Powys

Map of Powys in Wales

The extent of the kingdoms of Powys c.1190

Powys is a county and principal area of Wales. It was first created in 1974, mostly from the three historic counties of Brecknockshire, Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire.

Major towns in Powys include Newtown, Welshpool, Llandrindod Wells, Brecon and Ystradgynlais. It is the largest county in all of Wales.

Powys was also the name of a kingdom that existed until the 12th century. In 1160 it split into two - Powys Fadog in the north, and Powys Wenwynwyn in the south. Powys Wenwynwyn mostly corresponds to Montgomeryshire. Powys Fadog included the areas around Wrexham, later part of Flintshire and Denbighshire. Despite the modern county being called Powys, the kingdom only covered those northern areas. Radnorshire was in the region of Rhwng Gwy a Hafren and Brecknockshire was mostly covered by the kingdom of Brycheiniog.