Ial

Ial or Yale (Welsh: Iâl) was a commote of medieval Wales within the cantref of Maelor in the Kingdom of Powys.

[2][3] The commote of Iâl, anglicized as Yale, was the stronghold of the Principality of Powys Fadog, and its capital was at Llanarmon-yn-Iâl, in Denbighshire, Wales, in a village situated at a shrine dedicated to the Roman Bishop, Germanus of Auxerre (Welsh: Garmon).

The castle was later rebuilt by King John of England, signatory of Magna Carta and brother of Richard the Lionheart, as a way to secure the area for his military campaign against the Prince of North Wales, Llywelyn ap Iorwerth.

[6] For iron mallets for breaking the rocks in the ditch of the Castle of Yale.--The entry in the Pipe Roll for 1212-13, by King John of England when he re-occupied the site in 1212 During the Conquest of Wales by King Edward Longshanks, Iâl would be taken very early on and added to the county of Shropshire, annexing the commote into the Kingdom of England.

The stone cross in Llangollen, next to Valle Crucis Abbey, depicts the claimed lineage of the kings of Powys from a daughter of the 4th century Roman Emperor Magnus Maximus, of the Imperial Theodosian dynasty, named Sevira, wife of Vortigern.

Castell Dinas Bran , North Wales, also known as Castle of Yale
The Neolithic cave next to Castle Tomen y Faerdre , Llanarmon-yn-Yale, c.1795
Map showing the commote of iâl (Yale) on the right side, when part of the former Kingdom of Gwynedd
Pillar of Eliseg , 9th century stone cross next to Valle Crucis Abbey
The coat of arms of the Lords of Yale, showing the lion of Powys
The commote of Ial (Yale) when part of the princely realm of Powys Fadog , after its separation from the Kingdom of Powys