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

Welsh poetry has a long and rich history, with many poems written in a special, strict style called canu caeth. This style was often encouraged by events like the eisteddfod, which are festivals of Welsh music, literature, and performance. This article will introduce you to some of the most important Welsh poets from ancient times up to the 1600s.

Sadly, many old poems have been lost over time. Also, many medieval poems don't have a known author, or they are sometimes said to be written by famous figures like the 6th-century poet Taliesin or the mythical Myrddin (also known as Merlin). You can find examples of some of these poets' works at Welsh Poetry at Wikisource.

This article also includes timelines to show important events and people that influenced the poets and their work. These timelines also help explain how the Welsh language developed. You can learn more about the language's history at Welsh language.

Early Welsh Poets: Before 1100

No poems written by Welsh poets before the 6th century have survived. However, old stories mention a few names:

• Maelgwyn of Llandaff (around 450 AD) – Some say he wrote about Joseph of Arimathea's burial. But he would have spoken an older form of Welsh called Brythonic, not modern Welsh, and as a monk, he probably wrote in Latin. We're not even sure if he really existed!
• St. Meugan (late 5th century) – He might have been a poet for Cadwallon of Gwynedd, a ruler of Wales.

Poets from 600 to 1100: What We Still Have

Most of the poems that survived from this early period are anonymous, meaning we don't know who wrote them. You can see some of these anonymous works at Wikisource.

The poems of the following poets are believed to be real and have survived from this time, known as the Hengerdd or Cynfeirdd period (meaning "Old Poetry" or "Early Poets"):

• Aneirin (lived around 550–600 AD)
• Taliesin (lived in the later 6th century)

Some other works are probably not by the poets they are linked to:

• Meigant (around 600–620) – His poems are found in the Black Book Of Carmarthen.
• Afan Ferddig (7th century) – He is thought to have written Moliant Cadwallon, a poem praising Cadwallon ap Cadfan.
• Juvencus Manuscript (late 9th century) – This old book contains two Welsh poems called englyn-poems.
• The englyn poems linked to Llywarch Hen and Heledd are now thought to be written by later poets (9th–10th century).
• St Elaeth (11th century) – A poet and monk whose poems are also in the Black Book Of Carmarthen.

Poets from 600 to 1100: Lost or Unsure Works

Nennius, an early historian, mentioned four other famous poets alongside Taliesin and Aneirin, but their works are lost:

• Blwchbardd
• Cian (Guenith Guaut)
• Culfardd
• Talhaearn Tad Awen

Other poets from this period whose works are lost or whose existence is uncertain include:

• Arofan (7th century)
• Cuhelyn the Bard [cy] (?9th century) – He is mentioned in several poems, but we don't have any of his own work.
• Bleheris (?11th century) – This poet is mentioned in the story of Gawain as a source for the tale, but we don't know much about him.

Mythical Figures

• Myrddin ab Morfryn – Some people once believed he was a real person who died in 570 AD, but now he is known as a mythical figure (see Merlin).

Timeline of Early Welsh Poets and Events

Poets of the Princes: 1100 to 1290

This group of court poets were called "Beirdd y Tywysogion," which means "Poets of the Princes." They wrote poems praising the Welsh princes and their battles. Here are some of them, listed roughly in order of when they lived:

• Meilyr Brydydd (active 1100–1137)
• Gwalchmai ap Meilyr (active 1130–1180)
• Owain Cyfeiliog (around 1130–1197)
• Llywarch Llaety (active around 1140–1160)
• Llywelyn Fardd I (active around 1150–1175) – His name means "Llywelyn the Bard."
• Seisyll Bryffwrch (active 1155–1175)
• Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr (active 1155–1200)
• Peryf ap Cedifor (active around 1170)
• Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd (died 1170)
• Gwynfardd Brycheiniog (active around 1170–1180)
• Llywarch ap Llywelyn ("Prydydd y Moch") (1173–1220)
• Elidir Sais (1190–1240)
• Meilyr ap Gwalchmai (active in the second half of the 12th century)
• Gwilym Rhyfel (12th century)
• Cneppyn Gwerthrynion (around 13th century)
• Einion ap Gwalchmai (active 1202–1223)
• Einion Wan (active around 1202–1245)
• Einion ap Gwgon (active around 1215)
• Y Prydydd Bychan (active around 1222–1268)
• Goronwy Foel (active around the middle of the 13th century)
• Dafydd Benfras (active 1230–1260)
• Hywel Foel ap Griffri ap Pwyll Wyddel (active around 1240–1300)
• Adda Fras (around 1240 – around 1320) – His poems are lost, but his name is known from old writings.
• Madog ap Gwallter (active around 1250)
• Bleddyn Fardd (active around 1258–1284)
• Llygad Gŵr (active 1268)
• Gruffudd ab yr Ynad Coch (active 1277–1282)
• Cadwgan Ffôl (13th century) – One of his poems, celebrating a Welsh victory over the English, still exists.

Timeline of Major Poets and Events (1100-1290)

Poets of the Gentry: 1290 to 1500

The poets from this time are called "Beirdd yr Uchelwyr," meaning "Poets of the Gentry." They often wrote for wealthy Welsh families. This list is mostly in time order, but it's not complete because many poems from this period are still in old manuscripts. Also, many prophetic poems (called Darogan) from this time are anonymous.

Over time, the tradition of wealthy families supporting poets started to fade. By the mid-1500s, poets began writing more "free verse" on their own, without needing a patron.

• Casnodyn (active in the first half of the 14th century)
• Phylip Brydydd (active around 1300–1325)
• Madog Benfras (active around 1320–1360) – Famous for his poem mourning Dafydd ap Gwilym.
• Dafydd ap Gwilym (around 1320 – around 1370) – One of the most famous Welsh poets ever!
• Iolo Goch (1320–1398)
• Bleddyn Ddu (active around 1330-1385) – His poems are kept in the Red Book of Hergest.
• Rhys Goch Eryri (1330–1420)
• Gruffudd Gryg (active around 1340–1380)
• Gruffudd ab Adda (active mid-14th century)
• Llywelyn Goch ap Meurig Hen (active around 1350–1390)
• Gruffudd ap Maredudd ap Dafydd (active 1352–1382) – Known for his poems to the Virgin Mary.
• Einion Offeiriad (died 1356)
• Tudur ap Gwyn Hagr (active in the second half of the 14th century)
• Iorwerth Beli (active in the second half of the 14th century)
• Dafydd ap Hywel ap Madoc ("Dafydd Ddu Athro o Hiraddug") (died 1371)
• Dafydd y Coed (active 1380) – His poems are in the Red Book of Hergest.
• Mab y Clochyddyn (active around 1380) – His poem mourning Gwenhwyfar is in the Red Book of Hergest.
• Gruffudd Llwyd (active around 1380–1410)
• Dafydd Bach ap Madog Wladaidd ("Sypyn Cyfeiliog") (active 1340–1390)
• Siôn Cent (around 1400–1430/45)
• Dafydd Llwyd ap Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (active around 1400–1490)
• Sefnyn (active 1408)
• Dafydd Gorlech (around 1410 – around 1490)
• Ieuan ap Rhydderch ab Ieuan Llwyd (active 1410-1430)
• Lewys Glyn Cothi (around 1420–1490)
• Tudur Penllyn (active around 1420–1490)
• Hywel Swrdwal (active 1430–1475)
• Hywel Cilan (active 1435–1470) – He wrote poems for the wealthy families of north Wales.
• Guto'r Glyn (around 1435 – around 1493)
• Llywelyn ab y Moel (died 1440)
• Sefnyn (active 1440)
• Gwilym ab Ieuan Hen (active around 1440–1480)
• Llawdden (active 1440–1480)
• Maredudd ap Rhys (active 1440–1483)
• Ieuan Gethin (active around 1450)
• Maredudd ap Rhys (around 1450–1480)
• Dafydd ab Edmwnd (active around 1450–1497)
• Rhys Brydydd (active mid-15th century)
• Ieuan Brydydd Hir (active 1450–1485)
• Dafydd Nanmor (active 1450–1490)
• Bedo Brwynllys (active around 1460)
• Dafydd Epynt (active around 1460) – He wrote poems praising Christ and saints.
• Deio ab Ieuan Du (active 1460–1480)
• Ieuan Dyfi (around 1460–1500)
• Gutun Owain (active 1460–1500)
• Gwilym Tew (active 1460–1480)
• Gwerful Mechain (active 1462–1500)
• Ieuan ap Tudur Penllyn
• Owain ap Llywelyn ab y Moel (active 1470–1500)
• Rhys Nanmor (active 1480–1513)
• Siôn ap Hywel (active around 1490–1532)
• Rhisiart ap Rhys (active around 1495–1510)
• Bedo Aeddren (active 1500)
• Dafydd ap Ieuan Llwyd (active 1500)

Timeline of Major Poets and Events (1290-1500)

Poets of the 16th Century

Many of the poets from the early 16th century continued the old "Poets of the Gentry" tradition. However, by the end of the century, the system of wealthy families supporting poets began to disappear. More poets started writing "free verse" on their own. This list includes both poets who followed the strict old styles and those who wrote in new, freer ways.

• Tudur Aled (around 1465–1525)
• Lewys Môn (active 1485–1527)
• Siôn Ceri (active early 16th century)
• Dafydd ap Rhys O Fenai (active 16th century)
• Meurig Dafydd (around 1510–95) – A bard, family historian, and record keeper in Glamorgan.
• Lewys Morgannwg (active 1520–1565)
• Siôn Tudur (1522–1602)
• Morus Dwyfech (1523- 1590) – A poet from Gwynedd who wrote many types of poems, even his will was a poem!
• Dafydd Trefor (died 1528) – His work includes religious poems and a poem mourning King Henry VII.
• Simwnt Fychan (around 1530–1606)
• St. Richard Gwyn (around 1537–1584) – He wrote poems defending Catholicism while he was in jail.
• Alis Wen (Alice ferch Gruffudd ap Ieuan Fychan; active 1540–1570) – Her poems talk about the kind of husband she wanted and her father's second marriage.
• Catrin ferch Gruffudd ap Ieuan Fychan (active 16th century) – Her surviving poem is about religion.
• Morus Dwyfach (active 1540–1580)
• Rhys Cain (around 1540–1614)
• Llywelyn Siôn (around 1540–1615)
• Siôn Phylip (1543–1620)
• Edmwnd Prys (around 1543–1623)
• Robin Clidro (1545–1580)
• Dafydd Alaw (active 1550) – His poems include one mourning Lewys Môn.
• Wiliam Midleton (around 1550 – around 1596)
• Morris Kyffin (around 1555–1598)
• Catrin ferch Gruffudd ap Hywel (active 1555) – She wrote a poem praising Jesus Christ.
• Gwilym Gwyn (active around 1560–1600) – His poems include one to St. Elian Geimiad.
• Gruffudd Hiraethog (died 1564)
• Tomos Prys (around 1564–1634)
• Rhisiart Gruffudd (active around 1569) – He wrote a poem trying to help a knight and his wife make up after she was accused of poisoning him!
• Rhys Prichard (1579–1644)
• Cadwaladr ap Rhys Trefnant (active 1600) – His poems praising noble families are found in old manuscripts.

Timeline of Major Poets and Events (16th Century)