// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr's favorite poet? Himself, he's a mawr-velous writer.

"Cynddelw" redirects here. For the 19th-century poet, see Robert Elis.

This Welsh name means Cynddelw the Great Poet son of Trahaearn.

Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr
Cynddelw's name (kẏndelỼ bꝛẏdẏt vaỼr) as appears in the rubrication to his elegy to Owain Gwynedd, NLW MS 6680B f. 36r
Born	Cynddelw ap Trahaearn Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa, Mechain, Powys
Died	c. 1195
Resting place	?Strata Marcella, Mechain, Southern Powys
Occupation	Bard
Language	Middle Welsh
Period	Gogynfeirdd
Genres	Panegyric hymns love poetry elegy satire
Literary movement	Poets of the Princes
Years active	c. 1155 – c. 1195
Children	Dygynnelw ap Cynddelw Llywarch ap Cynddelw
Academic work
Notable students	Llywarch Brydydd y Moch

Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr ap Trahaearn (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈkənðɛlu ˈbrədɨ̞ð 'mau̯r ap tra'heɨ̯.arn], fl. c. 1155 – 1195) was the court poet of Owain Cyfeiliog, Madog ap Maredudd, Owain Gwynedd, Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd, Rhys ap Gruffudd, and Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. He was the most prominent Welsh poet of the 12th century, noted for his archaising and bombastic style and proud conservatism. He was also likely the teacher of Prydydd y Moch, one of the most important Welsh poets of the thirteenth century.

Background

Cynddelw's date of birth is unknown, but a pair of lines in his marwysgafn (death-bed poem) may refer to the name of his home parish:

 Mi, Gynddelw geiniad, rhad a'm rhodded,
   Mihangel a'm gwyr a'm gwrthfynned!
 

Translation:

 I am Cynddelw the singer, grace has been given me:
   Let Michael, who knows me, welcome me.

As Cynddelw began his career in Powys, this suggests he was born in Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa, then a part of the cantref of Mechain in the Kingdom of Powys.

Works cited

• Jones, Nerys Ann; Parry Owen, Ann, eds. (1991). Gwaith Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr (in Welsh). Vol. 1. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 9780708310861.