ITHEL DDU (fl. second half of 14th century), poet

He was most probably an Anglesey man - 'of the land of Meilyr,' says Iolo Goch, though Iolo also locates him in Llŷn, and indeed further transports him to Bardsey. Iolo styles him 'a famous poet,' but all that we have to substantiate that claim is a single cywydd, preserved in two copies, Peniarth MS 77 (441) and Peniarth MS 78 (135). It would indeed seem that Ithel was no professional bard, but rather a quasi-squire, a mighty hunter and a boon companion (according to Iolo), and like the rest of his class a patron of bards. It was by his command (says Iolo) that Iolo Goch composed the very scurrilous lampoon, printed by Charles Ashton in his edition of Iolo (no. xl), upon the mother of the poet Gruffydd Gryg - see further the article on Gruffydd. An 'elegy' by Iolo, on Ithel's supposed death on Bardsey - assassinated, so it is hinted, by Gruffydd Gryg - can hardly be regarded as historical evidence; it is pretty clearly a 'leg-pull,' in the same genre as the lampoon mentioned above.

Author

• Emeritus Professor Robert Thomas Jenkins, (1881 - 1969)

Sources

• H. Lewis, Thomas Roberts, Ifor Williams (eds), Cywyddau Iolo Goch ac Eraill, 1350–1450 (Bangor 1925), liv-lvi, 652
• NLW Archives: Peniarth MS 77: Barddoniaeth Lewis Glyn Cothi (441)
• NLW Archives: Peniarth MS 78: Barddoniaeth (135)
• Cymru yn hanesyddol, parthedegol, a bywgraphyddol (1875)
• J. Davies, Antiquæ linguæ Britannicæ et linguæ Latinæ, dictionarium duplex (1632)
• Edward Jones, Musical and poetical relicks of the Welsh bards (London 1784)
• 'Gweirydd ap Rhys,' Hanes Llenyddiaeth Gymreig, 1300–1650 (1885)

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q13129286

Published date: 1959

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