The Crowning of the Bard (Welsh : Coroni'r Bardd) is one of the most important events in a Welsh eisteddfod.
The most famous such ceremony takes place at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and is normally on the Monday afternoon of Eisteddfod week (it was formerly held on the Tuesday). [1]
A new bardic crown is specially designed and made for each eisteddfod and is awarded to the winning entrant in the competition for the Pryddest, poetry written in free verse. [2] [3] According to Jan Morris, "When Welsh poets speak of Free Verse, they mean forms like the sonnet or the ode, which obey the same rules as English poesy. Strict Metres verse still honours the complex rules laid down for correct poetic composition 600 years ago." [4]
There are three judges and these have included past crowned bards, such as Mererid Hopwood and T. James Jones. [5]
The National Eisteddfod crown was first awarded in 1867. [6] The crowning ceremony is presided over by the Archdruid, who invites one of the judges to read the adjudication and judges' comments before announcing the identity of the bard, using only the pen name that the winner has used when submitting the work. Up to this point, no one knows the true identity of the bard, who is asked to stand and is then escorted to the stage and crowned. [7]
Winning the "double" of bardic chair and crown at the same Eisteddfod is a feat that has only been achieved a handful of times in the history of the Eisteddfod.
During the 1912 National Eisteddfod at Wrexham, T.H. Parry-Williams achieved a double victory for the first time. Parry-Williams later recalled returning home to Rhyd-ddu, where had been working as a hired hand on the farm of a relative. Upon telling his employer of his double-victory, Parry-Williams was advised to, "seek grace." When Parry-Williams then informed his employer that both victories had gained him £40, the relative shouted in angry disbelief, "Ac mi gwnest nhw i gyd ar dy din!!!" ('And you earned them all sitting on your arse!!!'). [8]
More recently, both Alan Llwyd and Donald Evans have won a double victory twice.
In August 2018 the winner of the crown was awarded to Cardiff author, Catrin Dafydd, though during the ceremony the archdruid, Geraint Llifon, caused controversy by saying she couldn't have achieved this without men. Llifon later apologised. [9]
| Year | Location | Winner (bardic name) [10] | Subject/title of work |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | Caernarfon | Ellis Roberts (Elis Wyn o Wyrfai) | Buddugoliaeth y Groes |
| 1881 | Merthyr Tydfil | Watkin Wyn | Bywyd |
| 1882 | Denbigh | D R Williams | Y Cadfridog Garfield |
| 1883 | Cardiff | Anne Thomas (Morfudd Eryri) | Llandaf |
| 1884 | Liverpool | J Cadfan Davies (Cadfan) | Madog ab Owain Gwynedd |
| 1885 | Aberdare | Tecwyn Parry | Hywel Dda |
| 1886 | Caernarfon | J Cadfan Davies (Cadfan) | Cystenin Fawr |
| 1887 | London | J Cadfan Davies (Cadfan) | John Penry |
| 1888 | Wrexham | H Elvet Lewis (Elfed) | Y Sabath yng Nghymru |
| 1889 | Brecon | H Elvet Lewis (Elfed) | Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf |
| 1890 | Bangor | J J Roberts (Iolo Caernarfon) | Ardderchog Lu'r Merthyri |
| 1891 | Swansea | David Adams (Hawen) | Oliver Cromwell |
| 1892 | Rhyl | J J Roberts (Iolo Caernarfon) | Dewi Sant |
| 1893 | Pontypridd | Ben Davies | Cymru Fydd |
| 1894 | Caernarfon | Ben Davies | Tennyson |
| 1895 | Llanelli | W L Lewis (Llew Llwyfo) | Ioan y Disgybl Annwyl |
| 1896 | Llandudno | No winner | |
| 1897 | Newport | Thomas Davies (Mafonwy) | Arthur y Ford Gron |
| 1898 | Blaenau Ffestiniog | R Gwylfa Roberts (Gwylfa) | Charles o'r Bala |
| 1899 | Cardiff | R Gwylfa Roberts (Gwylfa) | Y Diddanydd Arall |
| 1900 | Liverpool | J T Job (Job) Williams | Pantycelyn |
| 1901 | Merthyr Tydfil | John Jenkins (Gwili) | Tywysog Tangnefedd |
| 1902 | Bangor | Robert Roberts (Silyn) | Trystan ac Esyllt |
| 1903 | Llanelli | J E Davies (Rhuddwawr) | Y Ficer Prichard |
| 1904 | Rhyl | R M Humphreys (Machno) | Tom Ellis |
| 1905 | Mountain Ash | Thomas Davies (Mafonwy) | Ann Griffiths |
| 1906 | Caernarfon | Hugh Emyr Davies (Emyr) | Branwen Ferch Llyr |
| 1907 | Swansea | John Dyfnallt Owen | Y Greal Sanctaidd |
| 1908 | Llangollen | Hugh Emyr Davies (Emyr) | Owain Glyndwr |
| 1909 | London | W J Gruffydd | Yr Arglwydd Rhys |
| 1910 | Colwyn Bay | William Williams (Crwys) | Ednyfed Fychan |
| 1911 | Carmarthen | William Williams (Crwys) | Gwerin Cymru |
| 1912 | Wrexham | T H Parry-Williams | Gerallt Gymro |
| 1913 | Abergavenny | Wil Ifan | Ieuan Gwynedd |
| 1914 | First World War | No Eisteddfod | |
| 1915 | Bangor | T H Parry-Williams | Y Ddinas |
| 1916 | Aberystwyth | No winner | |
| 1917 | Penbedw | Wil Ifan Pwyll | Pendefig Dyfed |
| 1918 | Neath | Emrys Lewis | Mynachlog Nedd |
| 1919 | Corwen | William Williams (Crwys) | Morgan Llwyd |
| 1920 | Barry | James Evans | Trannoeth y Drin |
| 1921 | Caernarfon | Albert Evans-Jones (Cynan) | Mab y Bwthyn |
| 1922 | Ammanford | R Beynon | Y Tannau Coll |
| 1923 | Mold | Albert Evans-Jones (Cynan) | Yr Ynys Unig |
| 1924 | Pontypool | Prosser Rhys | Atgof |
| 1925 | Pwllheli | Wil Ifan Bro Fy Mebyd | |
| 1926 | Swansea | Dewi Emrys | Casgliad o farddoniaeth wreiddiol |
| 1927 | Holyhead | Caradog Prichard | Y Briodas |
| 1928 | Treorchy | Caradog Prichard | Penyd |
| 1929 | Liverpool | Caradog Prichard | Y Gân Ni Chanwyd |
| 1930 | Llanelli | Gwilym Myrddin | Ben Bowen |
| 1931 | Bangor | Albert Evans-Jones (Cynan) | Y Dyrfa |
| 1932 | Aberafan | Eirug Davies | A Ddioddefw a Orfu |
| 1933 | Wrexham | Simon B Jones | Rownd yr Horn |
| 1934 | Neath | Eirug Davies Y Gorwel | |
| 1935 | Caernarfon | Gwilym R Jones | Ynys Enlli |
| 1936 | Fishguard | David Jones | Yr Anialwch |
| 1937 | Machynlleth | J M Edwards | Y Pentref |
| 1938 | Cardiff | Edgar Thomas | Peniel |
| 1939 | Denbigh | No winner | |
| 1940 | Mountain Ash (radio) | No winner | |
| 1941 | Old Colwyn | J M Edwards | Peiriannau |
| 1942 | Cardigan | Herman Jones | Ebargofiant |
| 1943 | Bangor | Dafydd Owen | Rhosydd Moab |
| 1944 | Llandybie | J M Edwards | Yr Aradr |
| 1945 | Rhos | Griffith John Roberts | Coed Celyddon |
| 1946 | Mountain Ash | Rhydwen Williams | Yr Arloeswr |
| 1947 | Colwyn Bay | Griffith John Roberts | Glyn y Groes |
| 1948 | Bridgend | Euros Bowen | O'r Dwyrain |
| 1949 | Dolgellau | John Eilian | Meirionnydd |
| 1950 | Caerphilly | Euros Bowen | Difodiant |
| 1951 | Llanrwst | T Glyn Davies | Adfeilion |
| 1952 | Aberystwyth | No winner | |
| 1953 | Rhyl | Dilys Cadwaladr | Y Llen |
| 1954 | Ystradgynlais | E Llwyd Williams | Y Bannau |
| 1955 | Pwllheli | W J Gruffydd (Elerydd) | Ffenestri |
| 1956 | Aberdare | No winner | |
| 1957 | Llangefni | Dyfnallt Morgan | Drama Fydryddol Rhwng Dau |
| 1958 | Ebbw Vale | Llewelyn Jones | Cymod |
| 1959 | Caernarfon | Tom Huws | Cadwynau |
| 1960 | Cardiff | W J Gruffydd (Elerydd) | Unigedd |
| 1961 | Rhosllanerchrugog | L Haydn Lewis | Ffoadur |
| 1962 | Llanelli | D Emlyn Lewis | Y Cwmwl |
| 1963 | Llandudno | Tom Parri-Jones | Y Bont |
| 1964 | Swansea | Parch Rhydwen Williams | Ffynhonnau |
| 1965 | Newtown | Tom Parri-Jones | Y Gwybed |
| 1966 | Aberafan | Dafydd Jones | Y Clawdd |
| 1967 | Bala | Eluned Phillips | Corlannau |
| 1968 | Barry | Rev Haydn Lewis | Meini |
| 1969 | Flint | Dafydd Rowlands | I Gwestiynau fy Mab |
| 1970 | Ammanford | Bryan Martyn Davies | Darluniau ar Gynfas |
| 1971 | Bangor | Bryan Martyn Davies | Y Golau Caeth |
| 1972 | Haverfordwest | Rev Dafydd Rowlands | Dadeni |
| 1973 | Ruthin | Alan Llwyd | Y Dref |
| 1974 | Carmarthen | W R P George | Tân |
| 1975 | Criccieth | Elwyn Roberts | Dilyniant o gerdd Pridd |
| 1976 | Cardigan | Alan Llwyd | Dilyniant o benillion Troeon Bywyd |
| 1977 | Wrexham | Donald Evans | Hil |
| 1978 | Cardiff | Sion Eirian | Cerdd hir yn portreadu llencyndod |
| 1979 | Caernarfon | Meirion Evans | Dilyniant o Gerddi Serch neu Siom |
| 1980 | Lliw Valley | Donald Evans | Dilyniant o Gerddi |
| 1981 | Machynlleth | Sion Aled | Wynebau |
| 1982 | Swansea | Eirwyn George | Dilyniant o Gerddi |
| 1983 | Anglesey | Eluned Phillips | Clymau |
| 1984 | Lampeter | John Roderick Rees | Llygaid |
| 1985 | Rhyl | John Roderick Rees | Glannau |
| 1986 | Fishguard | T James Jones | Llwch |
| 1987 | Porthmadog | John Gruffydd Jones | Casgliad o Gerddi |
| 1988 | Newport | T James Jones | Ffin |
| 1989 | Llanrwst | Selwyn Griffith | Dilyniant o Gerddi |
| 1990 | Rhymney Valley | Iwan Llwyd | Gwreichion |
| 1991 | Mold | Einir Jones | Pelydrau |
| 1992 | Aberystwyth | Cyril Jones | Cyfrannu |
| 1993 | Llanelwedd | Eirwyn George | Llynnoedd |
| 1994 | Neath | Gerwyn Williams | Dolenni |
| 1995 | Abergele | Aled Gwyn | Melodïau |
| 1996 | Llandeilo | David John Pritchard | Olwynion |
| 1997 | Bala | Cen Williams | Branwen |
| 1998 | Bridgend | Emyr Lewis | Rhyddid |
| 1999 | Anglesey | Ifor ap Glyn | Golau yn y Gwyll |
| 2000 | Llanelli | Dylan Iorwerth | Tywod |
| 2001 | Denbigh | Penri Roberts | Muriau |
| 2002 | St David's | Aled Jones Williams | Awelon |
| 2003 | Meifod | Mererid Hopwood | Gwreiddiau |
| 2004 | Newport | Jason Walford Davies | Egni |
| 2005 | Snowdonia | Christine James | Llinellau Lliw |
| 2006 | Swansea | Eigra Lewis Roberts | Fflam |
| 2007 | Flintshire | Tudur Dylan Jones | Copaon |
| 2008 | Cardiff | Hywel Meilyr Griffiths | Stryd Pleser |
| 2009 | Meirion | Ceri Wyn Jones | Yn y Gwaed |
| 2010 | Blaenau Gwent and heads of the valleys | Glenys Mair Glyn Roberts | Newid |
| 2011 | Wrexham | Geraint Lloyd Owen | Gwythiennau |
| 2012 | Vale of Glamorgan | Gwyneth Lewis | Ynys |
| 2013 | Denbighshire | Ifor ap Glyn | Terfysg |
| 2014 | Carmarthenshire | Guto Dafydd | Tyfu |
| 2015 | Montgomery and borderlands | Manon Rhys | Breuddwyd |
| 2016 | Monmouthshire and district | Elinor Gwynn (Carreg Lefn) [11] | Llwybrau |
| 2017 | Anglesey | Gwion Hallam | Trwy'r Drych |
| 2018 | Cardiff | Catrin Dafydd (Yma) | Olion |
| 2019 | Llanrwst | Guto Dafydd | Cilfachau |
| 2020 | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic | No Eisteddfod | |
| 2021 | "Eisteddfod AmGen" | Dyfan Lewis | Ar Wahân |
| 2022 | Tregaron | Esyllt Maelor—Gwres [12] | |
| 2023 | Boduan | Rhys Iorwerth (Gregor) [13] | |
| 2024 | Rhondda Cynon Taf | Gwynfor Dafydd (Samsa) [14] | |
| 2025 | Wrexham | Owain Rhys (Llif 2) [15] |