Dictionary of Welsh Biography

ALLEN, JOHN ROMILLY (1847 - 1907), archaeologist , 1903); Celtic Art in Pagan and Christian Times, 1904. In his special field, Allen became a leading authority, and Archæologia Cambrensis benefited largely during his editorship from the study which he and Sir John Rhŷs bestowed upon the early inscribed stones of Wales. At the annual meetings he was a welcome commentator upon antiquities visited; a certain hastiness of temper was forgiven by those who
ANARAWD ap GRUFFYDD (d. 1143), prince He was the eldest son of Gruffydd ap Rhys ap Tewdwr, and, on the death of his father in 1137, stepped into his position as leader of the men of Deheubarth. He had already, in spite of his youth, showed in this year some independence; the S. Davids chronicle records how, without the assent of his father, he slew Letard 'Little King' - a local tyrant, as his name suggests, who from his seat at
ANGHARAD (d. 1162) , Gwenllian married Gruffydd ap Rhys, and Susanna married Madog ap Maredudd. Angharad is singled out for lavish praise by her husband's biographer, as a handsome blonde, gentle, eloquent, generous, discreet, good to her people and charitable to the poor. Gruffydd left her, in addition to the half of his goods as provided by Welsh law, two shares of land (rhandir) and the profits of the port of Abermenai.
AP GWYNN, ARTHUR (1902 - 1987), librarian and the third librarian of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth 1976. Shortly before he died he endowed the Hugh Owen Library with a fund for the purchase of books on archaeology in memory of his wife and his son, Rhys, who had died in 1943. Arthur ap Gwynn also contributed to the bibliography of Wales. In Llyfrgelloedd yng Nghymru - proceedings, 1933 (pp. 43-7), he published his 'Modern Welsh books from point of view of Reader and Librarian'. In the same year
ap RHYS, PHILIP (fl. 1530) - see PHILIP ap RHYS
AP THOMAS, DAFYDD RHYS (1912 - 2011), Old Testament scholar
ARTHUR (fl. early 6th century?), one of the leaders of the Britons against their enemies He became in later ages the chief figure of the Arthurian cycle of tales. Nothing definite is known about him as a historical character, although his existence can no longer be denied, nor can he be explained, as he was by Sir John Rhys and others, as a purely legendary figure. He is not mentioned by Gildas, c. 540, in his reference to the victory of the Britons at ' Badon Hill ' ('Mons Badonicus
BEDO HAFESP (fl. 1568-1585), poet of Montgomeryshire his skill was equal to that of poets like Owain Gwynedd, Siôn Tudur, Ifan Tew, Rhys Cain, etc. (Llanstephan MS 43 (22)). The last date appertaining to him is 1585, when he wrote a poem on the death of Siôn Gruffydd of Llŷn.
BEUNO (d. 642?), patron saint commemoration, history has little to tell of the saint. The only extant life is a brief Welsh summary of about 1350 contained in the Book of the Anchorite of Llanddewi Brefi (ed. J. Morris-Jones and J. Rhys, Oxford, 1894). This makes him a scion of the royal stock of Morgannwg, born on the banks of the Severn in Powys, educated at Caerwent, settled at Berriw (until driven away by the approach of the English
BEYNON, ROBERT (1881 - 1953), minister (Presb.), poet and essayist artistry as a polished writer. He and Rhys Davies (one of the elders of the church) were co-authors of a history of Carmel (1921). He was a very popular preacher throughout Wales, and the congregations doted upon the beauty of his turn of phrase and his terse, brilliant sayings. No doubt it was because of this that he was chosen to deliver the (unpublished) Davies Lecture on ' Y ffordd dra rhagorol ' in
BEYNON, THOMAS (1744 - 1835), archdeacon of Cardigan and patron of eisteddfodau and Welsh literature stipend towards the building of churches in the places under his care, and the newly-founded S. David's College, Lampeter, was generously supported by him. He supported the circulating schools of Bridget Bevan and testified to the ability of Morgan Rhys the hymn-writer as a schoolmaster in his parishes in 1771-2 by applying for an extension of his services for 1772-3. He was a patron of the
BIRCHINSHAW, WILLIAM (fl. 1584-1617), poet as for Birchinshaw, says Myddelton, 'while he is capable of writing a good cywydd he will never learn one good habit.' Both of them, it seems, prefer making love to the fair sex, and tippling, and 'to procure gold they live as wandering minstrels.' On p. 182 of the same manuscript an englyn to Rhys Grythor (Rhys the Fiddler) by Birchinshaw is dated 30 November 1584, and in Chirk Castle Accounts

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