Dafydd Ddu o Hiraddug
Encyclopedia
Dafydd Ddu o Hiraddug also known as Dafydd Ddu Athro o Hiraddug, was a Welsh language
poet
, grammarian, and cleric in the diocese of Llanelwy (St Asaph
). He was once believed to be the son of a certain Hywel ap Madog of Tremeirchion, but this has now been disproven.
Dafydd composed poems on religious themes; his surviving work includes poems on the Ten Commandments
, Salvation
, and on the ephemeracy of human life and of God’s judgement to come after death. Dafydd is also thought to be the composer of the (Mary's Service), a poetical translation of the Latin "Horae beatae Mariae virginis" (a Book of Hours
) into Welsh.
Dafydd’s greatest fame lies with his revised edition of the or bardic grammar of Einion Offeiriad
.
Dafydd was probably buried in Dyserth
, north Wales
.
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, grammarian, and cleric in the diocese of Llanelwy (St Asaph
St Asaph
St Asaph is a town and community on the River Elwy in Denbighshire, Wales. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 3,491.The town of St Asaph is surrounded by countryside and views of the Vale of Clwyd. It is situated close to a number of busy coastal towns such as Rhyl, Prestatyn, Abergele,...
). He was once believed to be the son of a certain Hywel ap Madog of Tremeirchion, but this has now been disproven.
Dafydd composed poems on religious themes; his surviving work includes poems on the Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
, Salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
, and on the ephemeracy of human life and of God’s judgement to come after death. Dafydd is also thought to be the composer of the (Mary's Service), a poetical translation of the Latin "Horae beatae Mariae virginis" (a Book of Hours
Book of Hours
The book of hours was a devotional book popular in the later Middle Ages. It is the most common type of surviving medieval illuminated manuscript. Like every manuscript, each manuscript book of hours is unique in one way or another, but most contain a similar collection of texts, prayers and...
) into Welsh.
Dafydd’s greatest fame lies with his revised edition of the or bardic grammar of Einion Offeiriad
Einion Offeiriad
Einion Offeiriad was a Welsh language poet and grammarian.Einion lived in Ceredigion, where he was a chaplain to Sir Rhys ap Gruffudd ap Hywel ap Gruffudd ab Ednyfed Fychan, a wealthy nobleman...
.
Dafydd was probably buried in Dyserth
Dyserth
Dyserth is a village in Denbighshire, Wales. Population : 2,566 . Its main features are the extensive quarrying remains, its waterfalls, railway line , and mountain ....
, north Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
External links
- Gwenllian's Poetry Primer: an introduction to the poetic metres of the grammar.