Pennod 21 – Dyrchafu, Caru ac Ymladd: Barddoniaeth yn gysylltiedig ag Owain Gwynedd a’i deulu

Lifting Up, Loving and Fighting: Poetry connected with Owain Gwynedd and his family

We continue to discuss the Poets of the Princes in this episode, focusing on poetry connection with Owain Gwynedd and his family. Already named ‘a friend of the pod’ by us, Owain Gwynedd (c.1100-1170) must be counted as one of the most important of the princes. Indeed, he was the first to use the title ‘Prince of Wales’ and he was also King of Gwynedd in his day. We look at work by Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr (or ‘Cynddelw the Great Poet’) ‘lifting up’ or ‘elevating’ Owain Gwynedd and we also look at poetry which concentrates on the role and identity of the poet himself. We imagine one of them, Gwalchmai ap Meilyr, strutting boastfully like a rapper on stage, and we discuss poetry by Owain Gwynedd’s son, Hywel, and consider his tragic ending.