Ieuan ap Tudur Penllyn facts for kids

Ieuan ap Tudur Penllyn was a Welsh poet who lived during the late Middle Ages, around the year 1480. He was known for his clever poems and his connections to important Welsh families.

Who Was Ieuan ap Tudur Penllyn?

Ieuan ap Tudur Penllyn was an important Welsh poet from the 15th century. He was born in a place called Caer-Gai, which is near Llanuwchllyn in what was then Merioneth (now part of Gwynedd).

His Family and Background

Ieuan came from a family of talented poets. His father was Tudur Penllyn, who was also a well-known poet. His mother was Gwerful Fychan. Through his mother's side, Ieuan was related to Rhirid Flaidd, a nobleman from the Kingdom of Powys who lived in the 12th century. This shows that Ieuan's family had a long history of important people and creative minds. Because his family was part of the gentry (a class of people who owned land and were well-respected), Ieuan probably didn't write poetry just to earn money. He likely wrote because he enjoyed it and it was part of his family's tradition.

The Poetry He Wrote

Like many poets of his time, Ieuan wrote a lot of "praise-poetry." This type of poetry was written to honor and celebrate the Uchelwyr, who were the important Welsh noble families. He wrote poems for families like the Abertanad family from Llanyblodwel and the Wynns from Gwydir Castle.

Ieuan also wrote other kinds of poems. One of his surviving works is a funny poem that makes fun of the town of Flint. He also had several humorous poetry battles, called "disputations," with another famous poet named Guto'r Glyn. These were like playful arguments in verse.

His Unique Poetic Voice

Sometimes, it can be tricky to tell Ieuan's poems apart from his father's. In old handwritten books, their works were occasionally mixed up. Ieuan also had a sister named Gwenllian. It's thought that she might have been a poet too, which would mean even more talent in their family!

Preserving His Work

For many years, Ieuan's poems were kept in old manuscripts. In 1958, a person named Thomas Roberts carefully collected and edited Ieuan's surviving poetry. He published it in a single book, which also included the poems of Ieuan's father, Tudur Penllyn. This helped make sure that their important works would be remembered and studied for a long time.