Historic counties of Wales

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The historic counties of Wales (Welsh: siroedd hynafol) were the thirteen sub-divisions used in Wales from either 1282 and 1535, up to their abolition in 1974, being replaced by eight counties. They were used for various functions for several hundred years,^[1] but for administrative purposes have been superseded by contemporary sub-national divisions,^[2] some of which bear some limited similarity to the historic entities in name and extent. They are alternatively known as ancient counties.^[3]