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List of Welsh-language poets (6th century to c. 1600)

January 01, 1970

See also: Category:Welsh-language poets
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Much of Welsh language poetry has, until quite recently, been composed in various forms of strict metre (canu caeth), latterly with the encouragement of the eisteddfod movement. The following list is as inclusive as possible for the years prior to 1600. It includes as many minor poets as possible to illustrate the range and content of Welsh poetry throughout the ages. However much early poetry has been lost, and much medieval verse is either anonymous or, usually in the case of mythological poems and prophetic verse, attributed to the 6th-century poet Taliesin or the mythical figure of Myrddin. Early religious and gnomic verse is also usually anonymous. Where possible examples of each poet's surviving work is presented at Welsh Poetry at Wikisource

Each period of the poets listed below is accompanied by a graphical timeline to illustrate the main events and individuals that influenced the poets and their work. These timelines also depict the development of the Welsh language. Further details of its development may be found at Welsh language.

Pre 6th century edit

No works by Welsh poets prior to the 6th century have survived. Tradition records:

  • Maelgwyn of Llandaff (c. 450) – said, according to one source, to have written of Joseph of Arimathea's burial at Glastonbury.[1] However, in the mid-5th century he would have spoken Brythonic, not Welsh, and as a monk would probably have written in Latin. His existence is doubtful.
  • St. Meugan (fl. c. late 5th century) – possibly a court poet to Cadwallon of Gwynedd

6th century to 1100 edit

Extant edit

The bulk of surviving verse from the period known as "Canu'r Bwlch" is anonymous.(see Wikisource)

The works of the following poets, belonging to the Hengerdd or Cynfeirdd period, are extant and accepted as probably genuine:

The following works are probably apocryphal:

  • Meigant (fl. c. 600–620) – a poet whose surviving work is recorded in the Black Book Of Carmarthen.
  • Afan Ferddig (7th century) – accepted as the author of Moliant Cadwallon a praise poem to Cadwallon ap Cadfan
  • Juvencus Manuscript/ Cambridge Juvencus (late 9th century) contains two Welsh englyn-poems, one of nine and one of three englynion.[2] For the text and Sir Ifor William's translation see: The Juvencus Englynion.
  • The englyn-cycles which were previously attributed to Llywarch Hen and Heledd are now seen as works of later (9th–10th century) poets.
  • St Elaeth (11th century) – a poet and a monk whose surviving verse is recorded in the Black Book Of Carmarthen.

Non-extant or doubtful edit

Four others are named by Nennius as poets of renown alongside Taliesin and Aneirin:

  • Arofan (7th century)
  • Cuhelyn the Bard [cy] (?9th century) – referred to in several poems but otherwise unknown. None of his work survives. The earliest reference to him is in a text [1] () found in the Black Book Of Carmarthen. However, a later charter of Sir Nicholas FitzMartin, Marcher Lord of Kemes, off-handedly describes someone as his descendant; the charter grants the supposed descendant land in the Preseli Hills.[3][4]
  • Bleheris (?11th century) – an otherwise unknown poet of doubtful authenticity referred to as "born and bred in Wales" in Gawain and as a source for the story.[5]

Other edit

  • Myrddin ab Morfryn – was believed by some to be an historical person who died in AD 570, but is now accepted as a mythical figure (see Merlin).[6]

Timeline edit

Middle Welsh languageOld Welsh languageLlywarch HenTaliesinAneirin

1100 to 1290 edit

The following group of court poets used to be called the Gogynfeirdd and are now generally referred to as "Beirdd y Tywysogion", the Poets of the Princes. The list is roughly chronological.

Timeline of major poets edit

Early Modern WelshMiddle Welsh languageGruffudd ab Yr Ynad CochDafydd BenfrasCynddelw Brydydd MawrOwain ap GruffyddGwalchmai ap MeilyrMeilyr Brydydd

1290 to c.1500 edit

The poets of this period are known as Beirdd yr Uchelwyr. The list is fairly chronological but not exhaustive as the work of some minor poets of the late 15th and 16th centuries remains in manuscript and a large corpus of late medieval Darogan, prophetic verse, is anonymous or attributed to early poets. Traditional patronage dwindled in the late 16th century but a handful of bards still received patronage from the gentry into the 17th century. Free verse by individuals composing "freelance" gradually took over from the mid-16th century onwards.

Timeline of major poets edit

Early Modern Welsh languageGwerful MechainDafydd NanmorDafydd ab Edmwnd (fl. c. 1450–97)Lewys Glyn CothiDafydd Llwyd o FathafarnSiôn CentLlywelyn Goch ap Meurig HenRhys Goch EryriIolo GochDafydd ap Gwilym

16th century edit

Most of the earlier poets here are very much in the Beirdd yr Uchelwyr tradition. Traditional patronage dwindled in the late 16th century but a handful of bards still received patronage from the gentry into the 17th century. Free verse by individuals composing "freelance" gradually took over from the mid-16th century onwards. The free verse and strict metre poets sit rather uneasily together in this list.

Timeline of major poets edit

Wiliam CynwalRhys PrichardEdmwnd PrysSt. Richard GwynSiôn TudurLewys Morgannwg

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "St. Joseph of Arimathea at Glastonbury", Theo Brown, Folklore, Vol. 57, No.2, 1946.
  2. ^ Sir Ifor Williams, 'Beginnings of Welsh Poetry', University of Wales Press, Second Revised Edition,1980
  3. ^ Baronia de Kemeys. From the original documents at Bronwydd., Sir Thomas Davies Lloyd (Bt.), London, 1862, p.48
  4. ^ An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Wales and Monmouthshire, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, 1914, Volume 4, p 276
  5. ^ Bleheris "J. L. Weston, From Ritual to Romance, Cambridge University Press 1920"
  6. ^ Myrddin "A.O.H. Jarman, 'A oedd Myrddin yn Fardd Hanesyddol?', (Studia Celtica 1976)
  7. ^ J Lloyd-Jones, 'The Court Poets of the Welsh Princes', Proceedings of the British Academy, 1948
  8. ^ Gwaith Tudur Aled, Thomas Gwynn Jones (ed.), (Cardiff, 1926).
  9. ^ Andrew Breeze, 'Two bardic themes: the Virgin and Child, and Ave-Eva', Medium Aevum, Vol. 63, 1994
  10. ^ 'Llanarthney – Llanbedrog', A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1849), pp. 478–93. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47842
  11. ^ Islwyn Jones (ed.), Gwaith Hywel Cilan (Caerdydd, 1963)
  12. ^ Owen Thomas, 'Gwaith Dafydd Epynt', Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, Aberystwyth, 2002
  13. ^ "Dafydd ap Ieuan Llwyd". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  14. ^ Looker, Ray (Mrs Ray Morgan). "Morus Dwyfech, or Mours ap Dafydd ab Ifan ab Einion". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved December 18, 2016. His will, in the form of a poem, expressed the poet's desire to be buried at Penllech, and, from the elegies composed to him by Siôn Phylip and Huw Pennant, it is evident that his wish was granted.
  15. ^ Rhiannon Ifans, 'Gwaith Syr Dafydd Trefor', Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, Aberystwyth, 2006
  16. ^ Catholic Online Saints: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4599
  17. ^ a b (Peniarth Manuscript. 287)
  18. ^ (NLW MS. (1553) Llanst. MSS. (123, 125, and 133)
  19. ^ (N.L.W. MSS. 695)
  20. ^ (B.M. Add. MS. 14906)
  21. ^ (Mostyn MS 144)

January 01, 1970
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See also Category Welsh language poets This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources Much of Welsh language poetry has until quite recently been composed in various forms of strict metre canu caeth latterly with the encouragement of the eisteddfod movement The following list is as inclusive as possible for the years prior to 1600 It includes as many minor poets as possible to illustrate the range and content of Welsh poetry throughout the ages However much early poetry has been lost and much medieval verse is either anonymous or usually in the case of mythological poems and prophetic verse attributed to the 6th century poet Taliesin or the mythical figure of Myrddin Early religious and gnomic verse is also usually anonymous Where possible examples of each poet s surviving work is presented at Welsh Poetry at WikisourceEach period of the poets listed below is accompanied by a graphical timeline to illustrate the main events and individuals that influenced the poets and their work These timelines also depict the development of the Welsh language Further details of its development may be found at Welsh language Contents 1 Pre 6th century 2 6th century to 1100 2 1 Extant 2 2 Non extant or doubtful 2 3 Other 2 4 Timeline 3 1100 to 1290 3 1 Timeline of major poets 4 1290 to c 1500 4 1 Timeline of major poets 5 16th century 5 1 Timeline of major poets 6 See also 7 ReferencesPre 6th century editNo works by Welsh poets prior to the 6th century have survived Tradition records Maelgwyn of Llandaff c 450 said according to one source to have written of Joseph of Arimathea s burial at Glastonbury 1 However in the mid 5th century he would have spoken Brythonic not Welsh and as a monk would probably have written in Latin His existence is doubtful St Meugan fl c late 5th century possibly a court poet to Cadwallon of Gwynedd6th century to 1100 editExtant edit The bulk of surviving verse from the period known as Canu r Bwlch is anonymous see Wikisource The works of the following poets belonging to the Hengerdd or Cynfeirdd period are extant and accepted as probably genuine Aneirin Neirin mab Dwyrei fl 550 600 Taliesin fl later 6th century The following works are probably apocryphal Meigant fl c 600 620 a poet whose surviving work is recorded in the Black Book Of Carmarthen Afan Ferddig 7th century accepted as the author of Moliant Cadwallon a praise poem to Cadwallon ap Cadfan Juvencus Manuscript Cambridge Juvencus late 9th century contains two Welsh englyn poems one of nine and one of three englynion 2 For the text and Sir Ifor William s translation see The Juvencus Englynion The englyn cycles which were previously attributed to Llywarch Hen and Heledd are now seen as works of later 9th 10th century poets St Elaeth 11th century a poet and a monk whose surviving verse is recorded in the Black Book Of Carmarthen Non extant or doubtful edit Four others are named by Nennius as poets of renown alongside Taliesin and Aneirin Blwchbardd Cian Guenith Guaut Culfardd Talhaearn Tad Awen Arofan 7th century Cuhelyn the Bard cy 9th century referred to in several poems but otherwise unknown None of his work survives The earliest reference to him is in a text 1 English version found in the Black Book Of Carmarthen However a later charter of Sir Nicholas FitzMartin Marcher Lord of Kemes off handedly describes someone as his descendant the charter grants the supposed descendant land in the Preseli Hills 3 4 Bleheris 11th century an otherwise unknown poet of doubtful authenticity referred to as born and bred in Wales in Gawain and as a source for the story 5 Other edit Myrddin ab Morfryn was believed by some to be an historical person who died in AD 570 but is now accepted as a mythical figure see Merlin 6 Timeline edit1100 to 1290 editThe following group of court poets used to be called the Gogynfeirdd and are now generally referred to as Beirdd y Tywysogion the Poets of the Princes The list is roughly chronological Meilyr Brydydd fl 1100 1137 Gwalchmai ap Meilyr fl 1130 1180 Owain Cyfeiliog c 1130 1197 Llywarch Llaety fl c 1140 1160 Llywelyn Fardd I fl c 1150 1175 named in the Red Book of Hergest as Llywelyn Fardd son of Cywryd 7 Seisyll Bryffwrch fl 1155 1175 Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr fl 1155 1200 Peryf ap Cedifor fl c 1170 Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd died 1170 Gwynfardd Brycheiniog fl c 1170 1180 Llywarch ap Llywelyn Prydydd y Moch 1173 1220 Elidir Sais 1190 1240 Meilyr ap Gwalchmai fl second half of the 12th century Gwilym Rhyfel 12th century Cneppyn Gwerthrynion c 13th century Einion ap Gwalchmai fl 1202 1223 Einion Wan fl c 1202 1245 Einion ap Gwgon fl c 1215 Y Prydydd Bychan fl c 1222 1268 Goronwy Foel fl c middle of the 13th century Dafydd Benfras fl 1230 1260 Hywel Foel ap Griffri ap Pwyll Wyddel fl c 1240 1300 Adda Fras c 1240 c 1320 whose poems haven t survived but whose name is recorded in one of the Peniarth manuscripts and in Tudur Aled s elegy to Dafydd ab Edmwnd 8 Madog ap Gwallter fl c 1250 Bleddyn Fardd fl c 1258 1284 Llygad Gŵr fl 1268 Gruffudd ab yr Ynad Coch fl 1277 1282 Cadwgan Ffol 13th century whose englyn celebrating a victory gained by the Welsh over the English at Degannwy is preserved in one of the Peniarth Manuscripts Timeline of major poets edit1290 to c 1500 editThe poets of this period are known as Beirdd yr Uchelwyr The list is fairly chronological but not exhaustive as the work of some minor poets of the late 15th and 16th centuries remains in manuscript and a large corpus of late medieval Darogan prophetic verse is anonymous or attributed to early poets Traditional patronage dwindled in the late 16th century but a handful of bards still received patronage from the gentry into the 17th century Free verse by individuals composing freelance gradually took over from the mid 16th century onwards Casnodyn fl first half of the 14th century Phylip Brydydd fl c 1300 1325 Madog Benfras fl c 1320 1360 best known for his elegy on Dafydd ap Gwilym Dafydd ap Gwilym c 1320 c 1370 Iolo Goch 1320 1398 Bleddyn Ddu fl c 1330 1385 whose surviving poems are preserved in the Red Book of Hergest Rhys Goch Eryri 1330 1420 Gruffudd Gryg fl c 1340 1380 Gruffudd ab Adda fl mid 14th century Llywelyn Goch ap Meurig Hen fl c 1350 1390 Gruffudd ap Maredudd ap Dafydd fl 1352 1382 famed for his awdlau to the Chester Rood and the Virgin Mary and for his elegy to Gwenhwyfar of Pentraeth 9 Einion Offeiriad died 1356 Tudur ap Gwyn Hagr fl second half of the 14th century Iorwerth Beli fl second half of the 14th century Dafydd ap Hywel ap Madoc Dafydd Ddu Athro o Hiraddug died 1371 Dafydd y Coed fl 1380 whose awdlau and satirical poems are found in the Red Book of Hergest Mab y Clochyddyn fl c 1380 whose elegy to Gwenhwyfar Marwnad Gwenhwyfar ferch Madog is found in the Red Book of Hergest 10 Gruffudd Llwyd fl c 1380 1410 Dafydd Bach ap Madog Wladaidd Sypyn Cyfeiliog fl 1340 1390 Sion Cent ca 1400 1430 45 Dafydd Llwyd ap Llywelyn ap Gruffudd Dafydd Llwyd o Fathafarn fl c 1400 1490 Sefnyn fl 1408 Dafydd Gorlech c 1410 c 1490 Ieuan ap Rhydderch ab Ieuan Llwyd fl 1410 1430 Lewys Glyn Cothi c 1420 1490 Tudur Penllyn fl c 1420 1490 Hywel Swrdwal fl 1430 1475 Hywel Cilan fl 1435 1470 who composed poems to the nobility of north Wales 11 Guto r Glyn c 1435 c 1493 Llywelyn ab y Moel died 1440 Sefnyn fl 1440 Gwilym ab Ieuan Hen fl c 1440 1480 Llawdden fl 1440 1480 Maredudd ap Rhys fl 1440 1483 Ieuan Gethin fl c 1450 Maredudd ap Rhys c 1450 1480 Dafydd ab Edmwnd fl c 1450 1497 Rhys Brydydd fl mid 15th century Ieuan Brydydd Hir fl 1450 1485 Dafydd Nanmor fl 1450 1490 Bedo Brwynllys fl c 1460 Dafydd Epynt fl c 1460 who composed poems in praise of Christ patron saints and the nobility associated with Brecon and Abergavenny Texts of his poems are found in the Peniarth manuscripts 12 Deio ab Ieuan Du fl 1460 1480 Ieuan Dyfi c 1460 1500 Gutun Owain fl 1460 1500 Gwilym Tew fl 1460 1480 Gwerful Mechain fl 1462 1500 Ieuan ap Tudur Penllyn Owain ap Llywelyn ab y Moel fl 1470 1500 Rhys Nanmor fl 1480 1513 Sion ap Hywel fl c 1490 1532 Rhisiart ap Rhys fl c 1495 1510 Bedo Aeddren fl 1500 Dafydd ap Ieuan Llwyd fl 1500 13 Timeline of major poets edit16th century editMost of the earlier poets here are very much in the Beirdd yr Uchelwyr tradition Traditional patronage dwindled in the late 16th century but a handful of bards still received patronage from the gentry into the 17th century Free verse by individuals composing freelance gradually took over from the mid 16th century onwards The free verse and strict metre poets sit rather uneasily together in this list Tudur Aled c 1465 1525 Lewys Mon fl 1485 1527 Sion Ceri fl early 16th century Dafydd ap Rhys O Fenai fl 16th century Meurig Dafydd c 1510 95 bard genealogist and historian in Glamorgan Lewys Morgannwg fl 1520 1565 Sion Tudur 1522 1602 Morus Dwyfech 1523 1590 poet in Gwynedd writing many types of verse and also his will in the form of a poem 14 Dafydd Trefor died 1528 whose work includes cywyddau on religious themes and an elegy on the death of Henry VII 15 Simwnt Fychan c 1530 1606 St Richard Gwyn c 1537 1584 who composed a number of odes in defence of Catholicism while jailed 16 Alis Wen Alice ferch Gruffudd ap Ieuan Fychan fl 1540 1570 whose surviving poems include musings on the type of man she desired to marry and on her fathers second marriage 17 Catrin ferch Gruffudd ap Ieuan Fychan fl 16th century whose surviving poem is on a theme of religion 17 Morus Dwyfach fl 1540 1580 Rhys Cain c 1540 1614 Llywelyn Sion c 1540 1615 Sion Phylip 1543 1620 Edmwnd Prys c 1543 1623 Robin Clidro 1545 1580 Dafydd Alaw fl 1550 whose surviving work includes an elegy to Lewys Mon and poems in praise of the nobility of Anglesey 18 Wiliam Midleton c 1550 c 1596 Morris Kyffin c 1555 1598 Catrin ferch Gruffudd ap Hywel fl 1555 who composed a poem in praise of Jesus Christ 19 Gwilym Gwyn fl c 1560 1600 whose surviving work includes a cywydd to St Elian Geimiad 20 Gruffudd Hiraethog died 1564 Tomos Prys c 1564 1634 Rhisiart Gruffudd fl c 1569 whose surviving work includes a poem seeking reconciliation between Sir Richard Bulkeley of Anglesey with his second wife Agnes who had been accused of poisoning her husband 21 Rhys Prichard 1579 1644 Cadwaladr ap Rhys Trefnant fl 1600 whose surviving poems in praise of noble families of Montgomeryshire are recorded in some of the Peniarth and Mostyn manuscripts Timeline of major poets editSee also edit nbsp Literature portal nbsp Wales portalReferences edit St Joseph of Arimathea at Glastonbury Theo Brown Folklore Vol 57 No 2 1946 Sir Ifor Williams Beginnings of Welsh Poetry University of Wales Press Second Revised Edition 1980 Baronia de Kemeys From the original documents at Bronwydd Sir Thomas Davies Lloyd Bt London 1862 p 48 An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Wales and Monmouthshire Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales 1914 Volume 4 p 276 Bleheris J L Weston From Ritual to Romance Cambridge University Press 1920 Myrddin A O H Jarman A oedd Myrddin yn Fardd Hanesyddol Studia Celtica 1976 J Lloyd Jones The Court Poets of the Welsh Princes Proceedings of the British Academy 1948 Gwaith Tudur Aled Thomas Gwynn Jones ed Cardiff 1926 Andrew Breeze Two bardic themes the Virgin and Child and Ave Eva Medium Aevum Vol 63 1994 Llanarthney Llanbedrog A Topographical Dictionary of Wales 1849 pp 478 93 URL http www british history ac uk report asp compid 47842 Islwyn Jones ed Gwaith Hywel Cilan Caerdydd 1963 Owen Thomas Gwaith Dafydd Epynt Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies Aberystwyth 2002 Dafydd ap Ieuan Llwyd Dictionary of Welsh Biography National Library of Wales Retrieved 27 September 2016 Looker Ray Mrs Ray Morgan Morus Dwyfech or Mours ap Dafydd ab Ifan ab Einion Dictionary of Welsh Biography Retrieved December 18 2016 His will in the form of a poem expressed the poet s desire to be buried at Penllech and from the elegies composed to him by Sion Phylip and Huw Pennant it is evident that his wish was granted Rhiannon Ifans Gwaith Syr Dafydd Trefor Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies Aberystwyth 2006 Catholic Online Saints http www catholic org saints saint php saint id 4599 a b Peniarth Manuscript 287 NLW MS 1553 Llanst MSS 123 125 and 133 N L W MSS 695 B M Add MS 14906 Mostyn MS 144 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of Welsh language poets 6th century to c 1600 amp oldid 1195558677, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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