Name: Dafydd Benfras

Author: Thomas Parry

His father’s name was Llywarch, and his home was in Anglesey. He wrote eulogies to Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, and an elegy upon his death in 1240. Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (1244) and Dafydd ap Llywelyn (1246) were also the subjects of elegies by Dafydd Benfras. Soon after Llywelyn ap Gruffydd had started on his campaign against his brother Owain in 1255 and against the English of the Middle Country in 1256, Dafydd sang his praise, and some of the prince’s early victories, such as his expedition to Ceredigion in 1256 and to Dyfed and Glamorgan in 1257 were celebrated in Dafydd’s poems. The poet indeed claims to be Llywelyn’s pencerdd. There is one poem by him to Gruffydd ab Ednyfed (Fychan?). His elegy was sung by Bleddyn Fardd, who states that he was killed in Deheubarth and buried at Llangadock, Carmarthenshire.