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In 2005, Cardiff celebrated two
significant Birthdays. It has been over 100 years
since it was granted City status, and over 50 years since it
was declared Capital of Wales by Edward VII.
Cardiff has a long and interesting history and people have
lived in Cardiff for thousands of years. But the real
history begins in A.D. 43, when the Romans invaded Britain.
Many historians believe that the capital takes its name
(Caerdydd) from the Roman general Aulus Didius (Caer Didi)
which means "Fort of Didius" - where Cardiff Castle now
stands. Within 20 years of the Battle of Hastings, the
Normans were marching on Wales.
In 1091 Robert FitzHamon
began work on Cardiff Castle and a small settlement grew up
around it. By the Elizabethan times Cardiff was a lawless,
pirate-infested port. In 1608 King James I granted a
Royal Charter and by the 18th century it was a sleepy
backwater of 1,500 people.
The
Industrial Revolution changed everything. In the 1790s
the local gentry, the Butes, built the Glamorganshire Canal
to join Cardiff with Merthyr Tydfil, followed by the first
Cardiff dock in 1839. The population reached 250,000 in the
first half of the 20th century, after being granted city
status in 1905.
Cardiff became the biggest coal-exporting port in the world.
At its peak in 1913, more than 13 million tons of coal left
here. Today, Cardiff is Europe's most dynamic capital
city. It's a great place to visit and the ideal base
from which to explore the coast, culture and heritage of
Wales and western Britain. The Sci-Fi programs Torchwood and Doctor Who, are filmed in the City,
as well as the Welsh drama 'Caerdydd".
The City is host to many major events, including World Class
Rugby at the Millennium Stadium, the massive annual 'Cardiff
Festival' and the likes of Boyzone and Westlife at Cardiff
International Arena.
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