HYWEL ap DAFYDD ap IEUAN ap RHYS (HYWEL DAFI of Raglan) (fl. c. 1450-1480), poet

Name: Hywel ap Dafydd ap Ieuan ap Rhys
Gender: Male
Occupation: poet
Area of activity: Poetry
Author: Ray Looker

HYWEL DAFI of Raglan, according to Peniarth MS 101 (262), a poet of whose work many examples remain in manuscript. These include a few religious and love poems, and a large number addressed in the standard convention to various members of the ruling families of his period in South Wales, e.g. Gruffudd ap Nicolas of Dynevor, Phylip ap Tomas of Llangoed in Brecknock, Rhys ap Siancyn of Glyn Nedd (Neath) and members of the Herbert family of Pembroke and Raglan. It appears from one of the two bardic controversies between him and Guto'r Glyn that he was family poet at Raglan. Other ymrysonau were composed between Bedo Brwynllys and Hywel, and also between Gruffudd ap Dafydd Fychan, Llywelyn Goch y Dant and Hywel. According to Edward Jones (apparently on the authority of Rhys Cain) he was an M.A., author of a history of Britain in Latin and a history of Wales in Welsh, and possessor of well-written and valuable manuscripts. As yet no manuscript of his has been found. According to the Cambrian Biog., Cymru (O.J.), Blackwell, and Enwogion Cymru: a Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen , the poet was a native of Aberdare, but no proof exists for this statement.

Author

Published date: 1959

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