- Standard work by Thomas Peter Ellis (1873-1936) on Welsh tribal law, the traditional legal system and societal norms that governed medieval Wales before the full integration of Welsh law into English common law in 1536. Rooted in ancient Celtic traditions, Welsh law - also known as Cyfraith Hywel (the Law of Hywel Dda) - was based on kinship, customary rights, and restorative justice rather than punitive measures. Society was organized into kin-groups called gwelyau, which determined inheritance rights and responsibilities. Land was held communally within the family rather than individually, ensuring that wealth remained within the kinship group. Instead of execution or long-term imprisonment, crimes - especially homicide - were addressed through compensation payments (galanas), similar to the Anglo-Saxon wergild. The amount of compensation was determined by the victim's social status and shared among their kin. Women had more legal protections compared to their counterparts in Norman or English law. They could claim compensation for certain offenses and had specific divorce rights. Courts were often held by nobles and lords in the open and focused on arbitration and restitution rather than retribution. Justice was administered by judges known as barnwyr. Justice was administered by judges known as barnwyr. Land division followed the principle of gavelkind, where property was equally divided among male heirs. Personal agreements and sureties were crucial, as written contracts were rare. The Laws of Wales Acts (1535–1542) abolished Welsh law, fully integrating Wales into the English legal system.