Rhys Goch Eryri facts for kids

Rhys Goch Eryri (also known as Rhys ab Dafydd) was a famous Welsh poet from the 1400s. He lived in a place called Hafod Garegog, which is close to Beddgelert in North Wales. He was known as a "bard," which is an old word for a poet or storyteller who often sang their poems.

Who Was Rhys Goch Eryri?

Rhys Goch Eryri lived from around 1385 to 1448. He spent his life in a beautiful area of Wales called Eryri, which is now known as Snowdonia. This region is famous for its tall mountains and stunning scenery.

A Poet from Snowdonia

Rhys Goch was a well-known poet in his time. He wrote about many different topics. Today, we still have about 30 of his poems. These poems help us learn about life and ideas from the 15th century.

Friends and Famous People

Rhys Goch knew another famous poet named Dafydd Nanmor. Dafydd lived nearby in a place called Nantmor. Some people think that Rhys Goch might have even been Dafydd Nanmor's teacher. In one of Rhys Goch's poems, he playfully tells a fox to chase Dafydd Nanmor's peacock!

Rhys Goch was also said to be a good friend and strong supporter of Owain Glyndŵr. Owain Glyndŵr was a very important Welsh leader who fought for Welsh independence. Even though Rhys Goch was a supporter, none of his poems written directly for Owain Glyndŵr have survived.

Where Was He Born?

A writer named George Borrow wrote a book called Wild Wales. In his book, George Borrow said that Rhys Goch was born in a town called Festiniog. He also wrote that Rhys Goch was very old when he died. It was believed that Rhys Goch would sit on a special stone to write his poems. This stone was even called "the chair of Rhys Goch."

His Final Resting Place

It is a long-standing tradition that Rhys Goch Eryri lived his entire life in the Snowdonia area. When he passed away, he was buried in the churchyard at Beddgelert.