouring kingdom of
Seisyllwg under his rule. The new kingdom became known as
Deheubarth and covered an area roughly corresponding to modern Dyfed.
During local government reorganisation in
1974, the newly-created non-metropolitan county covering
Cardiganshire,
Carmarthenshire and
Pembrokeshire was given the name Dyfed.
It was divided into six districts, namely
Carmarthen,
Ceredigion,
Dinefwr,
Llanelli,
Preseli,
South Pembrokeshire.
However, further reorganisation of local government on
April 1,
1996, involving the creation of
unitary authorities resulted in a return to the
status quo ante, with Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire being restored for administrative purposes.
The name survives as a ceremonial
preserved county, and in that of institutions such as Dyfed-Powys Police.
