Aberystwyth, Wales
Welsh national sentiment is very strong in the town of Aberystwyth. The sign depicted at left displays the flags of Wales and several other regions in Europe with minority languages and with aspirations for greater autonomy or even independence. Among the flags represented are those for Scotland, Brittany, Catalonia, and even Cornwall. To see an enlargement, press here.
Elsewhere in the town are reminders of the long-standing association between Wales and England.
The Norman castle at left dates to 1277 and is one of several built by Edward I. With his castles and armies, Edward became the first King of England to enforce his will in virtually every part of Wales. While the fortifications often seem romantic to people in other lands, they also recall the imperial ambitions a foreign king whose victories over the Welsh proved decisive for centuries to come.
While some of the English have regarded the Welsh with suspicion or contempt, Wales has fought alongside of England in countless wars, and the memorial below recalls the staggering losses of Welsh along with other British soldiers in World War I.
The losses between 1914 and 1918 are among the factors involved in the decline of the Welsh language, which began to be devalued in the aftermath of Edward's conquest. Although the language has survived for centuries, most people in Wales can no longer speak it. Some seeking greater autonomy from Britain hope that quasi-independence (if not total independence) will help to give Welsh greater prestige, though the experience of Ireland, which has subsidized Irish language study for seventy-five years, raises questions about the ability of governments to halt linguistic attrition.
Whether or not the Welsh ever seek national independence in the future, the University of Wales, Aberystwyth is among the institutions dedicated to keeping the language as well as the sacrifices and aspirations of the land alive.