the Statute of Rhuddlan

The Statute of Rhuddlan, enacted in 1284, was a law that incorporated the territories of Wales into the English legal system following King Edward I’s conquest. It established English law as the governing code in Wales, replacing the Welsh legal traditions, and provided for the administration of justice and governance. The statute also introduced new administrative structures, such as sheriffs and courts, and limited Welsh autonomy. Essentially, it integrated Wales into the Kingdom of England legally and administratively, ending the independent Welsh legal and political systems and establishing English control.