Powis

Powis is the English spelling of Powys, a name used for both a historic Welsh kingdom and a modern county in Wales. The term also appears in landmarks and institutions centered on the region, notably Powis Castle near Welshpool.

Historically, the Kingdom of Powys was a Welsh polity that emerged in the early medieval period and endured roughly from the 5th to the 12th centuries. Its territory covered eastern Wales and extended into parts of what is now western England, centered along the River Severn. By the 12th century it was divided into Powys Fadog in the north and Powys Wenwynwyn in the south, as political power shifted during the Norman era.

In contemporary administration, Powys is a large rural county in Wales. It was formed in 1996 as a unitary authority by merging the historic counties of Montgomeryshire, Brecknockshire, and Radnorshire. It is the largest county by area in Wales and borders England to the east. It includes notable towns such as Newtown, Welshpool, Brecon, and Llandrindod Wells, and encompasses parts of the Brecon Beacons and Cambrian Mountains.

Powis Castle, near Welshpool, is one of the region’s major landmarks. The fortress originated in the 13th century and was later rebuilt as a palace; it is now a National Trust property. The gardens are renowned for their terraced design and diverse plant collections. The estate has long historical ties with the Herbert family, who held the title of Baron Powis.

The form "Powis" appears in historical and heraldic contexts, including the title Baron Powis and the castle’s name, while the Welsh form remains Powys. The two spellings are commonly encountered in English-language sources referring to the same region.