Brecknockshire

Brecknockshire (Sir Frycheiniog), also known as Breconshire, or the County of Brecon is one of thirteen of, and a former administrative county.

The bulk of the historic county formed the in southern  from 1974 to 1996 under the. The parishes of and  went instead to the  and  districts in, whilst the urban district of  and the parish of  from  became part of. Since 1996, Penderyn has formed part of the county borough and Llanelly has formed part of the  principal area. According to the 2001 census the shire had a population of 42,075. 

Geography
Brecknockshire is bounded to the north by, to the east by and , to the south by  and , and west by  and. Area 475,224 acres (1,923 km²). The county is predominantly rural and mountainous. The occupy the southeast of the county, the  the central region, Fforest Fawr the southwest and Mynydd Eppynt the north. Most of the lies within the county. The highest point is, 2907 ft (886 m). The traces nearly the whole of the northern boundary, and the  flows in an easterly direction through the central valley. Of the many waterfalls in the county, are particularly spectacular. The main towns are, , , , , , and. The most important industries are agriculture, forestry and tourism. The county corresponds roughly to the combined territories of the former Kingdom of Brycheiniog and the Kingdom of  which were brought together to form this traditional county following the defeat of the last independent Welsh prince and the signing of the in.

History

 * For the Kingdom of Brycheiniog, see .

The kingdom of Brycheiniog was established in the and survived until the  when it was subjugated by the. During the, the area was classified as a Lordship. The Lord of Brycheiniog was subject to the Mortimer family who ruled most of south and east Wales in an area called the. During the reign of of  the homage of the Lord of Brycheiniog was transferred to him from the   by the  in 1267. However, it was an attack on Brycheiniog by the Marcher Lords and  in 1276 which led to the final breakdown of the peace between  and  after which Llywelyn's domain was reduced to just his lands in Gwynedd. Brycheiniog was thereafter subject to the King of England and became a county under the same Shire model as seen in England under the.

Places of interest

 * Brecon Beacons Mountains Centre, Libanus
 * Brecknock Museum, Brecon
 * , Glyntawe
 * and Court
 * Roman Fort.