Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An Act for Laws & Justice to be ministred in Wales in like fourme as it is in this Realme. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 27 Hen. 8. c. 26 |
| Territorial extent | Wales, Marcher Lordships |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 14 April 1536 |
| Commencement | 4 February 1536 |
| Repealed | 21 December 1993 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | |
| Repealed by | Welsh Language Act 1993 |
| Relates to | |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An Act for certaine Ordinaunces in the Kinges Majesties Domynion and Principalitie of Wales. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 34 & 35 Hen. 8. c. 26 |
| Territorial extent | Wales, Marcher Lordships |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 12 May 1543 |
| Commencement | 3 November 1542 |
| Repealed | 3 January 1995 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | |
| Repealed by | Sale of Goods (Amendment) Act 1994 |
| Relates to | |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
| Text of the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 (Welsh: Y Deddfau Cyfreithiau yng Nghymru 1535 a 1542), also called the Acts of Union (Welsh: Y Deddfau Uno), were acts of the Parliament of England under King Henry VIII of England causing Wales to be incorporated into the realm of the Kingdom of England.
The legal system of England and the norms of English administration, including the use of the English language only, were applied to a mainly Welsh-speaking Wales. This created a single state and legal jurisdiction, which is now called England and Wales.
In 1284, with the Statute of Rhuddlan, England had annexed Wales, which was excluded from parliamentary representation in Westminster. Wales was divided between the Principality of Wales and many feudal territories called the marcher Lordships, which were effectively unified under the laws. The English system of county government was also extended across all of Wales.