Much of Welsh language poetry has, until quite recently, been composed in various forms of strict metre (canu caeth), latterly with the encouragement of the eisteddfod movement. The following list is as inclusive as possible for the years prior to 1600. It includes as many minor poets as possible to illustrate the range and content of Welsh poetry throughout the ages. However much early poetry has been lost, and much medieval verse is either anonymous or, usually in the case of mythological poems and prophetic verse, attributed to the 6th-century poet Taliesin or the mythical figure of Myrddin. Early religious and gnomic verse is also usually anonymous. Where possible examples of each poet's surviving work is presented at Welsh Poetry at Wikisource
Each period of the poets listed below is accompanied by a graphical timeline to illustrate the main events and individuals that influenced the poets and their work. These timelines also depict the development of the Welsh language. Further details of its development may be found at Welsh language.
Pre 6th century
No works by Welsh poets prior to the 6th century have survived. Tradition records:
- Maelgwyn of Llandaff (c. 450) – said, according to one source, to have written of Joseph of Arimathea's burial at Glastonbury. However, in the mid-5th century he would have spoken Brythonic, not Welsh, and as a monk would probably have written in Latin. His existence is doubtful.
- St. Meugan (fl. c. late 5th century) – possibly a court poet to Cadwallon of Gwynedd
6th century to 1100
The bulk of surviving verse from the period known as "Canu'r Bwlch" is anonymous.(see Wikisource)
The following works are probably apocryphal:
- Meigant (fl. c. 600–620) – a poet whose surviving work is recorded in the Black Book Of Carmarthen.
- Afan Ferddig (7th century) – accepted as the author of Moliant Cadwallon a praise poem to Cadwallon ap Cadfan
- Juvencus Manuscript/ Cambridge Juvencus (late 9th century) contains two Welsh englyn-poems, one of nine and one of three englynion. For the text and Sir Ifor William's translation see: The Juvencus Englynion.
- The englyn-cycles which were previously attributed to Llywarch Hen and Heledd are now seen as works of later (9th–10th century) poets.
- St Elaeth (11th century) – a poet and a monk whose surviving verse is recorded in the Black Book Of Carmarthen.
Non-extant or doubtful
- Cian (Guenith Guaut)
- Talhaearn Tad Awen
- Arofan (7th century)
- Cuhelyn the Bard (?9th century) – referred to in several poems but otherwise unknown. None of his work survives. The earliest reference to him is in a text  (English version) found in the Black Book Of Carmarthen. However, a later charter of Sir Nicholas FitzMartin, Marcher Lord of Kemes, off-handedly describes someone as his descendant; the charter grants the supposed descendant land in the Preseli Hills.
- Bleheris (?11th century) – an otherwise unknown poet of doubtful authenticity referred to as "born and bred in Wales" in Gawain and as a source for the story.
- Myrddin ab Morfryn – was believed by some to be an historical person who died in AD 570, but is now accepted as a mythical figure (see Merlin).
1100 to 1290
- Meilyr Brydydd (fl. 1100–1137)
- Gwalchmai ap Meilyr (fl. 1130–1180)
- Owain Cyfeiliog (c. 1130–1197)
- Llywarch Llaety (fl. c. 1140–1160)
- Llywelyn Fardd I – (fl. c. 1150–1175) – named in the Red Book of Hergest as “Llywelyn Fardd, son of Cywryd”.
- Seisyll Bryffwrch (fl. 1155–1175)
- Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr (fl. 1155–1200)
- Peryf ap Cedifor (fl. c. 1170)
- Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd (died 1170)
- Gwynfardd Brycheiniog (fl. c. 1170–1180)
- Daniel ap Llosgwrn Mew (fl. 1170–1200) whose elegy to Gruffudd ap Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd is found in the Red Book of Hergest.
- Llywarch ap Llywelyn ("Prydydd y Moch") (1173–1220)
- Elidir Sais (1190–1240)
- Meilyr ap Gwalchmai (fl. second half of the 12th century)
- Gruffudd ap Gwrgenau (fl. second half of the 12th century) – whose surviving work includes an awdl to prince Gruffudd ap Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd, found in the Hendregadredd Manuscript.
- Gwilym Rhyfel (12th century)
- Cneppyn Gwerthrynion (c. 13th century)
- Einion ap Gwalchmai (fl. 1202–1223)
- Einion Wan (fl. c. 1202–1245)
- Meurig (fl. 1210) – mentioned by Gerald of Wales as a man who is visited by the ghost of a dead soldier and tasked to compose a poem prophesying Pope Innocent III's later interdiction on King John.
- Einion ap Gwgon (fl. c. 1215)
- Y Prydydd Bychan (fl. c. 1222–1268)
- Goronwy Foel (fl. c. middle of the 13th century)
- Dafydd Benfras (fl. 1230–1260)
- Einion ap Madog ap Rhahawd (c. 1237) – whose surviving awdl to Gruffydd ap Llywelyn is found in the Hendregadredd Manuscript.
- Hywel Foel ap Griffri ap Pwyll Wyddel (fl. c. 1240–1300)
- Gwgon Brydydd – (fl. c. 1240) – whose elegy to Llywelyn ap Iorwerth is found in one of the Cwrtmawr Manuscripts.
- Adda Fras (c. 1240 – c. 1320) – whose poems haven't survived but whose name is recorded in one of the Peniarth manuscripts and in Tudur Aled’s elegy to Dafydd ab Edmwnd.
- Madog ap Gwallter (fl. c. 1250)
- Bleddyn Fardd (fl. c. 1258–1284)
- Llygad Gŵr (fl. 1268)
- Gruffudd ab yr Ynad Coch (fl. 1277–1282)
- Gwilym Ddu o Arfon (fl. c. 1280–1320) – whose elegies are found in the Red Book of Hergest.
- Cadwgan Ffol (13th century) – whose englyn celebrating a victory gained by the Welsh over the English at Degannwy is preserved in one of the Peniarth Manuscripts.
Timeline of major poets
1290 to c.1500
The poets of this period are known as Beirdd yr Uchelwyr. The list is fairly chronological but not exhaustive as the work of some minor poets of the late 15th and 16th centuries remains in manuscript and a large corpus of late medieval Darogan, prophetic verse, is anonymous or attributed to early poets. Traditional patronage dwindled in the late 16th century but a handful of bards still received patronage from the gentry into the 17th century. Free verse by individuals composing "freelance" gradually took over from the mid-16th century onwards.
- Llywelyn Ddu ab y Pastard (fl. 14th century) – whose surviving awdlau are recorded in the Red Book of Hergest.
- Casnodyn (fl. first half of the 14th century)
- Iorwerth Fychan ap Iorwerth ap Rotpert (fl. c. 1300) – whose surviving love poems are recorded in the Hendregadredd Manuscript.
- Gruffudd ap Dafydd ap Tudur (fl. c. 1300) – whose awdl to a holy well and other love poems are recorded in the Red Book of Hergest.
- Phylip Brydydd (fl. c. 1300–1325)
- Llywelyn Brydydd Hoddnant (fl. c. 1300–1350) – whose awdlau in praise of Ieuan ap Gruffudd Foel are found in the Hendregadredd Manuscript.
- Goronwy Gyriog – (fl. c. 1310–1360) – whose awdl to Madog ab Iorwerth, bishop of Bangor, and elegy to Gwenhwyfar are found in the Red Book of Hergest.
- Madog Benfras (fl. c. 1320–1360) – best known for his elegy on Dafydd ap Gwilym.
- Dafydd ap Gwilym (c. 1320 – c. 1370)
- Iolo Goch (1320–1398)
- Bleddyn Ddu (fl. c. 1330-1385) – whose surviving poems are preserved in the Red Book of Hergest.
- Rhys Goch Eryri (1330–1420)
- Gruffudd Gryg (fl. c.1340–1380)
- Gruffudd ab Adda (fl. mid 14th century)
- Llywelyn Goch ap Meurig Hen (fl. c. 1350–1390)
- Gruffudd ap Maredudd ap Dafydd (1352–1382) – famed for his awdlau to the Chester Rood and the Virgin Mary, and for his elegy to Gwenhwyfar of Pentraeth.
- Einion Offeiriad (died 1356)
- Tudur ap Gwyn Hagr (fl. second half of the 14th century)
- Ithel Ddu (fl. second half of 14th century) – whose surviving cywydd is found in one of the Peniarth Manuscripts.
- Iorwerth Beli (fl. second half of the 14th century)
- Madog Dwygraig (fl. c. 1370) – whose religious and satirical poems are found in the Red Book of Hergest.
- Dafydd ap Hywel ap Madoc ("Dafydd Ddu Athro o Hiraddug") (died 1371)
- Dafydd y Coed (fl. 1380) – whose awdlau and satirical poems are found in the Red Book of Hergest.
- Mab y Clochyddyn (fl. c. 1380) – whose elegy to Gwenhwyfar, "Marwnad Gwenhwyfar ferch Madog", is found in the Red Book of Hergest.
- Gruffudd Llwyd (fl. c.1380–1410)
- Dafydd Bach ap Madog Wladaidd ("Sypyn Cyfeiliog") (fl. 1340–1390)
- Gruffudd ap Dafydd Fychan (fl. 15th century) – whose surviving work includes an elegy on the death of Henry VI.
- Siôn Cent (ca. 1400–1430/45)
- Dafydd Llwyd ap Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Dafydd Llwyd o Fathafarn) (fl. c. 1400–1490)
- Sefnyn (fl. 1408)
- Dafydd Gorlech (c. 1410 – c. 1490)
- Lewys Glyn Cothi (c. 1420–1490)
- Tudur Penllyn (fl. c. 1420–1490)
- Hywel Swrdwal (fl. 1430–1475)
- Hywel Cilan (fl. 1435–1470) – who composed poems to the nobility of north Wales.
- Guto'r Glyn (c. 1435 – c. 1493)
- Llywelyn ab y Moel (died 1440)
- Sefnyn (fl.1440)
- Gwilym ab Ieuan Hen (fl. c. 1440–1480)
- Llawdden (fl. 1440–1480)
- Gwilym ap Ieuan Hen (fl. c. 1440–1480) – whose surviving work includes a poem in praise of the Virgin Mary and another to the ˜Four Daughters of the Trinity”.
- Maredudd ap Rhys (fl. 1440–1483)
- Ieuan Gethin (fl. c. 1450)
- Maredudd ap Rhys (c. 1450–1480)
- Dafydd ab Edmwnd (fl. c. 1450–1497)
- Rhys Brydydd (fl. mid-15th century)
- Ieuan ap Gruffudd Leiaf (fl. latter half of 15th century) – whose surviving work includes a satire on a river that once hindered his journey.
- Ieuan Brydydd Hir (fl. 1450–1485)
- Dafydd Nanmor (fl. 1450–1490)
- Bedo Brwynllys (fl. c. 1460)
- Ieuan Deulwyn (fl. c. 1460)
- Dafydd ap Maredudd ab Ednyfed (fl. c. 1460) – whose surviving work is a poem written to commemorate the return of Richard, Duke of York, from Ireland.
- Dafydd Epynt (fl. c. 1460) – who composed poems in praise of Christ, patron saints and the nobility associated with Brecon and Abergavenny. Texts of his poems are found in the Peniarth manuscripts.
- Deio ab Ieuan Du (fl. 1460–1480)
- Ieuan Dyfi (c. 1460–1500)
- Gutun Owain (fl. 1460–1500)
- Gwilym Tew (fl. 1460–1480)
- Gwerful Mechain (fl. 1462–1500)
- Ieuan ap Tudur Penllyn
- Llywelyn Goch y Dant (fl. 1470–1471) – whose surviving work includes a poem in praise of Roger Vaughan of Tretower, who was executed by Jasper Tudor.
- Owain ap Llywelyn ab y Moel (fl. 1470–1500)
- Rhys Nanmor (fl. 1480–1513)
- Siôn ap Hywel (fl. c. 1490–1532)
- Rhisiart ap Rhys (fl. c. 1495–1510)
- Elis Siôn ap Moys (fl. late 15th century) – whose surviving cywydd to Henry Deane, Bishop of Bangor, is found in one of the Peniarth manuscripts.
- Bedo Aeddren (fl. 1500)
- Roger Davies (fl. c. 1500) – whose surviving cywyddau are found in one of the Peniarth manuscripts.
- Dafydd Cowper (fl. c. 1500) – whose englyn to the steeple of Wrexham church is found in one of the Peniarth Manuscripts.
Timeline of major poets
Most of the earlier poets here are very much in the Beirdd yr Uchelwyr tradition. Traditional patronage dwindled in the late 16th century but a handful of bards still received patronage from the gentry into the 17th century. Free verse by individuals composing "freelance" gradually took over from the mid-16th century onwards. The free verse and strict metre poets sit rather uneasily together in this list.
- Tudur Aled (c. 1465–1525)
- Lewys Môn (fl. 1485–1527)
- Gruffudd ap Ieuan ap Llywelyn Fychan (c. 1485–1553) – poet and official at the Caerwys eisteddfod in 1524.
- Siôn Ceri (fl. early 16th century
- Meurig Dafydd (c. 1510–95), bard, genealogist and historian in Glamorgan
- Ieuan ap rhys ap Llywlyn (fl. beginning of 16th century) – whose surviving work includes a poem composed on an outbreak of smallpox.
- Matthew Brwmffild (fl. 1520–1560) – whose poems in praise of nobility are recorded in one of the Peniarth manuscripts.
- Lewys Daron (fl. 1520–1539) – who is best known for his elegy on the death of Tudur Aled.
- Lewys Morgannwg (fl. 1520–1565)
- Siôn Tudur (1522–1602)
- Morus Dwyfech (1523- 1590) - poet in Gwynedd writing many types of verse and also his will in the form of a poem.
- Dafydd Trefor (died 1528) – whose work includes cywyddau on religious themes and an elegy on the death of Henry VII.
- Powys Lewis (fl. c. 1530) – whose poems in praise of nobility are recorded in one of the Peniarth manuscripts.
- Simwnt Fychan (c. 1530–1606)
- St. Richard Gwyn (c. 1537–1584) – who composed a number of odes in defence of Catholicism, while jailed.
- Alis Wen (Alice ferch Gruffudd ap Ieuan Fychan; fl. 1540–1570) – whose surviving poems include musings on the type of man she desired to marry and on her fathers’ second marriage.
- Catrin ferch Gruffudd ap Ieuan Fychan (fl. 16th century) – whose surviving poem is on a theme of religion.
- Morus Dwyfach (fl. 1540–1580)
- Rhys Cain (c. 1540–1614)
- Llywelyn Siôn (c. 1540–1615)
- Siôn Phylip (1543–1620)
- Edmwnd Prys (c. 1543–1623)
- Robin Clidro (1545–1580)
- Dafydd Alaw (fl. 1550) – whose surviving work includes an elegy to Lewys Môn and poems in praise of the nobility of Anglesey.
- Wiliam Midleton (c. 1550 – c. 1596)
- Dafydd Benwyn (1550–1600) – who composed poems to the nobility of Glamorgan.
- Morris Kyffin (c. 1555–1598)
- Catrin ferch Gruffudd ap Hywel (fl. c. 1555) – who composed a poem in praise of Jesus Christ.
- Gwilym Gwyn (fl. c. 1560–1600) – whose surviving work includes a cywydd to St. Elian Geimiad.
- Dafydd ap Ieuan ab Owen (fl. c. 1560) – who composed poems in praise of the town of Harlech and an invective against the world inspired by the loss of his land.
- Gruffudd Hiraethog (died 1564)
- Tomos Prys (c. 1564–1634)
- Edward Maelor (fl. 1567–1603) – who composed poems to the nobility of north Wales.
- Rhisiart Gruffudd (fl. c. 1569) – whose surviving work includes a poem seeking reconciliation between Sir Richard Bulkeley of Anglesey with his second wife, Agnes, who had been accused of poisoning her husband.
- Huw Llwyd (c. 1568 – c. 1630) – a soldier, poet and rumoured wizard whose poems on hunting are recorded in one of the Peniarth manuscripts.
- Edwart ap Raff (fl. 1578–1606) – whose surviving work includes a poem about the Battle of Saint Quentin in 1557.
- Rhys Prichard (1579–1644)
- Elis Cynfrig (fl. 1580–1620) – whose poems on themes of religion and love are recorded in some of the Peniarth and British Museum manuscripts.
- Cadwaladr ap Rhys Trefnant (fl. 1600) – whose surviving poems in praise of noble families of Montgomeryshire are recorded in some of the Peniarth and Mostyn manuscripts.
Timeline of major poets
- "St. Joseph of Arimathea at Glastonbury", Theo Brown, Folklore, Vol. 57, No.2, 1946.
- Sir Ifor Williams, 'Beginnings of Welsh Poetry', University of Wales Press, Second Revised Edition,1980
- Baronia de Kemeys. From the original documents at Bronwydd., Sir Thomas Davies Lloyd (Bt.), London, 1862, p.48
- An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Wales and Monmouthshire, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, 1914, Volume 4, p 276
- Bleheris "J. L. Weston, From Ritual to Romance, Cambridge University Press 1920"
- Myrddin "A.O.H. Jarman, 'A oedd Myrddin yn Fardd Hanesyddol?', (Studia Celtica 1976)
- J Lloyd-Jones, 'The Court Poets of the Welsh Princes', Proceedings of the British Academy, 1948
- Gwaith Tudur Aled, Thomas Gwynn Jones (ed.), (Cardiff, 1926).
- Andrew Breeze, 'Two bardic themes: the Virgin and Child, and Ave-Eva', Medium Aevum, Vol. 63, 1994
- 'Llanarthney – Llanbedrog', A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1849), pp. 478–93. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47842
- Islwyn Jones (ed.), Gwaith Hywel Cilan (Caerdydd, 1963)
- Owen Thomas, 'Gwaith Dafydd Epynt', Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, Aberystwyth, 2002
- Looker, Ray (Mrs Ray Morgan). "Morus Dwyfech, or Mours ap Dafydd ab Ifan ab Einion". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
His will, in the form of a poem, expressed the poet's desire to be buried at Penllech , and, from the elegies composed to him by Siôn Phylip and Huw Pennant , it is evident that his wish was granted.
- Rhiannon Ifans, 'Gwaith Syr Dafydd Trefor', Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, Aberystwyth, 2006
- Catholic Online Saints: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4599
- (Peniarth Manuscript. 287)
- (NLW MS. (1553) Llanst. MSS. (123, 125, and 133)
- (N.L.W. MSS. 695)
- (B.M. Add. MS. 14906)
- (Mostyn MS 144)