Dafydd Llwyd ap Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, usually referred to as Dafydd Llwyd o Fathafarn (fl. c.1400–c.1490) was a

Welsh language Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic languages, Celtic language of the Brittonic languages, Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales by about 18% of the population, by some in England, and in (the Welsh c ...

poet, a native of

Mathafarn Mathafarn is a house and farm near Llanwrin, in Wales. The earliest house here was built before 1485, and Mathafarn plays a significant role in Welsh and English history. History The earliest reference to Mathafarn is in 1485. Henry Tudor was ...

Powys Powys ( , ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county and Preserved counties of Wales, preserved county in Wales. It borders Gwynedd, Denbighshire, and Wrexham County Borough, Wrexham to the north; the English Ceremonial counties of England, ceremo ...

. The bulk of Dafydd Llwyd's surviving poetry is characterised by his hopes and aspirations for a Mab Darogan ('Son of Prophecy') who would throw off the yoke of English rule and realise the restoration of an independent

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

. He was recognised as the leading authority on the prophetic lore and traditional history of Wales and was widely consulted. Like other prophetic poets of his period, Dafydd attached his hopes initially on

Jasper Tudor Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford (c. November 143121 December 1495) was the uncle of King Henry VII of England and a leading architect of his nephew's successful accession to the throne in 1485. He was a member of the Tudor family of Penmynydd. ...

, Earl of Pembroke, and then on his nephew Henry Tudor. Following his success at the

Battle of Bosworth The Battle of Bosworth or Bosworth Field ( ) was the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the houses of Lancaster and York that extended across England in the latter half of the 15th century. Fought on 22 ...

Dafydd composed poems in praise of Henry, his son

Arthur Arthur is a masculine given name of uncertain etymology. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. A common spelling variant used in many Slavic, Romance, and Germanic languages is Artur. In Spanish and Ital ...

and to Sir

Rhys ap Thomas Sir Rhys ap Thomas (1449–1525) was a Welsh soldier and landholder who rose to prominence during the Wars of the Roses, and was instrumental in the victory of Henry Tudor at the Battle of Bosworth. He remained a faithful supporter of Henry ...

, their leading Welsh supporter and advisor. He also composed a number of erotic poems, notably a poetic disputation with the poet Gwerful Mechain, as well as religious and secular praise poems.

Bibliography

*W. L. Richards (ed.), ''Gwaith Dafydd Llwyd o Fathafarn'' (University of Wales Press, 1964). The edited texts, in Welsh.

External links

Dafydd Llwyd at Wikisource
Welsh-language poets 15th-century Welsh poets People of the Tudor period Year of birth uncertain Year of death uncertain {{Wales-writer-stub