Was the Capital of Wales Merthyr before Cardiff?

Answer 1

Cardiff became the current Welsh capital in 1953. In part this was because the new queen (Elizabeth II) wanted to visit all of the British capital cities, and Wales didn't have one.

The capital before Cardiff was Deganwy. But Deganwy was razed by Dafydd ap Llewellyn Fawr around 1240, as part of a scorched earth retreat before the invading English army of Henry III. No new capital was built to replace Deganwy, and by 1282 Wales had ceased to be a recognisable independent nation anyway.

Deganwy was not Wales' only medieval capital - several other towns (Aberffraw was one) acted as capital cities at various points - following the fortunes of Wales' dynastic wars.

Owain Glyndwr founded his Parliament at Machynlleth, and the Lord Rhys sat at Carreg Cennen. Neither of these towns is normally considered a former capital, but in all but name they were.

Answer 2

Merthyr Tydfil was never a capital of Wales. It was however, in the early 18th century a world centre for iron production

Answer 3

no it was Machynlleth