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Dafydd ap Gwilym , poet

Born: c. 1315   Died: c. 1350   Active: 1330–1350   

Dafydd was chiefly a love poet and some 150 of his poems survive. He also wrote religious poems and paneygrics.

Exact details regarding Dafydd's life are uncertain but it is known that through both his mother and father he was related to Rhys ap Gruffudd, the most powerful fourteenth-century Welsh magnate in the southern principality. It is thought that Dafydd spent some time at the Cistercian abbey of Strata Florida and was likely buried there.

Sites associated with this person

Strata Florida Abbey, Ceredigion (resident at; perhaps buried there)

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

Bezant, Jemma, 'Travel and communication', in Monastic Wales: New Approaches, ed. Janet Burton and Karen Stöber (University of Wales: Cardiff, 2013), pp. 133-145

Gruffydd, R. Geraint, 'Love by toponymy: Dafydd ap Gwilym and place-names', Nomina, 19 (1996), pp. 29-42

Parry-Williams, T. H., 'Memorial to Dafydd ap Gwilym at Strata Florida', Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion (1949/51), pp. 38-43

Saunders, Lewis, 'Dafydd ap Gwilym', Llên Cymru, 2 (1953), pp. 199-208

Web links (open in new window)

Gruffyd, R. Geraint, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online - Dafydd ap Gwilym (View website) (Subscription reqd.)


 
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