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Cymeriadau Anhygoel Eryri Amazing Characters of Snowdonia
Cymeriadau Anhygoel Eryri - cynnwys Amazing Characters of Snowdonia - content Crefydd / Religion St.Beuno 1 Y Sistersiaid / The Cistercians 1 Urdd Marchogion St.Ioan / Order of the Knights of St.John 2 William Morgan 2 St. John Roberts 3 Rhys Evans 3 Rowland Ellis 4 Cadwalader Evans 4 Thomas Charles 5 Mari Jones 5 Lewis Edwards 6 Mary Evans (Mari r Fantell Wen) 6 Gwleidyddiaeth / Politics Y Rhufeiniaid / The Romans 7 Maredudd ap Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd 7 Llywelyn ap Iorwerth 8 Gwenllïan 8 Llywelyn ap Gruffudd 9 Owain Glyndŵ r 10 Siwan 10 Rhys ap Meredydd 11 Lowri ap Meredydd 11 Robert ap Rhys 12 Elis ap Rhys 12 Gwylliaid Cochion Mawddwy 13 Rowland Fychan 13 John Jones 14 Thomas Edward Ellis 14 Diwylliant / Culture Lleucu Llwyd 15 Tudur Penllyn 15 Edmwnd Prys 16 Thomas Wiliems 16 Thomas Prys 17 Dr John Davies 17 Siôn Dafydd 18 Ellis Wynne 19 Kyffin Williams 19 Siôn Dafydd Las 20 Margaret Davies 20 Henry Owen 20 Elizabeth Baker 21 Joseph Mallord William Turner 21 Evan Evans (Ieuan Glan Geirionydd) 21 Michael D.Jones 22 Richard Griffith (Carneddog) 22 Syr / Sir Owen Morgan Edwards 23 Angharad James 23 Robert Roberts (Bob Tai r Felin) 24 T.Osborne Roberts 24 Humphrey Jones 24 Robert Owen (Bob Owen Croesor) 25 Ellis Humphrey Evans (Hedd Wyn) 25 Morris Davies (Moi Plas) 26 Syr / Sir T.H.Parry-Williams 26 Kate Roberts 27 Syr / Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards 27 Meirion Williams 28 Caradog Prichard 28 Richie Thomas 29 Marion Eames 29 Gwyn Thomas 29 Sarah Jones 30 Merched y Wawr 30 Tirwedd a Natur / Nature and Landscape Edward Lhuyd 31 Thomas Pennant 31 William Williams (Will Boots) 32 Charles Darwin 32 John Menlove Edwards 33 Eric Jones 33 Llên Gwerin / Folklore Branwen ferch Llŷ r 34 Bendigeidfran fab Llŷ r 35 Blodeuwedd 35 Lleu Llaw Gyffes 36 Idris Gawr 36 Ceridwen 37 Rhita Gawr 37 Tegid Foel 38 Brenin Arthur 38 Seithennyn 39 Gelert 39 Canthrig Bwt 39 Elen Lhuydog 40 Tylwyth Tanddaearol 40 Tylwyth Teg 41 Cymeriadau / Characters Marged ferch Ifan 42 Mary Owen 42 Dorti 43 Siwsi Felen 43 Teulu Wood 44 Mary Lewis 44 Annie Ellis 45 Richard Vaughan 45 Dafydd Cadwaladr 46 Betsi Cadwaladr 46 R.Festyn Davies 47 Siân Owen 47 Thomas Francis Roberts 48 Merched Blaenau Ffestiniog / Blaenau Ffestiniog Ladies 48 Orig Williams 48 Pensaernïaeth a Pheirianeg / Architecture and Engineering James o St.George 49 Thomas Telford 49 Syr / Sir Clough Williams-Ellis 50 Cydnabyddiaethau / Acknowledgements 51
Cymeriadau Anhygoel Eryri Amazing Characters of Snowdonia Crefydd Religion St.Beuno - Llanycil Sant / Saint m. / d.?642 Ychydig iawn y gwyddom am Feuno Sant, ond mae ei enw yn lled-gysylltiedig â nifer o eglwysi yng ngogledd orllewin Cymru, gan gynnwys Eglwys Beuno Sant, Llanycil. Mae n debyg fod Beuno yn byw yn ystod y G6-7, ac yn ôl Buchedd Beuno yn Llyfr Ancr Llanddewibrefi, roedd o n ddyn dawnus iawn: yn ôl y sôn gallai adfer pennau pobl â ddienyddiwyd! Maen nhw hefyd yn dweud mai Beuno oedd y cyntaf o r Cymry i glywed yr iaith Saesneg yn cael ei siarad, sef profiad mor ddychrynllyd nes iddo ffoi o i gartref ar lannau r afon Hafren, yr holl ffordd i Wynedd. Ymddengys mai Clynnog yng Ngwynedd oedd cartref olaf Beuno, ac yno y bu farw ar Ebrill 21ain y dyddiad y cynhelir Gŵ yl Beuno byth er hynny. Very little is known of Saint Beuno, but his name is widely associated with several churches in north west Wales, including St.Beuno s Church, Llanycil. Beuno apparently lived during the C6-7, and according to Buchedd Beuno ( Beuno s Life ) in Llyfr Ancr Llanddewibrefi, he was a very talented man: it is said that he could restore the heads of executed people! They also say that Beuno was the first Welsh person to hear the English language being spoken such a horrifying experience that he ran away from his home on the shores of the river Severn all the way to Gwynedd. Clynnog, in Gwynedd is said to have been the final home of Beuno, and he died there on April 21st the day which is now annually commemorated as Beuno s Saint Day. 01 Y Sistersiaid / The Cistercians - Llanelltyd Urdd Fynachaidd / Order of Monks G12 / C12 Urdd Fynachaidd Ffrengig oedd y Sistersiaid, a sefydlwyd yn ardal Bwrgwyn yn y G11. Bu ganddynt bresenoldeb amlwg yng Nghymru, ar ffurf 13 mynachlog, gan gynnwys Abaty Cymer yn Llanelltyd, a sefydlwyd yn 1198-99. Yn draddodiadol, cefnogai r Sistersiaid achos y Tywysogion Cymreig, a chyfranasant at ddiwylliant Gymreig trwy gopïo trawsysgrifau a chroesawu beirdd i r mynachlogydd. Gwnaethant hefyd gyfraniad economaidd trwy r diwydiant wlân a buont yn ddolen hollbwysig rhwng Cymru ac Ewrop. Daeth y traddodiad Sistersaidd yng Nghymru i ben yn ystod yr 1530au, pan basiwyd Deddfau Diddymu r Mynachlogydd gan Harri VIII. The Cistercians were a French order of Monks, established in the Burgundy region in the C11. They had a sizeable presence in Wales in the form of 13 abbeys, including Cymer Abbey in Llanelltyd, established in 1198-99. Traditionally, the Cistercians supported the campaigns of the Welsh Princes, and made a valid contribution to Welsh culture by transcribing various original works and welcoming poets into the abbeys. The Cistercians were also an economically active order, trading wool and they were an important link between Wales and Europe. The Cistercian tradition in Wales came to an end in the 1530s, when the Dissolution of the Monasteries Act was passed by King Henry VIII.
Urdd Marchogion St.Ioan Order of the Knights of St.John Ysbyty Ifan Urdd Fynachaidd / Order of Monks G13 / C13 Sefydlwyd Urdd Marchogion Sant Ioan o Gaersalem yn sgîl Rhyfel Cyntaf y Groes yn c.1099 yng Nghaersalem. Sefydlodd yr urdd eu hosbis, neu lety, cyntaf yn Slebech, Sir Benfro yng nghanol y G12, a chyn diwedd y ganrif, roedden nhw wedi cyrraedd Dôl Gynwal (Ysbyty Ifan heddiw). Yn 1222, rhoddodd Llywelyn ap Iorwerth ganiatâd i r urdd sefydlu hosbis yn Nôl Gynwal, er mwyn cynorthwyo r tlodion. Fandaleiddiwyd yr hosbis yn y G13 gan fyddin Edward I yn ystod ei ymgyrch yn erbyn Tywysogion Gwynedd a thalwyd iawndal o 95 i r Urdd. Erbyn 1291 cafodd yr Urdd ei esgusodi rhag talu trethi, mewn cydnabyddiaeth o i waith da. Yn 1400, targedwyd yr hosbis gan drais unwaith eto, yn ystod Gwrthryfel Glyndŵ r y tro hwn, ac yn fuan wedyn, dirywiodd gyfraith a threfn lleol a daeth yr ardal yn enwog fel lloches i droseddwyr. Serch hynny, roedd gan yr hosbis enw da am ei groeso a i letygarwch, a dathlodd nifer o feirdd, gan gynnwys Dafydd Nanmor, yr hosbis yn eu cerddi. The Order of the Knights of St John was established in Jerusalem, at the end of the first Crusade, in 1099. The Order established their first hospice, or shelter, in Slebech, Pembrokeshire in the mid C12, and before the end of the century, the order had arrived in Dôl Gynwal (now known as Ysbyty Ifan). In 1222, Llywelyn ap Iorwerth s charter gave permission for the order to establish a hospice in Dôl Gynwal, to aid the poor. The hospice was vandalised in the C13 by Edward I s army during the campaign against the Princes of Gwynedd and the Order was paid compensation of 95. By 1291, the hospice was excused from paying taxes, in recognition of its good work. In 1400, the hospice was the target of violence once again, this time during the Glyndŵ r Rebellion, and soon after, local law and order broke down, with the area becoming infamous as a safe haven for criminals. The hospice was, however, well known for its warm welcome and hospitality, and several poets, including Dafydd Nanmor composed poems celebrating it. William Morgan - Penmachno Esgob a Chyfieithydd / Bishop and Translator c.1545-1604 Ganwyd William Morgan yn Nhŷ Mawr Wybrnant, Penmachno i deulu o is-foneddigion. Bu n fyfyriwr yng Ngholeg Sant Ioan, Caergrawnt ac yna n glerigwr yn Llanbadarn Fawr, Y Trallwng, Dinbych, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Llanarmon, Llanfyllin a Phennant Melangell. Fe i apwyntiwyd yn Esgob Llandaf yn 1595 ac yn Esgob Llanelwy yn 1601. Awgrymir iddo ddechrau ar waith cyfieithu r Beibl i r Gymraeg tra n fyfyriwr yng Nghaergrawnt ond ni gwblhawyd y gwaith nes ei gyfnod yn Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant (1578-c.95). Cyhoeddwyd y Beibl Cymraeg am y tro cyntaf yn Llundain yn 1588, a chyflwynodd Morgan gopi o r Beibl i Frenhines Elisabeth I. Nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth o bwysigrwydd y gwaith hwn i oroesiad yr iaith Gymraeg fel iaith dysg, i arddull llenyddiaeth Gymraeg fodern nac ychwaith i r broses o wreiddio Protestaniaeth yng Nghymru. Yn 1588, hefyd, cyhoeddwyd Llyfr y Salmau gan William Morgan. William Morgan was born in T ŷ Mawr Wybrnant, Penmachno to a family of the lower-gentry. He became a student at St.John s College, Cambridge and then a cleric at Llanbadarn Fawr, Welshpool, Denbigh, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Llanarmon, Llanfyllin and Pennant Melangell. He was appointed Bishop of Llandaf in 1595 and Bishop of St.Asaph in 1601. It is suggested that he began translating the Bible into Welsh as a student in Cambridge, but the work wasn t completed until his time at Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant (1578-c.95). The Welsh Bible was published for the first time in London in 1588 and Morgan presented a copy to Queen Elizabeth I. There is no doubt of the importance of this work to the survival of the Welsh language as a language of learning, to the style of modern Welsh literature, nor to the process of rooting Protestantism in Wales. 02
St.John Roberts - Trawsfynydd Merthyr / Martyr 1575/6-1610 Ganed John Roberts yn Rhiw Goch Trawsfynydd a chafodd ei fagu yn y ffydd Brotestannaidd newydd. Bu n fyfyriwr yng Ngholeg Iesu, Rhydychen ac yn dilyn hynny, teithiodd i Ewrop. Yn ystod ei gyfnod ym Mharis, cafodd droedigaeth Babyddol, ac yn fuan wedi hynny, ymunodd ag urdd fynachaidd y Benedictiaid, gan gymryd yr enw Fray Juan de Mevinia ( Y Brawd John o Feirionnydd ). Yn 1602, aeth ar genhadaeth i Loegr, fel y mynach cyntaf i gyrraedd tiroedd Seisnig ers Deddfau Diddymu r Mynachlogydd a basiwyd gan Harri VIII yn y 1530au. Aeth i drafferth sawl gwaith gyda r awdurdodau a chafodd ei alltudio ar bob achlysur, ond dychwelyd unwaith eto y gwnaeth John Roberts, ac ar yr achlysur hwnnw, cafodd ei ddarganfod yn euog o uchel fradwriaeth. Cafodd ei ddedfrydu i farwolaeth trwy ei grogi, ei ddiberfeddu a i chwarteru yn Nhyburn, Llundain ar y 10fed o Ragfyr, 1610. Canoneiddiwyd John Roberts yn 1970. John Roberts was born at Rhiw Goch, Trawsfynydd and was brought up in the new Protestant faith. He studied at Jesus College, Oxford and then travelled through Europe. During his time in Paris, he experienced a Catholic conversion, and soon joined the order of the Benedictian monks, taking the name Fray Juan de Mevinia ( Brother John of Meirionnydd). In 1602, he went on a mission to England, as the first monk to reach English soil since the Dissolution of the Monasteries Act, passed by Henry VIII in the 1530s. He was caught several times by the authorities, and was exiled on each occasion, but he returned once more and on this occasion he was found guilty of high treason. John Roberts was sentenced to death by being hung, drawn and quartered in Tyburn, London ond December 10th, 1610. He was canonized in 1970. Rhys Evans - Llangelynnin Proffwyd / Prophet 1607-60 Roedd Rhys Evans yn dipyn o gymeriad, ac yn ystyried ei hun yn broffwyd, ers pan fu n profi gweledigaethau tra n bwrw ei brentisiaeth gyda theiliwr yn Wrecsam. Dechreuodd alw ei hun yn Arise a symudodd i Lundain. Gwnaeth ei hun yn destun sbort wrth geisio proffwydo i r union ddyddiad pryd cai r Frenhiniaeth ei hadfer. Yn ddigon rhyfedd, bu fyw i weld adferiad y Frenhiniaeth a dywedir fod cyffyrddiad Brenin Siarl II wedi bod yn ddigon i wella tyfiant rhyfedd ar drwyn Evans. Rhys Evans was quite a character, and considered himself to be a prophet, ever since he experienced visions during his time as a tailor s apprentice in Wrexham. He began to call himself Arise and moved to London. He made a mockery of himself by attempting to foretell the exact date the Monarchy would be restored following the English Civil War. Strangely, he lived to the the restoration of the Monarchy and it is alleged that the touch of King Charles II had been enough to cure a strange growth on Evans nose. 03
Rowland Ellis, Brynmawr - Dolgellau Crynwr / Quaker 1650-1731 Roedd Rowland Ellis, un o foneddigion Sir Feirionnydd, yn byw ym Mryn Mawr, ger Dolgellau. Yn 1672, ymunodd â Chymdeithas Grefyddol y Cyfeillion (Y Crynwyr) ar ôl profi troedigaeth wrth wrando ar bregeth gan George Fox. Cafodd nifer o Grynwyr eu herlid o Gymru, am beidio tyngu llw i Frenin Siarl II, gan y credasant fod tyngu unrhyw lw yn groes i ddysg Crist. Bu Ellis yn un o r cannoedd o Grynwyr a adawodd Gymru am Unol Daleithiau America yn 1686, ac ymunodd â threfedigaeth William Penn (Pensylfania), lle ddaeth yn ffigwr amlwg yn y gymuned. Does dim amheuaeth fod Ellis yn ŵ r diwylliedig tu hwnt, a chyfieithodd i r Saesneg, lyfr Ellis Pugh, Annerch i r Cymry dan y teitl A Salutation to the Britains (1727). Y llyfr hwn oedd y llyfr Cymraeg cyntaf i gael ei argraffu yn U.D.A. Rowland Ellis was a member of the Meironnydd gentry and lived in Bryn Mawr near Dolgellau. In 1672, he joined the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) having experienced a religious conversion while listening to a sermon by George Fox. Many Quakers were persecuted in Wales, as they refused to take an oath in the name of King Charles II, believing that taking any kind of oath was contrary to the teachings of Christ. Ellis emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1686 and joined William Penn s settlement (Pennsylvania), becoming a prominent member of the community. It is obvious that Ellis was a very cultured man and translated several Welsh works into the English language, such as Annerch i r Cymru by Ellis Pugh (A Salutation to the Britains, 1727) the first Welsh book to be published in the U.S.A. Cadwalader Evans - Frongoch Crynwr / Quaker 1664-1745 Fel Crynwr Cymreig, allfudodd Cadwaladr Evans o Frongoch ger Y Bala i r drefedigaeth Gymreig yn nhalaith Pennsylvania, Unol Daleithiau America. Daeth Evans yn weinidog gyda r Crynwyr, a bu farw ym Mhennsylvania yn 1745. Etifeddiaeth enwocaf Evans, oedd fod un o r enwocaf o Arlywyddion Rhyddfrydol yr Unol Daleithiau, Abraham Lincoln yn or-orŵ yr iddo. As a Welsh Quaker, Cadwalader Evans emigrated from Frongoch to the Welsh settlement in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Evans became a Quaker minister and died in Pennsylvania in 1745. Evans most notable legacy was probably the fact that Abraham Lincoln, President of U.S.A., was his great great grandson. 04
Thomas Charles - Y Bala Gweinidog Methodistaidd / Methodist Minister 1755-1814 Brodor o Sir Gaerfyrddin oedd Thomas Charles ond bellach, caiff ei led adnabod fel Thomas Charles o r Bala. Fel myfyriwr yn Academi Caerfyrddin yn 1773, profodd Charles droedigaeth, wrth wrando ar yr arweinydd Methodistaidd, Daniel Rowland, yn pregethu. Graddiodd o Goleg yr Iesu, Rhydychen a daeth yn ddiacon yn y ddinas yn 1778. Erbyn 1783, roedd yn briod â Sally Jones, merch o r Bala, a bu n pregethu mewn sawl eglwys yn esgobaeth Llanelwy ac yng nghyffiniau r Bala. Yn fuan iawn, gwrthodwyd ei wasanaeth, gan y tybiwyd ei fod yn rhy Fethodistaidd. Yn 1784, ymunodd Charles â r Methodistiaid a gweithiodd yn ddi-flino tros yr achos hwnnw, gan barhau â gwaith da Griffith Jones a r Ysgolion Cylchynol trwy ddarparu hyfforddiant i athrawon a Charles fu hefyd yn gyfrifol am le blaenllaw yr Ysgol Sul mewn Methodistiaeth. Yn ogystal â chyhoeddi nifer o weithiau crefyddol ei hun, llwyddodd Thomas Charles i berswadio r Gymdeithas er Taenu Gwybodaeth Gristnogol i gyhoeddi Beiblau Cymraeg yn ehangach. Bu n un o hoelion wyth sefydlu Cymdeithas y Beibl, digwyddiad a gafodd ei ysbrydoli, yn ôl pob tebyg, gan daith arwyddocaol Mari Jones o Lanfihangel y Pennant i r Bala, i brynu Beibl gan Thomas Charles, dim ond iddi gyrraedd yn rhy hwyr, pan oedd pob Beibl wedi i werthu. Thomas Charles was a native of Cardiganshire, but he is now widely known as Thomas Charles of Bala. As a student at Carmarthen Academy in 1773, Charles experienced a religious conversion, while listening to the Methodist leader, Daniel Rowland preaching. Charles graduated from Jesus College, Oxford and became a deacon in the city in 1778. By 1783, he was married to Sally Jones of Bala, and preached in several churches in the Diocese of St Asaph and the Bala area, although his services were soon refused as they were thought to be too Methodist. In 1784, Charles joined the Methodist movement and made a substantial contribution to their cause, by continuing with the good work of Griffith Jones and the Circulating Schools, by training teachers and Charles was also responsible for the prominence of Sunday Schools within the Methodist movement. As well as publishing several religious works of his own, Thomas Charles managed to persuade the Religious Tract Society to publish Welsh Bibles more widely. He was also one of the founders of the Bible Society, which is said to have been inspired by Mary Jones journey from Llanfihangel y Pennant to Bala, to buy a Bible from Thomas Charles, only for the last Bible to have already been sold. Mari Jones - Llanfihangel y Pennant Arwres werin / Folk heroine 1784-1864 Ganwyd Mari Jones i deulu tlawd yn Llanfihangel y Pennant. Erbyn iddi gyrraedd ei 16 mlwydd oed yn 1800, roedd Mari wedi cynilo digon o arian i brynu copi o r Beibl, a theithiodd yn droednoeth o Lanfihangel y Pennant i r Bala er mwyn prynu copi gan y gweinidog Methodistaidd, Thomas Charles. Dyna daith hir o oddeutu 18 milltir, tros fynyddoedd a chreigiau, ond fe i siomwyd wedi iddi gyrraedd y Bala - doedd gan Thomas Charles ddim Beibl ar ôl i w roi i Mari ac roedd Beibl yn beth prin iawn yr adeg honno. Cafodd Mari ei Beibl yn y diwedd, ac ysbrydoliwyd Thomas Charles gan daith Mari, i sefydlu Cymdeithas y Beibl yn 1804. Mae hanes Mari Jones yn fyd-enwog bellach, ac mae wedi i gyfieithu i 40 o ieithoedd. Mari Jones was born to a poor family in Llanfihangel y Pennant and as a 16 year old girl in 1800, she had saved enough money to buy a copy of the Bible. She walked barefooted from Llanfihangel y Pennant to Bala, to buy a copy from the Methodist preacher, Thomas Charles. This was a long journey of around 18 miles, over mountains and rocks, but Mari was bitterly disappointed when she reached Bala, since Thomas Charles didn t have a spare copy to give her, and copies of the Bible were very rare at this time. Mari eventually got her Bible and Thomas Charles was inspired by Mari s journey, to establish the Bible Society in 1804. The tale of Mary Jones journey is now known world wide and has been translated into 40 languages. 05
Lewis Edwards - Y Bala Prifathro Coleg y Bala / Principal of Coleg y Bala 1809-1887 Brodor o Sir Aberteifi oedd Lewis Edwards, a fudodd i ardal Y Bala yn sgîl ei briodas â Jane Charles, wyres Thomas Charles yn 1836. Yn 1837, agorodd Edwards a i frawd yng nghyfraith, David Charles, ysgol newydd yn Y Bala, a ddaeth ymhen amser yn goleg ar gyfer hyfforddi pregethwyr y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd. Bu r coleg hwn yn destament i flaengaredd Lewis Edwards a i ddawn aruthrol i agor meddyliau r Cymry a r Methodistiaid i syniadau newydd, ac yn ôl pob tebyg, ei waith arbennig yng Ngholeg y Bala berswadiodd y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd fod gweinidogion dysgiedig yn ased. Yn ogystal â phregethu ei hun, cyfranodd Edwards i gylchgronnau a chyfnodolion mwyaf ei ddydd, trwy eu golygu a u cyhoeddi, megis Yr Esboniwr, Geiniogwerth, ac Y Traethodydd. Bu hefyd yn ysgrifennu llyfrau a thraethodau ac yn cyfieithu emynau di-rif, a fu n ffactorau pwysig yn yr ymdrech i agor meddyliau Methodistaidd i syniadau newydd ym meysydd gwyddoniaeth a llên. Bu farw Lewis Edwards yn 1887 a chafodd ei gladdu ym mynwent Llanycil. Lewis Edwards was a native of Cardiganshire and moved to Bala on the occasion of his marriage to Jane Charles, Thomas Charles granddaughter in 1836. In 1837, Edwards and his brother in law, David Charles, opened a new school in Bala, which soon became a training centre for Methodist preachers. This college was testament to Lewis Edwards prominence and his ability to open the minds of the Welsh people and Methodists to new ideas, and it appears that Edwards work at Coleg y Bala persuaded the Calvinistic Methodists that trained, educated preachers were an asset. As well has preaching, Edwards contributed to the most respected magazines and periodicals of his day, by editing and publishing them, e.g. Yr Esboniwr, Geiniogwerth and Y Traethodydd. He also wrote books and essays and translated an endless list of hymns which were important factors in the attempt to open the minds of Methodists to new scientific and literary ideas. Lewis Edwards died in 1887 and is buried in Llanycil. Mary Evans (Mari r Fantell Wen) - Ffestiniog Arweinydd sect / Sect leader 1735-1789 Mae n debyg mai brodor o Ynys Môn oedd Mary Evans a symudodd i ardal Maentwrog yn tua 1780. Gadawodd ei gŵ r ym Môn a dechreuodd ganlyn dyn arall ym Meirionnydd, er iddi ddweud ei bod wedi dyweddïo gyda Iesu Grist. Yn wir, cynhaliodd orymdaith, seremoni a neithior priodas rhyngddi hi a r Iesu, yn ogystal â chynnal defodau ar fryniau ardal Ffestiniog ar ddydd Sul, pan fyddai hi a i dilynwyr yn gwisgo mentyll gwynion. Bu gan Fari ddilyniant yn Ffestiniog, Penmachno a Harlech, a dywedir eu bod yn bobl ofergoelus ond diniwed iawn. Honai Mari na fyddai hi fyth yn marw ac felly ni chladdwyd ei chorff am sbel hir ar ôl ei marwolaeth. Daeth y sect i ben yn fuan wedi marwolaeth Mari. It seems that Mary Evans was a native of Anglesey, who moved to the Maentwrog area in c.1780. She left her husband in Anglesey and began courting with another man in Meirionnydd, even though she alleged to be engaged to Jesus Christ. Indeed, she held a wedding procession, ceremony and feast between herself and Jesus, as well as conducting weekly ceremonies on the hills above Ffestiniog, when she and her followers would wear white cloaks. Mari had a faithful following in Ffestiniog, Penmachno and Harlech, and it is said that they were superstitious, but otherwise innocent people. Mary claimed that she would never die, and therefore her body wasn t buried for quite a while following her death. The sect came to an end following the death of its charismatic leader. 06
Cymeriadau Anhygoel Eryri Amazing Characters of Snowdonia Gwleidyddiaeth Politics Y Rhufeiniaid / The Romans Ymerawdwyr / Emperors Daeth y Rhufeiniaid i Brydain yn nhua r flwyddyn 43 ôl-crist, gan ddechrau ehangu i Gymru yn 47 ôl-crist ac yma y buont am bron i bedair canrif wedi hynny. Bu dylanwad y Rhufeiniaid ar ddiwylliant a chymdeithas yng Nghymru yn aruthrol, e.e. cyflwynasant yr arfer o ysgrifennu, a gymrodd le y traddodiad llafar yng Nghymru (sef y rheswm pam y cyfeiria haneswyr at y cyfnod cyn-rufeinig fel y Cyfnod Cyn-hanes ). Cyflwynodd y Rhufeiniaid eiriau Lladin i r eirfa Frythoneg, ac mae nifer ohonynt yn parhau yn rhan o r iaith Gymraeg fodern, fel pont (Lladin pons ). Lladin, hefyd oedd iaith yr Eglwys a dysg yng Nghymru am ganrifoedd wedi ymadawiad y Rhufeiniaid o Ynys Prydain ac yn fwy arwyddocaol na dim arall, llwyddasant i uno Prydain (ar wahân i ogledd yr Alban) dan un arweinyddiaeth. The Romans arrived in Britain in c.43ad, began expanding their empire to Wales in c.47ad and stayed here for almost four centuries. The Romans greatly influenced Welsh culture and society,e.g. by introducing the written word, which took the place of the Welsh oral tradition (which is why historians refer to the pre-roman period as Pre-Historic ). The Romans introduced Latin and French words into Brythonic vocabulary, many of which remain a part of the modern Welsh language. e.g. Pont (English: bridge, Latin: pons). Latin was also the language of the Church and learning in Wales for centuries following the departure of the Romans from the British Isles and they also, significantly, succeeded to unite the whole of Britain (apart from northern Scotland) under one leadership. Maredudd ap Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd Un o sylfaenwyr Abaty Cymer, Llanelltyd One of the founders of Cymer Abber, Llanelltyd m.1212 Cefnder Llywelyn Fawr a brawd Gruffudd ap Cynan. Bu Maredudd a i frodyr yn rhan allweddol o fuddugoliaethau cynnar Llywelyn Fawr, ond oherwydd cyhuddiadau o fradwriaeth, tynnwyd llawer o diroedd Maredudd oddi wrtho. Maredudd ap Cynan oedd un o sefydlwyr Abaty Sistersaidd Cymer yn Llanelltyd, sef sefydliad a gyfranodd yn helaeth i dreftadaeth ddiwylliannol ac economaidd Eryri a Chymru. Maredudd was a cousin to Llywelyn ab Iorwerth and brother to Gruffudd ap Cynan. Maredudd and his brothers were key parts of Llywelyn ap Iorwerth s early successes, but due to accusations of treason, many of Maredudd s lands were taken away from him. Maredudd ap Cynan was one of the founders of Cymer Abbey in Llanelltyd, an institution which made a substantial contribution to the cultural heritage of Snowdonia and Wales. 07
Llywelyn ap Iorwerth - Abergwyngregyn Tywysog Gwynedd / Prince of Gwynedd 1173-1240 Mab Iorwerth Drwyndwn ac ŵ y r Owain Gwynedd oedd Llywelyn ap Iorwerth. Erbyn 1201, llwyddodd Llywelyn i sicrhau holl diroedd Gwynedd i w dywysogaeth a thua 1205, priododd â Siwan, merch anghyfreithlon Brenin John o Loegr, a ganwyd iddynt 5 o blant. Roedd Llywelyn eisoes yn dad i o leiaf dau o blant (yn cynnwys Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, tad Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Ein Llyw Olaf) a aned iddo fo a r Gymraes, Tangwystl. Yn ôl Cyfraith Hywel Dda, sef Cyfraith Cymru a ddiddymiwyd yn 1536, Gruffudd ap Llywelyn oedd etifedd Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, yn hytrach na Dafydd, mab Siwan. Erbyn yr 1210au, roedd y berthynas rhwng Llywelyn a Brenin Lloegr yn suro, a bu n rhaid i Llywelyn ildio rhai o i diroedd, er iddo lwyddo i w hadenill ac ehangu ei dywysogaeth erbyn 1215. Roedd sicrhau Dafydd fel etifedd i w Dywysogaeth ar flaen meddwl Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, ac yn 1220, llwyddodd i sicrhau cydnabyddiaeth Coron Lloegr mai Dafydd oedd ei etifedd. Dilyniwyd hynny yn 1222 a 1226 gan gydnabyddiaeth y Pab a r arglwyddi Cymreig. Yn 1230, crogwyd Gwilym Brewys, un o arglwyddi r Mers, gan Llywelyn, am iddo gael perthynas gyda Siwan ei wraig, tra bu n garcharor i Llywelyn a charcharwyd Siwan am flwyddyn am ei sarhad. Yn y cyfnod hwn daeth Llywelyn yn Dywysog Aberffraw ac Arglwydd Eryri. Amcan Llywelyn oedd creu Tywysogaeth Gymreig, unedig, gyda chefnogaeth arweinwyr ac arglwyddi Cymreig ac Eingl-Normanaidd y Mers. I r perwyl hwnnw y creodd gynghreiriaeth â nhw trwy briodi ei blant â phlant Arglwydd r Mers, ond gresyn i w holl gynlluniau ar gyfer Tywysogaeth Gymreig unedig ddwyn ffrwyth wedi marwolaeth Llywelyn yn 1240. Claddwyd Llywelyn yn Abaty Aberconwy. Llywelyn ap Iorwerth was son of Iorwerth Drwyndwn and grandson of Owain Gwynedd. By 1201, Llywelyn had secured all of Gwynedd to his Principality and in c.1205, he married Siwan, daughter of King John of England. Five children were born to Llywelyn and Siwan, although Llywelyn had already fathered at least two children with the Welshwoman, Tangwystl (including Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, father of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, Our Last Heir). According to the laws of Hywel Dda, the Welsh Laws which were abolished in 1536, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn was heir to Llywelyn s principality, rather than Dafydd, son of Siwan. By the 1210s, the relationship between Llywelyn ap Iorwerth and the King of England became increasingly strained and Llywelyn was forced to give up some of his lands, although he managed to regain the lands and to expand his principality by 1215. Ensuring Dafydd as his heir was at the fore of Llywelyn s political mind and in 1220, he managed to persuade the English Crown to recognise Dafydd as his heir. This was followed in 1222 and 1226, by recognition from the Pope and the Welsh lords. In 1230, William de Breose, one of the lords of the Marshes, was hanged by Llywelyn, as he d been having an affair with Siwan, Llywelyn s wife, while he was a prisoner in Llywelyn s court. Siwan was also imprisoned for a year for her betrayal. It was during this period that Llywelyn became Prince of Aberffraw and Lord of Snowdonia. Llywelyn s aim was to create a united Welsh Principality, with the support of the Welsh and Anglo-Norman leaders and lords of the Marshes. It was to this end that he created allegiances with them, by arranging marriages between their children and his own, although it was a great shame that Llywelyn s plans for this Welsh Principality didn t bear fruit until after his death in 1240. Llywelyn was buried at Aberconwy Abbey. Gwenllïan - Abergwyngregyn Tywysoges / Princess 1282-1337 Gwenllïan Ferch Llywelyn Fu n gaeth rhwng muriau r gelyn Yn Sempringham; er mwyn i dras o urddas ddod i w therfyn - Tegeirian y Waun, Eisteddfod Abertawe Ganwyd Gwenllïan yn ferch i Llywelyn ap Gruffudd ac Eleanor de Montford yn llys Garth Celyn Abergwyngregyn. Bu farw Eleanor ar enedigaeth Gwenllïan, a chyn iddi gyrraedd ei blwydd oed, roedd Llywelyn hefyd wedi marw. Yn sgil hynny, gyrrodd Edward I, Gwenllïan i gael ei magu ym mhriordy Sempringham, lle y treuliodd weddill ei hoes fel lleian, heb syniad yn y byd pwy oedd hi. Gwenllïan was daughter of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd and his wife, Eleanor de Montford and was born at court in Abergwyngregyn. Her mother died while giving birth to Gwenllïan, and before she had reached her first birthday, Llywelyn had also died. Following Llywelyn s death, King Edward I sent Gwenllïan to be raised at Sempringham priory, where she spent the rest of her life, never knowing who she was. 08
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Abergwyngregyn Tywysog Cymru / Prince of Wales m. / d. 1282 Mab Gruffudd ap Llywelyn oedd Llywelyn ap Gruffudd ac etifeddodd hanner tywysogaeth Gwynedd gan ei ewythr, Dafydd ap Llywelyn yn 1246. Rhwng 1246 a 1258, llwyddodd i uno r rhan fwyaf o r Gymru frodorol (Pura Wallia) gan ehangu ei diroedd i r Mers yn yr 1260au. Cyfeiriodd Llywelyn at ei hun fel Tywysog Cymru am y tro cyntaf yn 1258 a chydnabyddodd Harri III, Brenin Lloegr, hynny erbyn 1265. Fel rhan o Gytundeb Trefaldwyn, 1267, cytunodd Lywelyn i dalu 25,000 marc i r Brenin a thalu gwrogaeth iddo, ond wedi marwolaeth Harri III yn 1272, a dyfodiant Brenin Edward I i r orsedd, methodd Llywelyn â mynychu r seremoni goroni, methodd dalu r arian ac ni thalodd wrogaeth iddo chwaith. Dyna esgor ar gyfres o argyfyngau yn y berthynas rhwng Tywysogaeth Llywelyn a Choron Lloegr. Yn raddol, collodd Lywelyn gefnogaeth yr arglwyddi Cymreig a i frawd, Dafydd (nid y tro cyntaf i Ddafydd newid ei liwiau), cipiwyd Ynys Môn, sef ffynhonnell fwyd bwysicaf Llywelyn, gan lynges Edward I a chollodd Lywelyn ei holl diroedd y tu hwnt i Wynedd Uwch Conwy, sef ei dywysogaeth wreiddiol (er iddo gadw teitl Tywysog Cymru ). Yn 1275, priododd Llywelyn ag Eleanor de Montford, o Ffrainc, a fu farw wrth eni eu hunig ferch, Gwenllïan ym mis Mehefin 1282. Lladdwyd Llywelyn yng Nghilmeri ar Ragfyr 11eg, 1282 ac ers hynny, hynny, caiff Diwrnod Llywelyn ei ddathlu ar y diwrnod hwnnw. Etifeddiaeth pennaf Llywelyn ap Gruffudd oedd uno r rhan fwyaf o r Cymry am y tro cyntaf erioed, gan greu tywysogaeth eithaf cadarn am ryw hyd. Gresyn na lwyddodd ei dywysogaeth i fwrw gwreiddiau digon cryf yn rhannol am na chafodd syniadau Llywelyn ddigon o amser i gydio, ac yn rhannol am nad oedd ganddo ddigon o arian i w sicrhau. Serch hynny, mae n debyg fod llafur Llywelyn, fel Tywysog Cymru, wedi talu ar ei ganfed, gan osod y seiliau ar gyfer hunaniaeth genedlaethol Gymreig. Llywelyn ap Gruffydd was son of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn and grandson of Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, who inherited half of the Principality of Gwynedd from his uncle, Dafydd ap Llywelyn in 1246. Between 1246 and 1258, Llywelyn succeeded to unite the majority of the native Wales (Pura Wallia) for the first time, expanding his lands to the Marshes in the 1260s. Llywelyn referred to himself as Prince of Wales for the first time in 1258 and this was recognised by Henry III, King of England in 1265. As part of the Treaty of Trefaldwyn, 1267, Llywelyn agreed to pay 25,000 marks to the King and to plead homage to him. However, following Henry s death in 1272, and Edward I s coming to the throne, Llywelyn failed to attend the coronation, he failed to pay the money and he didn t pay homage to Edward either. This lead to a series of emergencies and he gradually lost the support of the Welsh lords and his brother, Dafydd (this wasn t the first time for Dafydd to change his political colours), and Anglesey, the most important food resource in Llywelyn s Principality was taken from him by Edward I s Navy. Llywelyn soon lost his lands outside of Gwynedd above the river Conwy (his original Principality). In 1275, Llywelyn married Eleanor de Montford, who died on the birth of their only daughter, Gwenllïan. Llywelyn was killed in Cilmeri on December 12th, 1282, and since then Llywelyn s Day has been celebrated on that day. Llywelyn ap Gruffydd s main legacy was his success in uniting the majority of Wales for the first time, creating a fairly solid Principality for a while, at least. It was a great shame that the Principality didn t have time to stabilise itself, partly because Llywelyn s ideas weren t given enough time to root and partly since Llywelyn didn t have the financial strength to enforce them. However, it appears that Llywelyn s hard labour, as Prince of Wales did pay off eventually, as he set the foundations for the development of Welsh national identity. 09
Owain Glyndw r Tywysog Cymru / Prince of Wales c.1354-1416 Roedd Owain Glyndŵ r yn dirfeddianwr Cymreig, ac yn ddisgynydd uniongyrchol oddi wrth linach tywysogion Powys Fadog a Deheubarth, ac anuniongyrchol o linach tywysogion Gwynedd. Bu teulu Owain Glyndŵ r, a Glyndŵ r ei hun yn deyrngar i r goron Seisnig hyd 1400, pan ddechreuodd gwrthryfel Glyndŵ r. Proffwydodd y beirdd Cymreig mai Owain Glyndŵ r oedd y mab darogan, a ddanfonwyd i ryddhau Cymru rhag y goron Seisnig ac mae ei hanes wedi i liwio gan ramant gor-flodeuog. Serch hynny, mae n sicr fod gan Owain bersonoliaeth afaelgar a sgiliau arwain arbennig: ni chafodd erioed ei fradychu gan ei fyddin a pharhaodd ei wrthryfel am gyfnod maith. Llwyddodd i orchfygu byddin y goron Seisnig sawl gwaith, gan gipio cestyll Harlech a Chricieth ond talodd Owain bris drud iawn am ei wrthryfel a i freuddwydion gwleidyddol: bu farw ei wraig, dwy o u merched, eu mab a brawd Owain o ganlyniad i w wrthryfel, ac mae n debyg i Owain ei hun farw yn c.1416, yng nghartref ei ferch, Alis. Mae n debyg mai i bortread disglair Thomas Pennant o Owain, yn y G18 y gellir priodoli enwogrwydd ac arwriaeth Owain Glyndwˆ r ym meddwl y Cymry. Owain Glyndŵ r was a Welsh landowner, and was a direct descendent of the Powys Fadog and Deheubarth dynasties and indirect descendant of the Gwynedd dynasty. It seems that the Glyndŵ r family (including Owain) were loyal to the English crown until 1400, when Glyndŵ r s rebellion broke out. The Welsh poets professed that Glyndŵ r was in fact the prodigal son, who had been sent to free the Welsh people from the English crown. It is certain that the history of Owain Glyndŵ r and his rebellion has been romanticized to an extent, although it is equally certain that Owain had a tenacious personality and excellent leadership skills: he was never betrayed by his army and his rebellion went on for many years. He succeeded in overcoming the English army several time, taking Harlech and Cricieth castles in the process, but Owain paid a heavy price for his rebellion and his political aims: he lost his wife, two daughters, a son and a brother and it appears that Owain himself died in 1416, in his daughter, Alis home. It is likely that the heroic image of Owain Glyndŵ r which is frequently depicted, can be attributed to Thomas Pennant s C18 portrayal of him. Siwan - Abergwyngregyn Tywysoges / Princess m. / d. 1237 Merch anghyfreithlon y Brenin John o Loegr oedd Siwan, ac yn c.1205, priododd â Llywelyn Fawr, Tywysog Gwynedd. Ganwyd mab o r enw Dafydd iddynt, ond dan gyfreithiau Hywel Dda, Gruffydd, sef plentyn siawns Llywelyn a r Gymraes, Tangwystl, oedd etifedd y dywysogaeth. Roedd hynny n siom erchyll i Siwan a ymfalchïai ym mri ei theulu, felly aeth Llywelyn ati i sicrhau fod y Pâb yn cydnabod Siwan fel merch gyfreithlon i r Brenin John, a bod Harri III, brenin Lloegr yn cydnabod mai Dafydd oedd gwir etifedd tywysogaeth Gwynedd. Yn 1230, darganfu Llywelyn fod Siwan yn cael perthynas tu allan i briodas gyda William de Breose, un o arglwyddi r Mers, gan arwain at grogi William yn gyhoeddus a charcharu Siwan am dros flwyddyn. Yn y diwedd, maddeuodd Llywelyn iddi am ei sarhad, ond bu farw Siwan yn 1237, ac fe i chladdwyd yn Llanfaes, Sir Fôn, lle cododd Llywelyn briordy er cof amdani. Nodwyd ei marwolaeth ym Mrut y Tywysogion: Bu farw Arglwyddes Cymru, gwraig Llywelyn fab Iorwerth a merch i frenin Lloegr Joan (Siwan) oedd ei henw yn llys Aber mis Chwefror; ac fe gladdwyd ei chorff mewn gardd gysegredig ar lan y traeth. Ac yno wedi hynny yr ymsegrodd yr Esgob Hywel fynachlog i r Brodyr Troednoeth er anrhydedd i r Wynfydedig Fair. A r tywysog a i adeiladodd oll ar ei gost ei hun dros enaid yr arglwyddes. Siwan was the illegitimate daughter of King John of England and in c.1205, she married Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, Prince of Gwynedd. A son named Dafydd was born to Siwan and Llywelyn, but according to the Laws of Hywel Dda (the traditional laws of Wales) Gruffydd, illegitimate son of Llywelyn and the Welsh woman, Tangwystl, was heir to the principality. This was a huge blow to Siwan, who took great pride in her family s honour and so, Llywelyn set about to ensuring that the Pope recognised Siwan as King John s daughter, and that Henry III, King of England, recognised that Dafydd was the legitimate heir to Llywelyn s principality. In 1230, Llywelyn discovered that Siwan was having an affair with William de Breose, one of the Lords of the Marshes, leading to William being hanged and Siwan spending a year in prison. Llywelyn eventually forgave her for the betrayal, but Siwan died in 1237 and was buried in Llanfaes, Anglesey, where Llywelyn established a priory in memory of her. Siwan s death was noted in Brut y Tywysogion. 10
Rhys ap Meredydd - Ysbyty Ifan Perchennog gardd berlysiau / Proprietor of a herb garden G15/C15 Un o wŷ r mwyaf dylanwadol Ysbyty Ifan fu Rhys ap Meredydd, neu Rhys Fawr, fel y caiff ei adnabod, ac yn ôl y sôn, Y Foelas oedd ei gartref. Mi fu n ŵ r pwerus a chyfoethog ac yn arweinydd milwrol cryf. Rhys Fawr fu banerwr Harri Tudur (a ddaeth yn Harri VII) ar Faes Brwydr Bosworth, yn 1485, sy n golygu mai fo oedd yn cario baner y Ddraig Goch o flaen y fyddin. Ceir traddodiad sy n honni mai Rhys Fawr laddodd Richard III ym Mrwydr Bosworth, gan arwain at fuddugoliaeth Harri Tudur. Caiff Rhys Fawr, ei wraig (Lowri) a i fab (Robert) eu coffhau gan ddelwau alabaster yn Eglwys Sant Ioan, Ysbyty Ifan. Ganwyd un ar ddeg o blant i Rhys Fawr a Lowri Robert ap Rhys yw r mwyaf adnabyddus o u plith. Among the most influential figures of Ysbyty Ifan was Rhys ap Meredydd, also known as Rhys Fawr Rhys the Great. It is said that Y Foelas was him home. Rhys ap Maredudd was a rich and powerful man, as well as being a strong military leader. He was Henry Tudor s standard bearer at the Battle of Bosworth, 1485, meaning that he carried the Red Dragon banner in front of the army. Tradition dictates that Rhys ap Maredudd killed Richard III at Bosworth, leading to Henry Tudor victory. Rhys ap Meredydd, his wife (Lowri) and son (Robert) have been commemorated by alabaster effegies in St John s Church, Ysbyty Ifan. Eleven children were born to Rhys ap Meredydd and Lowri the most well known of whom is Robert ap Rhys. Lowri ap Meredydd - Ysbyty Ifan Perchennog gardd berlysiau / Proprietor of a herb garden G15/C15 Gwraig Rhys ap Meredydd, neu Rhys Fawr, oedd Lowri. Roedd y teulu hwn yn bwysig iawn yn ardal Ysbyty Ifan, ac roedden nhw n rhagflaeniaid i nifer o deuluoedd dylanwadol lleol, gan gynnwys Price Rhiwlas. Mae Lowri ei hun yn bwysig, gan fod ganddi ardd berlysiau a ddarparodd foddion i hosbis Urdd Sant Ioan yn Ysbyty Ifan a cheir englyn sy n coffau hynny. Cafodd ei hanfarwoli trwy ddelw alabaster ohoni, sydd i w weld yn Eglwys Sant Ioan, Ysbyty Ifan. Lowri was wife of Rhys ap Meredydd. Their family was prominent in the Ysbyty Ifan area and they were the forefathers of several influential families in north Wales, including the Price family of Rhiwlas. Lowri was herself an important figure, since she owned a herb garden which provided the hospice of the Knights of St John at Ysbyty Ifan with remedies. Lowri is immortalized in an alabaster effigy of her in St. John s Church, Ysbyty Ifan. 11
Robert ap Rhys - Ysbyty Ifan Caplan a thirfeddianwr / Chaplain and landowner m. / d. c.1534 Mab Rhys ap Meredydd oedd Robert ap Rhys, ac mi fu yntau yn ŵ r dylanwadol iawn yn llysoedd Harri VII a Harri VIII, fel gweinyddwr a chaplan. Daeth yn groesgludwr dan y Cardinal Thomas Wolsey ac mi fu n gwasanaethu fel ei gaplan hefyd. Yn y cyfnod yn arwain at y Diwygiad Protestannaidd yn yr 1530au cynnar, roedd Robert ap Rhys yn gynyddol seciwlar fel offeiriad, gan ei gwneud yn haws iddo addasu i r drefn Brotestannaidd newydd. Yn wir, roedd o n berchennog ar nifer o brydlesi mynachlogydd gogledd ddwyrain Cymru ac mi godai hynny wrychyn ei wrthwynebwyr. Wedi pasio Deddf Diddymu r Mynachlogydd yn 1536, derbyniodd Robert ap Rhys diroedd helaeth yn Nôl Gynwal (sef Ysbyty Ifan heddiw) a hefyd ym mhlwyf Llanfor, sef plwyf genedigol ei wraig, Mared. Ganwyd 16 o blant i Mared a Robert ap Rhys, pob un ohonynt yn llwyddiannus yn ei ffordd ei hun. Robert ap Rhys was the son of Rhys ap Maredudd, and was also an influential figure in the courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII, as an administrator and chaplain. He became crossbearer under Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and served has his chaplain too. During the period leading to the Protestant Reformation during the early 1530s, Robert ap Rhys became increasingly secular as a clergyman, which made his own transition into the new Protestant order far smoother. Indeed, Robert ap Rhys was lease holder of several north east Wales monasteries, and that antagonised his opponents. Following the Act of the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536, Robert ap Rhys received vast lands in Dôl Gynwal (the area known today as Ysbyty Ifan) and also in Llanfor, native parish of Robert s wife, Mared. 16 children were born to Mared and Robert ap Rhys, with each one of them proving to be successful in his or her own way. Elis Prys - Ysbyty Ifan Gweinyddwr / Administrator?1512-?1595 Mab Robert ap Rhys ac ŵ yr Rhys ap Maredudd oedd Elis Prys. Graddiodd gyda doethuriaeth yn y gyfraith o Brifysgol Caergrawnt yn 1534, yn gwisgo gŵ n coch, gan arwain at fathu r ffug enw, Y Dr Coch. Bu Elis Prys yn ddyn dylanwadol iawn, a chanddo sawl swydd wleidyddol bwysig, gan gynnwys Aelod Seneddol sir Feirionnydd a siryf siroedd Môn, Caernarfon a Dinbych. Bu n weinyddwr y goron brwd iawn yn ystod y broses o Ddiddymu r Mynachlogydd yn yr 1530au, a dywedir ei fod yn un a ormesodd y tlodion. Serch hynny, cafodd ei edmygu fel marchog dywedir ei fod yn marchogaeth ar ben y wal a amgylchynodd ei gartref, Plas Iolyn a gwnaeth gyfraniad ddiwylliannol bwysig gan mai ei enw o oedd y cyntaf ar y rhestr o gomisiynwyr Eisteddfod Caerwys yn 1567. Bu hefyd yn aelod o Gyngor y Gororau a r Mers ac yn Ganghellor Bangor yn 1561. Bu farw Elis Prys tua 1595. Elis Prys was the son of Robert ap Rhys and grandson of Rhys ap Maredudd. He graduated with a doctorate in law from Cambridge University in 1534, wearing a red robe, leading to the coining of the alias Y Dr Coch ( The Red Doctor ). Elis Prys was a highly influential person, who held several important posts, including Member of Parliament for Meirionnydd and sheriff of Anglesey, Caernarfonshire and Denbighshire. He was an administrator on behalf of the crown and is remembered as one who oppressed the poor and who was exceptionally zestful during the dissolution of the monasteries. Elis Prys was, however, admired as a horseman according to tradition, he would ride his horse on top of the wall that surrounded his home, Plas Iolyn. Prys name was also one of the first on the list of the commissioners of Caerwys Eisteddfod in 1567. He was also a member of the Council of the Marshes and was Chancellor of Bangor in 1561. Elis Prys died in c.1595. 12
Gwylliaid Cochion Mawddwy - Cwm Mawddwy Herwyr / Bandits G15-16 / C15-16 Bu ardal Mawddwy yn enwog am ddiffyg cyfraith a threfn ar hyd yr oesoedd, ac mae n debyg mai dyna pam y cafodd ei ymgorffori n rhan o sir sefydledig Meirionnydd dan Ddeddfau Uno 1536, yn hytrach nag yn rhan o Sir Drefaldwyn a oedd yn sir newydd sbond. Roedd hanes y Gwylliaid yn ddiharebol yn yr ardal, a r achos enwocaf yn eu herbyn mae n debyg, yw r cyhuddiad iddynt ladd y Barwn Owain (Lewis Owen o Blas yn Dre, Dolgellau) wrth iddo deithio adref o r Trallwng. Cafwyd wyth o r Gwylliaid yn euog o i lofruddio. Caiff hanesion di-rif y Gwylliaid eu coffhau ar lafar gwlad a mewn cerddi amrywiol. The Mawddwy area was always notorious as a lawless place and this is probably the reason why Mawddwy became a part of the established county of Meirionnydd following the Act of Union of 1536, rather than the new county of Montgomeryshire. The Gwylliaid Cochion achieved an almost mythological status in Mawddwy and the most famous accusation brought against them was probably that of the murder of Baron Lewis Owen of Plas yn Dre, Dolgellau, who was killed as he travelled home from Welshpool. Eight of the Gwylliaid were found guilty of the murder. Several tales of the Gwylliaid Cochion are features of local folklore and various poems. Rowland Fychan - Caer-gai Bardd a Brenhinwr / Poet and Royalist c.1590-1667 Caer-gai, Llanuwchllyn oedd cartref Rowland Fychan. Roedd yn un o feirdd yr uchelwyr ac yn gyfieithydd dogfennau crefyddol, megis Yr Ymarfer o Dduwioldeb (1630) sef cyfieithiad o waith Lewis Bayly, The Practice of Piety. Yn ystod Rhyfel Cartref Lloegr, 1642-51, bu Rowland Fychan yn ymladd tros achos y brenin, ac o ganlyniad i hynny, llosgwyd Caer-gai gan y Seneddwyr. Wedi diwedd y Rhyfel Cartref, adenillodd Fychan dir Caer-gai, ac ail-adeiladodd y tŷ. Rowland Fychan s home was Caer-gai, Llanuwchllyn. He was one of the Poets of the Nobility and translator of several religious documents, such as Lewis Bayly s work, Practice of Piety ( Yr Ymarfer o Dduwioldeb, 1630). During the English Civil War, Rowland Fychan fought over the King s campaign, and thus, Caer-gai was burnt by Parliamentarians. Following the end of the Civil War, Fychan regained the Caer-gai lands and rebuilt the house. 13
John Jones - Maesygarnedd Seneddwr / Parliamentarian?1597-1660 Un o ddisgynyddion teulu Nannau, Dolgellau oedd John Jones, ac erbyn 1639, roedd yn briod â Margaret Edwards. Bu Jones yn brwydro ym myddin y Senedd yn y Rhyfel Cartref Cyntaf, dan arweiniad Syr Thomas Myddleton. Yn 1647, daeth Jones yn Aelod Seneddol tros Sir Feirionnydd, ond dychwelodd i r ardal gyda dyfodiad yr Ail Ryfel Cartref, pan fu n gymorth mawr i rwystro cynnydd byddin y Brenin yng ngogledd Cymru. Bu Jones yn aelod o r Court of Justice sef y corff a fu n gwrando ar yr achos yn erbyn brenin Siarl I, a gwelir enw Jones ar warant marwolaeth y brenin. Yn 1650, apwyntiwyd John Jones yn un o r comisiynwyr a yrrwyd i Iwerddon i weinyddu r ymreolaeth Brydeinig newydd yno. Bu farw gwraig Jones yn Iwerddon yn 1651 a phum mlynedd yn ddiweddarach, priododd â Katherine Whetstone, chwaer Oliver Cromwell, yr Arglwydd Amddiffynwr. Ym mis Awst 1656, daeth Jones yn aelod o Senedd y Ddiffynwriaeth. Yn ystod y broses o adfer y Frenhiniaeth, daeth achos o uchel fradwriaeth yn erbyn John Jones, ac fe i ddienyddiwyd yn Llundain yn 1660. Jones was a descendant of the Nannau family, Dolgellau, who, by 1639, was married to Margaret Edwards. Jones fought the Parliamentarian cause in the First English Civil War, under the leadership of Sir Thomas Myddleton. In 1647, Jones became MP for Meirionnydd and returned to the area at the break of the Second Civil War, becoming a key figure in obstructing the advance of the Royalist plight in north Wales. Jones was a member of the Court of Justice, a body which listened to the case against King Charles I, and Jones name is seen on the King s death warrant. In 1650, John Jones was appointed one of the commissioners sent to Ireland to administer the new British rule there. Jones wife died in Ireland in 1851 and five years later, he married Katherine Whetstone, sister in law of Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Defender. In August 1656, Jones became a member of the Parliament of the Protectorate. During the process of re-establishing the monarchy, John Jones was accused of high treason, and was executed in 1660. Thomas Edward Ellis - Cefnddwysarn Aelod Seneddol / Member of Parliament 1859-1899 Yn 1886, etholwyd T.E.Ellis yn Aelod Seneddol Rhyddfrydol tros Sir Feirionnydd a bu n un o hoelion wyth yr ymgyrch tros hunanlywodraeth i Gymru ac yn sefydlu mudiad Cymru Fydd. Bu n Radicalwr brwd, gan ymladd tros faterion megis addysg a dat-gysylltu r Eglwys yng Nghymru ond erbyn 1894, ac yntau n brif chwip y blaid Ryddfrydol, trodd ei feddwl at faterion Seneddol, mwy cyffredinol. Serch hynny, parhaodd Tom Ellis yn driw i w ddaliadau Cymreig, Anghydffurfiol ac am y rheswm hwnnw, mae n parhau i gael ei gofio fel arweinydd coll Cymru oes Victoria ( Gwyddoniadur Cymru yr Academi Cymreig, t.331). In 1886, T.E.Ellis was elected Liberal M.P. for Meirionnydd and was one of the main players in the campaign for Welsh Home Rule and in establishing the Cymru Fydd movement. Ellis was a keen radicalist, prominent in causes such as education and the disestablishment of the Church from the state in Wales, but by 1894, as Chief Whip of the Liberal party, his mind turned to more general, parliamentary matters. Tom Ellis, however, always remained loyal to his Welsh roots and allegiances and it is for this reason that he is named lost leader of Victorian Wales ( Welsh Academi Encyclopaedia, t.331). 14
Cymeriadau Anhygoel Eryri Amazing Characters of Snowdonia Diwylliant Culture Lleucu Llwyd - Pennal Arwres un o gerddi mwyaf yr iaith Gymraeg Heroine of one of the most famous poems of the Welsh language G14 / C14 Merch o Bennal, Bro Dysynni oedd Lleucu Llwyd a anfarwolwyd mewn cyfres o gerddi serch gan Llywelyn Goch ap Meurig Hen. Roedd hi n byw yng nghanol y G14. Yr enwocaf o r cerddi serch iddi yw Marwnad Lleucu Llwyd ac yn ôl y traddodiad, marw o dôr-calon y gwnaeth hi. Roedd Lleucu wedi disgyn mewn cariad â Llywelyn Goch, ond roedd ei thad yn ei gasáu. Gadawodd Llywelyn am dde Cymru, gan addo dychwelyd rhyw ddydd i briodi Lleucu, ond yn absenoldeb Llywelyn, dywedodd tad Lleucu wrthi fod Llywelyn wedi priodi â rhywun arall, a thorrodd Lleucu ei chalon gan farw n fuan wedi hynny. Gresyn mai claddu Lleucu wnaeth Llywelyn ar ddychwelyd i r ardal, yn hytrach na i phriodi. Lleucu Llwyd lived in Pennal, Dysynni and was immortalised in a series of poems by Llywelyn Goch ap Meurig Hen. She lived during the middle part of the C14 and the most famous of the poems dedicated to her is Marwnad Lleucu Llwyd ( Elegy of Lleucu Llwyd ). Lleucu had fallen in love with Llywelyn Goch, but her father hated him. Llywelyn left for south Wales, promising that he would return to marry Lleucu, but in his absence, Lleucu s father told her that Llywelyn had married someone else. Lleucu broke her heart and died soon after. What a tragedy that Llywelyn had to bury Lleucu on his return to the area, rather than marry her. Tudur Penllyn - Caer-gai Porthmon a Bardd / Drover and poet c.1420-1490 Caer-gai, Llanuwchllyn oedd cartref priodasol Tudur Penllyn a i wraig, Gwerful ferch Ieuan Fychan. Roedd o n borthmon a chadwodd breiddiau o ddefaid, gan werthu eu gwlân. Roedd o hefyd yn rhannu yn niwylliant y beirdd, gan deithio o un plasdy i r llall, yn ymofyn nawdd. Ei brif noddwyr oedd Gruffydd Fychan (Gors-y-Gedol), Rheinallt ap Gruffydd (yr Wyddgrug) a Dafydd Siencyn (Nanconwy). Canai fawl ei noddwyr Cymreig ac amddiffynai r achos Cymreig yn erbyn y Saeson. Caer-gai, Llanuwchllyn was the marital home of Tudur Penllyn and his wife, Gwerful daughter of Ieuan Fychan. Tudur Penllyn was a drover who also kept flocks of sheep, in order to sell their wool. He was also a part of the bardic tradition in Wales, travelling from one manor house to the other, seeking patronage. Tudur Penllyn s main patrons were Gruffydd Fychan (Gors y Gedol), Rheinallt ap Gruffydd (Mold) and Dafydd Siencyn (Nanconwy). He sung his Welsh patrons praises and would also defend the Welsh cause against the English. 15
Edmwnd Prys Clerigwr a Bardd / Cleric and Poet 1544-1623 Addysgwyd Edmwnd Prys yn Ysgol Ramadeg Llanelwy a Choleg St Ioan, Caergrawnt, lle y graddiodd fel B.A. ac M.A. Cafodd ei ordeinio n ddiacon yn 1567, a daeth yn offeiriad i Ffestiniog a Maentwrog yn 1572, cyn cael ei apwyntio n Archddiacon Meirionnydd yn 1576. Bu n cynorthwyo r Esgob William Morgan i gyfieithu r Beibl a r Salmau i r Gymraeg ac yn 1621, cyhoeddodd Prys Salmau r Can. Nid oedd hwn yn waith unigryw, ond mae n debyg ei fod yn fwy addas na r ymdrechion a gafwyd gan Gymry eraill i gyfieithu r Salmau. Canai Edmwnd Prys farddoniaeth rhydd a chaeth, ar themâu crefyddol yn aml iawn, ac ar y cyfan, caiff rhain eu gweld fel propaganda Protestannaidd. Bu n briod ddwy waith a chanddo chwech o blant. Edmwnd Prys was educated at St Asaph Grammar School and St John s College, Cambridge, where he graduated as a B.A. and M.A. He was ordained deacon in 1567 and became a clergyman, serving in Ffestiniog and Maentwrog in 1572, before being appointed archdeacon for Meirionnydd in 1576. Prys aided Bishop William Morgan in translating the Bible and the Psalms into Welsh and in 1621, he published Salmau r Can. This wasn t an original work but it was deemed more appropriate than the efforts of other Welshmen to translate the Psalms. Edmwnd Prys composed poetry in the free and strict meters, frequently on religious themes, which were generally seen as Protestant propaganda. Edmwnd Prys was married twice and had six children. Thomas Wiliems - Trefriw Clerigwr, meddyg gwlad ac ysgolhaig / Cleric, unorthodox physician and scholar 1550?-1622? Gwyddir bron dim am Thomas Wiliems, ar wahân i w waith, ond mae n debyg mai yn Sir Gaernarfon y ganwyd ef. Bu n fyfyriwr ym Mhrifysgol Rhydychen a daeth yn gurad yn Nhrefriw yn 1573. Dilynodd yrfa fel meddyg gwlad wedi hynny (yn defnyddio moddion naturiol yn hytrach na i fod wedi i hyfforddi a i drwyddedu n feddyg proffesiynol). Bu ganddo ddiddordeb mawr mewn llenyddiaeth Gymraeg, a chasglodd a chopïodd nifer helaeth o lawysgrifau. Ei brif waith fu r geiriadur Lladin-Cymraeg, Thesaurus Linguae Latinae et Cambrobrytannicae. Roedd hwn yn waith swmpus, ond bu farw Wiliems cyn ei gyhoeddi. Yn hytrach, daeth y gwaith yn rhan o eiriadur Lladin- Cymraeg, Cymraeg-Lladin Dr John Davies, Mallwyd. Very little is known of Thomas Wiliems other than his work, but he was apparently born in Caernarfonshire. He studied at Oxford University and became curate in Trefriw in 1573. He followed a career as an unorthodox physician (using natural remedies rather than being trained and licensed as a professional doctor). He had a great interest in Welsh literature and collected and copied many manuscripts. His main work was the Latin-Welsh dictionary, Thesaurus Linguae Latinae et Cambrobrytannicae. This was a substantial piece of work, but Wiliems died before its publication. Instead, it became part of Dr John Davies, Mallwyd s Latin-Welsh, Welsh-Latin dictionary. 16
Thomas Prys - Ysbyty Ifan Bardd a Môr leidr / Poet and Pirate?1564-1634 Caiff Thomas Prys ei gofio fel bardd a môr leidr. Priododd ddwy waith: y tro cyntaf gyda Margaret, sef mam tri o i blant, a r eildro gyda Jane, merch Hugh Gwynn, Bodysgallen, a fu n fam ar ddeg o i blant. Bu n gyfansoddwr cywyddau brwd, gan ganu am ei fordeithiau ac am fyd natur ac mi fu hefyd yn ymryson gydag Edmwnd Prys. Bu n ymladd ym myddinoedd Lloegr ar gyfandir Ewrop, gan gynnwys byddin Iarll Caerlŷr yn yr Iseldiroedd a bu n aelod o fyddin Elisabeth I yn Nhilbury, yn aros ar gyfer Armada Sbaen. Treuliodd rannau helaeth o i amser yn Llundain, ond mae n amlwg na fu n or-hoff o r lle gan iddo gyfansoddi cywydd o r enw Cywydd i ddangos mai Uffern yw Llundain! Wrth i oes Elisabeth I ddirwyn i ben, treuliodd Thomas Prys ragor o amser ar Ynys Enlli, fel môr leidr, gan ddychwelyd i fyw i Blas Iolyn, Pentrefoelas ar farwolaeth ei dad, Elis Prys ac yn 1599, daeth yn siryf Sir Ddinbych. Roedd iaith ysgrifenedig Thomas Prys yn wallus iawn, a theimlai Lewis Morris mai canlyniad ei fywyd gwyllt ar y môr ac fel milwr oedd hynny. Claddwyd Thomas Prys ym mynwent Ysbyty Ifan ar Awst 23ain, 1634. Thomas Prys is remembered as a poet and a pirate. He was twice married: his first wife was Margaret, who was mother to three of his children and his second marriage was to Jane, daughter of Hugh Gwynn, Bodysgallen, who was mother to ten of his children. Thomas composed several poems, about his voyages and nature and he also contended with the poet Edmwnd Prys. He fought in the English army on the continent, including the Earl of Leicester s army in the Netherlands and he was a member of Elisabeth I s army in Tilbury, awaiting the Spanish Armada. Thomas spent much of his time in London, but his poem, Cywydd i Ddangos mai Uffern yw Llundain ( A poem to demonstrate that London is Hell ) suggests that it wasn t his favourite of places. As Elizabeth s reign reached a close, Thomas Prys spent more of his time on Bardsey Island, returning to Plas Iolyn, Pentrefoelas upon his father, Elis Prys s death and in 1599, he became sheriff of Denbighshire. Thomas Prys written language was highly flawed and Lewis Morris attributed this to his wild life at sea and as a soldier. Thomas Prys was buried in Ysbyty Ifan on August 23rd, 1634. Dr John Davies - Mallwyd Ysgolhaig / Scholar c.1567-1644 O ystyried mor arwyddocaol a phell gyrrhaeddiol y bu dylanwad Dr John Davies, Mallwyd ar ddysg a r iaith Gymraeg, ychydig iawn y gwyddom am ei fywyd cynnar. Mae n debyg iddo ennill ei radd o Goleg Iesu, Rhydychen. Fe i apwyntiwyd yn rheithior Mallwyd yn 1604 a Llanymawddwy yn 1614. Yn draddodiadol, priodolir Beibl Cymraeg 1620 yn waith Richard Parry, ond bellach, cydnabyddir cyfraniad John Davies i loywder yr iaith. Yn 1621, cyhoeddodd John Davies ei ramadeg, Antiquae Linguae Britannicae Rudimenta, gan ddilyn hynny gyda r geiriadur Cymraeg-Lladin, Lladin-Cymraeg, Dictonarium Duplex yn 1632. Roedd yr adran Cymraeg-Lladin yn waith gwreiddiol gan Dr John Davies, a r adran Lladin-Cymraeg yn ddetholiad o waith estynedig gan Dr Thomas Wiliems, Trefriw. Bu Dr John Davies yn cyfieithu gweithiau Saesneg i r Gymraeg yn ogystal, megis Llyfr y Resolusion yn 1632, a bu hefyd yn copïo llawysgrifau Cymraeg. Yn sicr, gellir cydnabod mai Dr John Davies, Mallwyd, oedd un o ddeallusion pwysicaf cyfnod y Dadeni yng Nghymru. Considering the vast and significant contribution made by Dr John Davies, Mallwyd to Welsh teachings, very little is known of his early life. It seems that he gained a degree from Jesus College, Oxford, and was subsequently appointed minister for Mallwyd in 1604 and Llanymawddwy in 1614. The Welsh Bible of 1620 is traditionally attributed to Richard Parry, but John Davies contribution to the work, especially regarding the accuracy of the language is now acknowledged. In 1621, John Davies published his guide to Welsh grammar, Antiquae Linguae Britannicae Rudimenta, followed by the Welsh-Latin, Latin-Welsh Dictorium Deuplex in 1632. The Welsh-Latin section was an original piece of work by John Davies and the Latin-Welsh section was a selection of a more expansive work by Dr Thomas Wiliems, Trefriw. Dr John Davies translated many English publications into Welsh, such as Llyfr y Resolusion in 1632 and copies of Welsh manuscripts. Without doubt, Dr John Davies can be cast as one of the brightest scholars of the Renaissance in Wales. 17
John Davies (Siôn Dafydd) - Ysbyty Ifan Bardd, clocsiwr a darllenwr lleyg Poet, clogmaker and lay reader c.1675-1769 Claddwyd Siôn Dafydd o Bentrefoelas ym mynwent Ysbyty Ifan yn 1769. Cynhyrchwr clocsiau oedd o wrth ei waith, ond roedd o hefyd yn ddarllenwr lleyg ac yn fardd, gan esbonio pam y i alwyd o yn Siôn Dafydd Berson neu Siôn Dafydd Glocsiwr. Caiff Siôn Dafydd ei gofio n bennaf fel y gŵ r a ddysgodd Twm o r Nant i ddarllen ac ysgrifennu, ac mi ddiolchodd Twm o r Nant am hynny yn ei hunangofiant. Wedi u hysgythru ar garreg fedd Siôn Dafydd y mae dau englyn goffa gan Twm o r Nant: Galar i r ddaear ddu, Aeth athraw Fu n meithrin beirdd Cymru; Llafurus bu n llefaru Diddan fodd, y dydd a fu. Terfynodd, hunodd rhyw hyd Sion Dafydd Madawai o hir fywyd Ond cofiwn eto cyfyd O r ddaear bwys ddiwedd byd Mae n debyg mai tua deg oed oedd Twm o r Nant pan fu n cerdded dros y mynydd o Nantglyn, Sir Ddinbych i Bentrefoelas i dderbyn gwers gan Siôn Dafydd, a hynny yn erbyn dymuniad ei dad. Wrth gwrs, mae n amlwg erbyn heddiw pa mor werthfawr yr oedd y gwersi hyn i Twm, gan iddo ddatblygu yn gyfansoddwr anterliwtiau mwyaf blaenllaw Cymru. Siôn Dafydd of Pentrefoelas was buried in Ysbyty Ifan cemetery in 1769. He was a clog maker by trade and was also a lay reader and poet. Siôn Dafydd is mainly remembered as the person who taught Twm o r Nant to read and write and Twm thanked him for this tuition in his autobiography. Two commemorative stanzas by Twm o r Nant are inscribed on Siôn Dafydd s headstone: Galar i r ddaear ddu, Aeth athraw Fu n meithrin beirdd Cymru; Llafurus bu n llefaru Diddan fodd, y dydd a fu. Terfynodd, hunodd rhyw hyd Sion Dafydd Madawai o hir fywyd Ond cofiwn eto cyfyd O r ddaear bwys ddiwedd byd TRANSLATION: [Grief- into the dark earth went a teacher Who nurtured the bards of Wales, With great labour he held forth In an interesting fashion in days gone by. He came to the end, he rested a while Sion Dafydd Was departing from a long life, But let us remember he will rise again From the earth at the end of the world.] Twm o r Nant was around ten years old when he took the journey over the mountain from Nantglyn, Denbighshire to Pentrefoelas to be receive lessons from Siôn Dafydd, against his father s will. Of course, we can now appreciate the importance of these lessons as Twm o r Nant became one of the most renowned composers of interludes in Wales. 18
Ellis Wynne, Y Lasynys Fawr - Harlech Llenor a Chlerigwr / Litterateur and Cleric 1670/1-1734 Ganed Elis Wynne yn Y Lasynys Fawr a derbyniodd ei addysg yng Ngholeg Iesu, Rhydychen. Erbyn diwedd 1704 roedd wedi i urddo n ddiacon, a gwasanaethodd ym mhlwyfi Llandanwg, Llanfair a Harlech yn ystod ei yrfa. Priododd ddwy waith gyda Lowri Wynne a fu farw ar enedigaeth eu mab cyntaf, ac yna gyda Lowri Lloyd, a ganed naw o blant iddyn nhw. Gwaith enwocaf Elis Wynne yw Gweledigaethau r Bardd Cwsg (Llundain, 1704) a gaiff ei adnabod fel clasur yr iaith Gymraeg. Ar wahan i hynny, bu n brysur yn cyfieithu gweithiau Saesneg, fel Holy Living i r Gymraeg ac ysgrifennodd nifer o emynau Cymraeg yn ogystal. Bu farw Elis Wynne yn 1734. Ellis Wynne was born at Lasynys Fawr, Harlech and was a graduate of Jesus College, Oxford. By the end of 1704, he had been made deacon, and worked in the parishes of Llandanwg, Llanfair and Harlech. Wynne was married twice with Lowri Wynne, who died after giving birth to their first son and then with Lowri Lloyd and nine children were born to them. Elis Wynne s most renowned work is Gweledigaethau r Bardd Cwsg (London, 1704) and is acknowledged as a classic work of the Welsh language. Ellis Wynne also translated several English publications into Welsh and also wrote many Welsh hymns. Ellis Wynne died in 1734. John Kyffin Williams - Ynys Môn / Anglesey Artist 1918-2006 Tra n ddisgybl yn Ysgol yr Amwythig, datblygodd Kyffin Williams salwch polioencephalitis a ddatblygodd yn epilepsi tra r oedd Williams yn aelod o r Fyddin Tiriogaethol. Awgrymwyd iddo ddechrau darlunio, fel therapi ar gyfer ei gyflwr, ac ym 1941, daeth yn fyfyriwr yn y Slade School of Fine Art yn Llundain. Mae n debyg na chafodd doniau artistig Kyffin Williams eu hadnabod yn syth ac yn 1944, derbyniodd swydd Meistr Celf yn Ysgol Highgate, Llundain a bu n dysgu yno hyd 1973. Fel artist, daeth gwaith Kyffin Williams yn symbol o ardal Eryri, ac mae n bûr debyg ei fod wedi cyfrannu n fwy na r un artist arall tuag at y canfyddiad ystrydebol o ogledd Cymru fel ucheldir llwm. Teimlai Kyffin Williams fod poblogrwydd ei waith yn ddyledus i r ffaith y medrai r Cymry uniaethu â i ddarluniau, a oedd wastad yn dehongli tirluniau trawiadol ardal Eryri a Môn. Roedd o n honni bod mynyddoedd Eryri a lechai tros yr Afon Fenai wedi diferu i w enaid a u bod yn rhan ohono. Serch hynny, treuliodd chwe mis ym Mhatagonia, yn darlunio r Wladfa Gymreig, ac mae r gwaith hwn, o ran lliwiau ac arddull, yn dra gwahanol i r gwaith a luniodd yng Nghymru. Ygrifennodd ddwy hunangofiant a bu n llywydd yr Academi Frenhinol Gymreig rhwng 1969-76 a 1992-2006. As a pupil at Shrewsbury School. Kyffin Williams contracted polio, which developed into epilepsy while he was a member of the Territorial Army. He was advised to begin drawing as therapy for his condition, and in 1941, he became a student at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. Kyffin Williams artistic talents weren t identified initially and in 1944, he became Art Master at Highgate School, London and taught there until 1973. As an artist, Kyffin Williams work came to epitomise Snowdonia for many people and he, above any other artist, contributed to the stereotypical perception of north Wales as a grim highland. Kyffin Williams felt that the popularity of his work could be attributed to the fact that the Welsh people could identify with his paintings, which always interpreted the striking scenery of Snowdonia and Anglesey. He alleged that the mountains of Snowdonia, looming across the Menai Straits, had become a part of his soul. Williams also spent six months in Patagonia, painting the Welsh Settlement and this work, in terms of colours and style, varies greatly from his work in Wales. He wrote two autobiographies and was president of the Royal Welsh Academi between 1969-76 and 1992-2006. 19
Siôn Dafydd Las Bardd Teulu / Family Bard m. / d. 1694 Fel bardd Teulu Nannau, ac un o r olaf o r beirdd teulu yn y Traddodiad Barddol Cymreig y cofiwn ni Siôn Dafydd Las. Cafodd ei noddi gan sawl teulu yng ngogledd Cymru, gan gynnwys teuluoedd Nannau, Maesyneuadd, Cefn Amwlch a Bodysgallen. Canodd garolau, cywyddau, englynion a marwnadau, gan gynnwys marwnad i frenin Siarl II. Ceir hefyd traddodiad sy n honni mai fo gyfansoddodd alaw Pant Corlan yr ŵ yn. It is as the poet of the Nannau Family and one of the last of the family poets in the Welsh Poetic Tradition that we remember Sion Dafydd. He was sponsored by several families in north Wales, including Nannau, Maesyneuadd, Cefn Amwlch and Bodysgallen. He composed poems on various poetic meters, including an elegy to King Charles II. Tradition has it that he composed the melody, Pant Corlan yr ŵ yn. Margaret Davies - Trawsfynydd Copïwraig llawysgrifau / Copier of manuscripts c.1700-?1785 Yng Nghoetgau-du, Trawsfynydd y magwyd Margaret Davies, a thra n ferch ifanc, meistriolodd reolau r gerdd dafod a r gynghanedd. Ymddengys ei bod yn ffigwr amlwg yng nghylchoedd llenyddol yr ardal yn hanner cyntaf y G18, ac fel gwraig gefnog a di-briod, bu modd iddi ymroi ei hamser a i thalent i fyd llenyddiaeth. Bu Margaret Davies yn casglu barddoniaeth o bob math, ond mae n debyg mai gwaith yr henfeirdd oedd ei phrif chwilfrydedd. Mae tua ugain o i cherddi a phump o i llawysgrifau n goroesi yn Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, yr Amgueddfa Brydeinig ac yn llyfrgelloedd cyhoeddus Caerdydd ac Abertawe. Margaret Davies was brought up in Coetgau-du in Trawsfynydd, and as a young girl, she mastered the rules of cynghanedd and other poetry meters. She appears to have been a prominent member of the area s literary circle during the first half of the C18, and as a wealthy, unmarried woman, she could give her time and her talent to the literary world. Margaret Davies collected poetry of all kinds, but it seems that the early poets were her main delight. Around twenty of her poems and five of her manuscripts survive in the National Library of Wales, the British Library and in the Cardiff and Swansea public libraries. Henry Owen - Dolgellau Clerigwr a Meddyg / Cleric and Doctor 1716-1795 Addysgwyd Henry Owen yn Ysgol Rhuthun a Choleg Iesu Rhydychen. Yn 1746, graddiodd yn feddyg ac yn ur un flwyddyn, fe i dderbyniwyd i r glerigiaeth hefyd. Bu n gwasanaethu plwyfi ar draws de Lloegr a chafodd ei barchu fel ysgolhaig disglair a dawnus iawn ym meysydd Groeg, Hebraeg, mathemateg a r hynafiaethau Cymreig. Roedd yn aelod o gymdeithas y Cymmrodorion, a bu cysylltiad agos rhyngddo fo a Morrisiaid Môn. Henry Owen was educated at Ruthin School and Jesus College, Oxford. In 1746, he graduated in medicine and was accepted to the clergy soon after. He served parishes across the south of England and was respected as an expert in Greek, Hebrew, mathematics and the Welsh antiquities. Owen was a member of the Cymmrodorion society and was closely connected to the Morris brothers of Anglesey. 20
Elizabeth Baker Dyddiadures / Diarist c.1720-1789 Saesnes o ganolbarth Lloegr oedd Elizabeth Baker yn wreiddiol ond bellach, caiff ei chysylltu n annatod â Sir Feirionnydd a Phlas Hengwrt. Daeth i Gymru yn 1770, ar ôl iddi hi a grŵ p bychan o bobl eraill dderbyn caniatâd i gloddio am fetalau yn yr ardal rhwng Llanuwchllyn a Dolgellau. Methodd yr ymdrech hwnnw, a daeth Elizabeth Baker yn ysgrifenyddes i Hugh Vaughan, Hengwrt. O blegid trafferthion ariannol Vaughan, symudodd Baker sawl gwaith; o r Hengwrt i Blasdy Doluwcheogrwyd, i Blas Adda ac yna i dref Dolgellau. Rhydd ei dyddiadur gipolwg difyr ar fywyd yng ngogledd Cymru yn ystod y G18, o ran pobl, pethau a digwyddiadau. Elizabeth Baker was originally an English woman from the Midlands, but she is now considered to be a key character in the history of Meirionnydd and the Hengwrt manor house. She came to Wales in 1770, when she and a small group of people were permitted to mine for metals in the area between Llanuwchllyn and Dolgellau. This attempt failed, and Elizabeth Baker became secretary to Hugh Vaughan, Hengwrt. Due to Vaughan s dire finances, Baker was forced to move several times; from Hengwrt to Doluwcheogrwyd manor and then to Plas Adda and later to the town of Dolgellau. Baker s diary gives an insightful glimpse into life in north Wales during the C18, in terms of people, things and events. Joseph Mallord William Turner Artist 1775-1851 Artist Seisnig oedd J.M.W.Turner a ymwelodd â Chymru sawl gwaith yn ystod ei yrfa. Bu ei ddarluniau eiconig o r Wyddfa yn ysbrydoliaeth ar gyfer artistiaid y mudiad Rhamantaidd, mewn cyfnod pan ddechreuwyd edrych ar dirwedd fel ffynhonnell dirgelwch ac ysbrydoliaeth. Ysbrydoliwyd Turner yn fawr gan dirwedd a chestyll gogledd Cymru. J.M.W.Turner was an English artist who visited Wales several times during his career. His iconic paintings of Snowdon inspired the artists of the Romantic movement, in an era when the landscape came to be seen as a means of inspiration and intrigue. Turner was inspired greatly by the landscape and castles of north Wales. Evan Evans (Ieuan Glan Geirionydd) - Trefriw Bardd / Poet 1795-1855 Ganed Evan Evans i deulu diwylliedig yn Nhrefriw, Conwy. Derbyniodd ei addysg yn yr ysgol Eglwys, Trefriw ac yna n Ysgol Llanrwst. Oddi yno, aeth adref i weithio ar fferm y teulu ac yna i gadw r ysgol ddydd yn Nhal y Bont. Yn 1826, derbyniwyd Evan yn offeiriad a daeth yn gurad yn Rhyl yn 1854. Cyhoeddodd nifer helaeth o weithiau crefyddol, megis Prynedigaeth Neillduol neu Grist yn rhoi eu hun dros yr Eglwys a Phedwar Cyflwr Dyn. Dan yr enw barddol, Ieuan Glan Geirionydd, derbyniodd glod eisteddfodol: yn Llanelwy (1818), Dinbych (1828) a Dinbych (1850). Cyfansoddodd gerddi ac emynau ar fesurau amrywiol iawn, ac am hynny, fe i gofir fel y bardd mwyaf amryddawn yn y ganrif diwethaf ( Bywgraffiadur Cymreig Ll.G.C. ). Evan Evans was born to a cultural family in Trefriw, Conwy. He was educated at the Church School, Trefriw and then at Llanrwst School. Upon leaving school, he returned to work on the family farm, and then to run the daily school in Tal y Bont. In 1826, Evans was accepted as a clergyman, and became a curate in Rhyl in 1854. He published an array of religious works and as Ieuan Glan Geirionnydd (his bardic name), he was acclaimed at the Eisteddfod in St Asaph (1818) and twice in Denbigh (1828 and 1850). Evans composed poems and hymns ond various meters and it is for this reason that he is remembered as the most versatile Welsh poet of the last century ( Welsh Biography, N.L.W. ). 21
Michael D. Jones - Llanuwchllyn Gwladgarwr Cymreig / Welsh Patriot 1822-1898 Un o feibion Llanuwchllyn oedd Michael D.Jones, a fu n gweithio fel gweinidog gyda r Annibynwyr yn Cincinnati yn Unol Daleithiau America. Yno y sefydlodd Gymdeithas y Brython, fel corff cefnogol i r Cymru a allfudodd i U.D.A. ond fe i ddigalonnwyd fod y Cymry yn addasu i r diwylliant Americanaidd mor gyflym. Roedd o am i r Cymry sefydlu cymdeithasau Cymreig, hunan gynhaliol, ond roedd hynny n amhosib gydag U.D.A. yn datblygu ar gyfradd mor chwim. Felly, yn 1865, sefydlwyd Gwladfa Gymreig ym Mhatagonia, yr Ariannin. Ni fu Michael D.Jones yn un o r cannoedd o Gymry â ymfudodd i Batagonia ond ymwelodd â r wladfa yn 1882. Bu Jones hefyd yn Brifathro Coleg y Bala, a pherodd ei wrthwynebiad llym i r cais i ail wampio cyfansoddiad y Coleg, gychwyn Brwydr y Ddau Gyfansoddiad. Diwedd y mater oedd di-swyddo Jones fel Prifathro a mabwysiadu r cyfansoddiad newydd. Roedd Michael D.Jones yn Rhyddfrydwr ac yn wladgarwr brwd yn wir, caiff ei ystyried yn un o sefydlwyr cenedlaetholdeb Cymreig. Michael D.Jones was a native of Llanuwchllyn, who worked as a minister with the Independent Congregationalists in Cincinnati, U.S.A. It was there that he established the Brythonic Society, as a body which supported the Welsh people who emigrated to the U.S.A., although Michael D.Jones was disheartened by the fact that the Welsh seemed to adapt quickly to the American culture. Jones was keen for the Welsh emigrants to establish Welsh societies, but since the U.S.A. was progressing at such an astonishing rate, it was impossible to do so. Therefore, in 1865, Jones established a Welsh settlement in Patagonia, Argentina. Jones wasn t one of the several hundred people who emigrated to Patagonia, although he visited the area in 1882. Jones was also principal of Coleg y Bala, and his objection to the proposal to revamp the College s constitution marked the beginning of the Battle of the Two Constitutions. The end of the matter was to sack Michael D.Jones as principal and to adopt the new constitution. Jones was a keen Liberal and Welsh patriot indeed, he is considered to be one of the establishers of Welsh nationalism. Richard Griffith (Carneddog) - Nantmor Bardd / Poet 1861-1947 Carneddi ym mhentref Nantmor ger Beddgelert oedd cartref y bardd Carneddog, ac yno y bu n byw hyd 1945, gan ennill ei blwyf fel ffermwr defaid. Bu n gyfranwr brwd i gylchgronnau megis Cymru a phapurau newydd Baner ac Amserau Cymru a r Herald Gymraeg yn ogystal â thrawstoriad o lyfrau o gofiannau am feirdd megis Jac Glan-y-Gors a Glaslyn i flodeugerddi fel Blodau r Gynghanedd a Cherddi Eryri. Bu Carneddog hefyd yn gasglwr llyfrau a llawygrifau brwd, ac roedd yn lled-adnabyddus fel hanesydd lleol hefyd. Roedd yn briod â Catherine, hithau n ferch o Nantmor, a ganwyd iddynt dau fab. Yn 1945, gadawodd Carneddog a i wraig eu cartref yn Nanmor, er mwyn symud i Hinckley, Swydd Caerlŷr, at eu mab. Tynnodd y ffotograffydd Geoff Charles lun o r pâr, yn edrych allan tros eu cartref cyn iddyn nhw symud ac mae n debyg mai hwn yw r enwocaf o i ffotograffau. Bu farw Carneddog yn Hinckley yn 1947, ac fe i gladdwyd ym mynwent Beddgelert. Carneddi in Nantmor, near Beddgelert was Carneddog s home, and he lived there until 1945, working as a sheep farmer. He was a keen contributor to magazines such as Cymru, and newspapers like Baner ac Amserau Cymru and Yr Herald Gymraeg, as well as an array of books from biographies of poets such as Jac Glan-y-Gors and Glaslyn to anthologies such as Blodau r Gynghanedd and Cerddi Eryri. Carneddog was also a keen collector of books and manuscripts and was renowned as a local historian. He was married to Catherine, also a native of Nantmor, and two sons were born to them. In 1945, Carneddog and his wife left their home in Nantmor, to move to Hinckley Leicestershire, near where their son lived. The photographer, Geoff Charles took a photo of Carneddog and his wife, looking out over their farm just before they moved and this is likely to be his most famous photograph. Carneddog died in Hinckley in 1947 and is buried in Beddgelert cemetery. 22
Syr/Sir Owen Morgan Edwards - Llanuwchllyn Llenor a hyrwyddwr Cymreictod Litterateur and promoter of Welsh culture 1858-1920 Adwaenir O.M.Edwards fel un o gefnogwyr mwyaf brwd addysg a llenyddiaeth Gymraeg. Roedd o n genedlaetholwr diwylliannol yn hytrach na gwleidyddol (er iddo fod yn Aelod Seneddol tros Feirionnydd rhwng 1899 a 1900 yn dilyn marwolaeth T.E.Ellis) gan ffafrio mynegi ei hunaniaeth Gymreig trwy gyfrwng ei lyfrau a i erthyglau. Addysgwyd Edwards yng Ngholeg y Bala, Coleg y Brifysgol Aberystwyth a Choleg Balliol, Rhydychen, lle ddarganfyddodd ei ddiddordeb mewn hanes. Gweithiodd am gyfnod fel tiwtor hanes yng Ngholeg Lincoln, Rhydychen, ond llenyddiaeth oedd gwir alwedigaeth Edwards. Gwnaeth gyfraniad sylweddol i lenyddiaeth Gymraeg, mewn cyfnod pan fu ffurfioldeb ieithyddol a chynnwys diflas yn stigma ar lên Cymraeg. Ym 1907, apwyntiwyd Edwards yn arolygydd ysgolion cyntaf Cymru, sef swydd a roddodd iddo gyfle i hyrwyddo defnydd o r iaith Gymraeg mewn ysgolion. Yn anffodus, ni fu ei ymdrechion i berswadio r Bwrdd Canol i feithrin agwedd mwy Cymreig wrth ddelio gydag addysg yng Nghymru mor lwyddiannus. Serch hynny, mae etifeddiaeth O.M.Edwards tros hyrwyddo ymwybyddiaeth o Gymreictod yn parhau n fyw hyd heddiw. O.M.Edwards is known as one of the most prominent advocates of Welsh education and literature. He was a cultural, rather than political nationalist (although he was M.P. for Meirionnydd between 1899 and 1900, following the death of T.E.Ellis) favouring to express his Welsh identity through the medium of his books and articles. Edwards was educated at Coleg y Bala, University College, Aberystwyth, and Balliol College, Oxford, where he discovered his interest in history. He worked for a time as a history tutor at Lincoln College, Oxford but Edwards true vocation was as a litterateur. He made a substantial contribution to Welsh literature, at a time when Welsh literature suffered the stigma of linguistic formality and uninteresting content. In 1907, Edwards was appointed the first of the Welsh school inspectors, a post which gave him the opportunity to promote the use of the Welsh language in schools. Unfortunately, his efforts to persuade the Central Welsh Board for Intermediate Education to adopt a more pro- Welsh attitude when dealing with education in Wales weren t so successful. Nevertheless, O.M.Edwards legacy of promoting awareness of Welsh culture and language remain as true today as they were during Edwards lifetime. Angharad James - Dolwyddelan Bardd / Poet?1680-?1730 Derbyniodd Angharad James addysg dda, gan ddysgu Lladin a daeth yn delynores ac yn brydyddes medrus. Yn ferch ugain oed, priododd Angharad James a James Davies, gŵ r a oedd ddeugain mlynedd yn hyn na hi. Yn eironig iawn, ysgrifennodd gerdd ar ffurf deilaog rhyngddi hi a i chwaer, Margared, lle mae r naill yn cefnogi priodi â gŵ r ifanc a r llall yn hyrwyddo priodi â gŵ r hwn! Angharad James was a well educated woman, having received instruction in Latin, and was an accomplished harpist and poet. When she was twenty years old, Angharad married James Davies, who was forty years her senior. Ironically, Angharad James composed a poem in the form of a dialogue between herself and her sister, Margared, where one advocated marrying a younger husband and the other support marrying an older spouse! 23
Robert Roberts (Bob Roberts, Tai r Felin) - Cefnddwysarn Cantor / Singer 1870-1951 Fel ffermwr a melinydd enillodd Bob Roberts ei fara a i fenyn, ond roedd o n ganwr gwerin adnabyddus iawn mewn cylchoedd eisteddfodol a nosweithiau llawen, a hefyd ar sgrîn y teledu a thonfeddi r radio. Rhoddodd ei lais unigryw a r cyhoeddusrwydd a dderbyniodd, hwb i gerddi a chaneuon gwerin, a fyddai wedi u hanghofio a u colli fel arall: Moliannwn, Yr Asyn a fu Farw, Mari Fach fy Nghariad a Gwenno Penygelli. Bu farw Bob Roberts yn 1951, ac fe i gladdwyd ym mynwent Llanycil. Bob Roberts earned his crust as a farmer and miller, but he was also a renowned folk singer on the eisteddfod and noson lawen circuit and also on television screens and on the radio waves. His distinctive voice and the publicity he received created a hubbub around traditional poems and folk songs which would otherwise have been forgotten and lost, Moliannwn, Yr Asyn a fu Farw, Mari Fach fy Nghariad and Gwenno Penygelli. Bob Roberts died in 1951 and is buried in Llanycil cemetery. T.Osborne Roberts - Ysbyty Ifan Cyfansoddwr / Composer 1879-1948 Ganwyd Thomas Osborne Roberts yng Nghroesoswallt yn 1879, a symudodd i Ysbyty Ifan yn unarddeg mlwydd oed, pan ddaeth ei rieni i gadw siop yn y pentref. Bwriodd Roberts ei brentisiaeth yn swyddfa ystad y miwlriad Barnes yn yr Waun a dyna fu dechrau ei yrfa gerddorol, wrth iddo ddysgu canu r piano a chyfansoddi dan arweinyddiaeth D.Knight Bernard. Erbyn 1902, penderfynodd Roberts ddilyn gyrfa difrifol fel cerddor a bu n organydd ac yn arweinydd ar gorau capeli yn Llandudno ac yng Nghaernarfon. Cyfansoddodd sawl cân enwog, megis Y Mab Afradlon, y Good Shepherd, Brwydr y Baltic, Y Nefoedd, Pistyll y Llan, a Cymru Lân. Bu farw T.Osborne Roberts ym mis Mehefin, 1948, ac fe i gladdwyd ym mynwent Ysbyty Ifan. T.Osborne Roberts was born in Oswestry in 1879 and moved to Ysbyty Ifan when he was eleven years old, when his parents came to run the village shop. Roberts spent his apprenticeship at the office of Colonel Barnes estate in Chirk and it was there that his musical career began, as he learnt to play the piano and to compose, under the tuition of D.Knight Bernard. By 1902, Roberts had decided that music would be his chosen career and he became organist and conductor of various chapel choirs in Llandudno and Caernarfon. He composed several well known songs, such as Y Mab Afradlon, Good Shepherd, Brwydr y Baltic, Y Nefoedd, Pistyll y Llan and Cymru Lân. T.Osborne Roberts passed away in June, 1948, and is buried in Ysbyty Ifan cemetery. Humphrey Jones, Bryfdir - Llanfrothen Chwarelwr a Bardd / Quarryman and Poet 1867-1947 Brodor o Gwm Croesor oedd Humphrey Jones, a ddaeth yn chwarelwr ar achlysur ei ymadawiad â r ysgol. Dechreuodd farddoni tra n llanc ifanc, a i athro barddol oedd y bardd Richard Jones Owen ( Glaslyn ). Yn 1890, daeth Jones yn aelod o Orsedd y Beirdd ac yn ystod ei oes, enillodd 64 o gadeiriau eisteddfodol ac 8 o goronau! Bu hefyd yn arweinydd eisteddfodau effeithiol, yn lled enwog am ei allu i gadw trefn ar y gynulleidfa. Humphrey Jones was a native of Cwm Croesor, who upon leaving school, became a quarryman. He began to develop his poetic skills as a young man, under the instruction of the poet, Richard Jones Owen ( Glaslyn ). In 1890, Jones became a member of the Gorsedd y Beirdd (the Druids) and won 64 eisteddfod chairs and 8 crowns! He was also a regular leader of eisteddfods and was well known for his ability to keep control of audiences. 24
Robert Owen (Bob Owen) - Croesor Hanesydd a chasglwr llyfrau Historian and collector of books 1885-1962 Yn enedigol o bentref Llanfrothen, cyn ymgartrefu yng Nghroesor, dechreuodd Bob Owen, Croesor ei yrfa fel gwas fferm, gan symud ymlaen i weithio fel clerc yn Chwarel y Rhosydd, Croesor. Bu n weithgar iawn gyda Chymdeithas Addysg y Gweithwyr, yn gasglwr llyfrau a chylchgronnau brwd iawn, gan droi ei gartref yn llyfrgell i bob pwrpas. Cafodd ei ystyried yn arbenigwr ar achyddiaeth a bu hefyd yn cyfrannu i gyhoeddiadau megis Y Genedl Gymreig trwy ei golofn wythnosol, Lloffion Bob Owen. Wedi marwolaeth Bob Owen, sefydlwyd Cymdeithas Bob Owen, sy n anrhydeddu ei angerdd tros y gair print. Cymdeithas Bob Owen yw cyheoddwyr cylchgrawn Y Casglwr. Bob Owen was born in Llanfrothen, before making his home in Croesor. He begun his career as a farm hand, before moving on to work as a clerk in the Rhosydd Quarry, Croesor. He was an industrious member of the Workers Educational Association, collecting books and articles and turning his home into a virtual library. Bob Owen was considered to be an expert on genealogy and he also contributed a great deal to publications such as Y Genedl Gymreig, with his weekly column, Lloffion Bob Owen. Following his death, the Bob Owen Society was formed, celebrating his passion for the printed word. The Bob Owen Society is the publisher of Y Casglwr magazine. Ellis Humphrey Evans (Hedd Wyn) Bardd a bugail / Poet and shepherd 1887-1917 Yr Ysgwrn yn Nhrawsfynydd oedd cartref Hedd Wyn: ardal a fu n ysbrydoliaeth ar gyfer llawer o i gerddi. Fe i addysgwyd yn yr Ysgol Elfennol leol ac yn yr Ysgol Sul, ond trwy ei chwilfrydedd ei hun, meithriniodd wybodaeth ddiwylliannol dda a chafwyd sawl cerdd adnabyddus ganddo, megis Gwae Fi Fy Myw. Yn 1917, dan Ddeddf Gwasanaeth Milwrol 1915, gorfodwyd Hedd Wyn i ymuno â r fyddin ac ymladd yn y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf. Bu n ymladd yn y ffosydd yn Ffrainc, a bu farw ym Mrwydr Pilkem Ridge, ar Orffennaf 31ain, 1917. Prin chwe wythnos yn ddiweddarach, cyhoeddwyd mai fo oedd enillydd Cadair Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Penbedw, a byth ers hynny, caiff yr Eisteddfod ei gofio fel Eisteddfod y Gadair Ddu. Cafodd Hedd Wyn ei anfarwoli yn Englynion Coffa Hedd Wyn gan R.Williams Parry a hefyd yn y ffilm, Hedd Wyn a enwebwyd am wobr Oscar yn 1994. Yr Ysgwrn, Trawsfynydd was Hedd Wyn s home and the Trawsfynydd area is a theme often featured in his work. He was educated at the local Elementary School and at Sunday School, but it was through his own curiosity that he fostered a wealth of cultural knowledge, and he composed several renowned poems, such as Gwae Fi Fy Myw. In 1917, under the Military Service Act, 1916, Hedd Wyn was conscripted to fight for the British Army in World War I. He fought in the trenches in France, and died in the Battle of Pilkem Ridge, July 31st, 1917. Just six weeks later, Hedd Wyn was announced the winner of the chair at Birkenhead National Eisteddfod, and this Eisteddfod has been known as Eisteddfod y Gadair Ddu ( The Eisteddfod of the Black Chair ) ever since. Hedd Wyn was immortalised in the Englynion Coffa Hedd Wyn poems by R.Williams Parry, and also in the Hedd Wyn film, nominated for an Oscar award in 1994. 25
Morris Davies (Moi Plas) - Trawsfynydd Chwarelwr a hanesydd lleol / Quarryman and local historian 1891-1961 Bu Moi Plas, fel yr adwaenir Morris Davies, yn ddisgybl yn ysgol Trawsfynydd, ac yn gyfaill bore oes i r bardd, Hedd Wyn. Gwasanaethodd fel milwr yn ystod y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf, ac yna bu n gweithio fel chwarelwr yng ngweithfeydd Maenofferen, Oakeley a Llechwedd ym Mlaenau Ffestiniog, hyd ei ymddeoliad ym 1956. Yn dilyn ei ymddeoliad, sefydlodd gymdeithas i sicrhau amodau byw gwell i chwarelwyr a oedd wedi u hanafu yn eu gwaith, a chyfranodd yn achlysurol i bapurau Cymraeg fel Y Cymro, Y Seren a r Herald Gymraeg. Roedd gan Moi Plas chwilfrydedd mawr am y gorffennol a chafodd ei ystyried yn arbenigwr ar hanes ardal Trawsfynydd. Moi Plas, as Morris Davies was known, was a pupil at Trawsfynydd school and was a lifelong friend of Hedd Wyn. He served as a soldier during World War I and then worked in the Maenofferen, Oakeley and Llechwedd Quarries in Blaenau Ffestiniog until his retirement in 1956. Following his retirement, Moi Plas established a movement which aimed to ensure better living conditions for quarrymen who had been injured during their working lives, and also contributed to Welsh newspapers such as Y Cymro, Y Seren, and Yr Herald Gymraeg. Moi Plas had a great interest in the past and was considered to be an expert on the history of the Trawsfynydd area. Syr/Sir T.H.Parry-Williams - Rhyd Ddu Prifardd ac Ysgolhaig / Chief poet and Scholar 1887-1975 Magwyd T.H.Parry Williams yn Nhŷ r Ysgol, Rhyd Ddu, lle r oedd ei dad yn ysgolfeistr. Bu ei fagwraeth yn Eryri yn ddylanwad aruthrol ar waith T.H.Parry- Williams fel bardd, mewn cerddi megis Llyn y Gadair a Moelni. Derbyniodd ei addysg yng Ngholeg Prifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth, Rhydychen, Freiburg yn yr Almaen a r Sorbonne ym Mharis. Bu T.H.Parry-Williams yn ddarlithydd yn y Gymraeg yn Aberystwyth, ond ni chafodd ei ddyrchafu i swydd yr Athro yn 1919, oherwydd ei ddaliadau fel gwrthwynebwr cydwybodol yn ystod y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf. Erbyn 1920, serch hynny, roedd y Coleg wedi ildio ac yno y bu hyd 1952. Enillodd T.H.Parry-Williams gadair yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn Wrecsam a choron yr Eisteddfod ym Mangor ac yn 1947, derbyniodd gydnabyddiaeth am ei waith cyhoeddus, pan gafodd ei urddo n farchog. Sir T.H.Parry-Williams was brought up in T ŷ r Ysgol, Rhyd Ddu, where his father was headmaster. His childhood in Snowdonia greatly influenced T.H.Parry-Williams poetic work, in poems such as Llyn y Gadair and Moelni. He was educated at the University College, Aberystwyth, Oxford, Freiburg in Germany and at the Sorbonne in Paris. T.H.Parry-Williams became a lecturer in the department of Welsh at Aberystwyth, but was refused promotion to the post of professor, because of his beliefs as a conscientious objector during World War I. The college changed its mind in 1920, however, and T.H.Parry-Williams became professor of Welsh until his retirement in 1952. Parry-Williams won the National Eisteddfod chair in Wrexham and Bangor and was knighted in 1947 in recognition of his public services. 26
Kate Roberts - Rhosgadfan Llenor / Litterateur 1891-1985 Magwyd Kate Roberts yng nghymdeithas chwarelyddol Sir Gaernarfon, a dylanwadodd ddiwylliant ardaloedd y chwareli yn fawr ar ei llenyddiaeth. Bu n fyfyrwraig yng Ngholeg Prifysgol Cymru Bangor ac yna bu n gweithio fel athrawes Gymraeg yn ysgolion Dolbadarn ac Ystalyfera, lle bu n dysgu r prifardd D.Gwenallt Jones. Ym 1928, priododd â Morris T.Williams ac ym 1935, prynasant Wasg Gee yn Ninbych. Gwasg Gee oedd cyhoeddwyr papur newydd Y Faner a bu Kate Roberts yn gyfrannwr cyson iddo. Parhaodd i redeg y wasg am ddeng mlynedd wedi marwolaeth ei gŵ r yn 1946. Bellach, caiff Kate Roberts ei hadnabod fel Brenhines ein Llên ac mae ei champweithiau mwyaf adnabyddus yn cynnwys Te yn y Grug, Deian a Loli, Traed Mewn Cyffion, Tegwch y Bore ac Y Byw sy n Cysgu. Bellach, mae cartref plentyndod Kate Roberts, sef Cae r Gors yn Rhosgadfan, yn ganolfan treftadaeth, sy n dathlu ei chyfraniad anhygoel i lenyddiaeth a diwylliant Cymreig. Kate Roberts was brought up in industrial Caernarfonshire, and the culture of the slate quarries had a huge bearing on her literature. She was a pupil at Ysgol Rhostryfan and Caernarfon County School and then a student at University of Wales College, Bangor. Roberts worked as a Welsh teacher in Dolbadarn and Ystalyfera schools, where she taught the chief poet, D.Gwenallt Jones. In 1928, Roberts married Morris T.Williams and in 1935, they bought Gwasg Gee press in Denbigh. Gwasg Gee printed the Y Faner newspaper, to which Kate Roberts frequently contributed and she continued to run the press for ten years following the death of her husband in 1946. Kate Roberts is now known as Brenhines ein Llên ( Queen of our Literature ) and her most accomplished publications include Te yn y Grug, Traed Mewn Cyffion, Deian a Loli, Tegwch y Bore and Y Byw Sy n Cysgu. Kate Roberts childhood home, Cae r Gors in Rhosgadfan, is now a heritage centre, celebrating her vast contribution to Welsh literature and culture. Syr/Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards - Llanuwchllyn Sylfaenydd Urdd Gobaith Cymru Founder of Urdd Gobaith Cymru 1895-1970 Ganwyd Ifan ab Owen Edwards yn Llanuwchllyn, yn fab i O.M.Edwards a i wraig Ellen. Graddiodd mewn hanes o Goleg Lincoln, Rhydychen a dilynodd yrfa fel athro yn Nolgellau am gyfnod, cyn dod yn diwtor ac yn ddarlithydd hanes yng Ngholeg Prifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth. Roedd Edwards yn awyddus iawn i barhau gydag etifeddiaeth ei dad, i hyrwyddo addysg Gymraeg ac ymwybyddiaeth o Gymreictod, a diolch i w gymeriad blaengar a brwdfrydig, llwyddodd i wneud hynny. Yn 1922, sefydlodd fudiad ieuenctid Urdd Gobaith Cymru a dilyniwyd hynny gyda sefydlu gwersyll yr Urdd yn Llanuwchllyn yn 1928, gwersylloedd parhaol yn Llangrannog a Glan Llyn yn 1932 a 1950, sefydlu Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yr Urdd yn 1929 a mabolgampau r Urdd yn 1932. Yn 1939, agorwyd Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth, diolch i waith Ifan ab Owen Edwards a chredai mai dyma oedd ei waith pwysicaf. Urddwyd ef yn farchog yn 1947, fel cydnabyddiaeth o i gyfraniad sylweddol i r genedl Gymreig a r iaith Gymraeg. Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards was born in Llanuwchllyn, a son to Sir O.M.Edwards and his wife, Ellen. He graduated in history from Lincoln College, Oxford. Edwards followed a career as a teacher in Dolgellau, later becoming a tutor and lecturer in history at University of Wales College, Aberystwyth. Edwards was eager to continue his father s legacy, of promoting Welsh education and awareness, and thanks to his progressive, enthusiastic personality, he succeeded in doing so. In 1922, Edwards established the Welsh youth movement, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, followed with establishing the Urdd camp in Llanuwchllyn in 1928, permanent camps in Llangrannog and Glan-Llyn in 1932 and 1950, establishing the Urdd National Eisteddfod in 1929 and the Urdd sports event in 1932. In 1939, Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth was opened, as the first Welsh school in Wales thanks to the dedication of Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards, who believed this to be his greatest accomplishment. He was knighted in 1947, in recognition of his huge contribution to the Welsh nation and language. 27
Meirion Williams - Dyffryn Ardudwy Cyfansoddwr / Composer 1901-1976 Ganwyd Meirion Williams yn Nyffryn Ardudwy a bu n astudio cerddoriaeth yn Aberystwyth ac Academi Gerdd Brenhinol, Llundain. Bu n gweithio fel pianydd yn Llundain, a bu n organydd a chôr feistr mewn sawl Capel Cymreig yn y ddinas. Bu n cyfeilio i nifer o gantorion a daeth yn feirniad cyson mewn Eisteddfodau Cenedlaethol. Cyfansoddodd sawl cân boblogaidd, e.e. Gwynfyd ac Aros Mae r Mynyddoedd Mawr. Meirion Williams was born in Dyffryn Ardudwy and studied music at Aberystwyth and the Royal Academy of Music, London. He worked as a pianist in London and was an organist and choirmaster for several Welsh chapels in the city. He accompanied many singers and was a frequent adjudicator in National Eisteddfods. Williams composed many popular Welsh songs, e.g. Gwynfyd and Aros Mae r Mynyddoedd Mawr. Caradog Prichard - Bethesda Llenor a Newyddiadurwr / Litterateur and Journalist 1904-1980 Ganwyd a magwyd Caradog Prichard yng nghysgod y llechi ym Methesda. Bu ei daid a i dad yn chwarelwyr yn Chwarel y Penrhyn, ac yn y chwarel y bu farw ill dau. Collodd Caradog ei dad ym 1905, pan oedd yn fabi pum mis oed, ac mae n sicr fod y profiad hwnnw wedi effeithio n fawr arno fo yn enwedig oherwydd yr amheuaeth nad damwain oedd y farwolaeth, gan fod tad Caradog yn Fradwr ac wedi torri r Streic Fawr (1899-1903), a dychwelyd yn ôl i w waith. Bu salwch meddwl ei fam hefyd yn boen meddwl ar Caradog Prichard, ac mae gwallgofrywdd ac ymatebion i wallgofrwydd yn themâu amlwg iawn yn ei waith. Bu Caradog Prichard yn fardd ifanc disglair iawn, gan ennill coron yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn 1927, 1928 ac 1929 cyrrhaeddiad mor eithriadol nes peri i drefnwyr yr Eisteddfod newid y rheolau i atal y fath ddigwyddiad eto. Er gwaetha i gyrrhaeddiadau barddonol, fel awdur Un Nos Ola Leuad (1961) y caiff Caradog Prichard ei gofio n bennaf, ac yn ôl rhai, dyma un o nofelau mwyaf yr iaith Gymraeg. Erbyn 1962, roedd Prichard wedi ennill cadair yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol hefyd. Yn Llundain y treuliodd Caradog Prichard ran helaethaf ei oes, yn gweithio i bapurau newydd y Daily Telegraph a r News Chronicle. Roedd Caradog Prichard yn briod â Mattie, a ganwyd iddynt un merch, sef Mari. Caradog Prichard was born and raised in the shadows of the slate industry in Bethesda. Both his father and grandfather were quarrymen in the Penrhyn Salate Quarry, and both died there. Caradog lost his father when he was a 5 month old baby, and this experience had a great effect on him especially since it was suspected that Caradog s father s death wasn t an accident, as he had broken the Great Strike (1899-1903) and had returned to work, cast as a Traitor. Caradog Prichard s mother s mental illness was also a cross for Caradog to bear, and insanity and reactions to insanity are themes frequently explored in his work. Caradog Prichard was a gifted poet, winning the National Eisteddfod crown in 1927, 1928 and 1929 such a magnificent achievement that the National Eiseddfod officials changed the rules to obstruct such an event from ever occurring again. Regardless of his poetic achievements, it is as the author of Un Nos Ola Leuad (1961) that Caradog Prichard is mainly remembered, and according to some, this is one of the most significant novels ever published in the Welsh language. By 1962, Caradog Prichard had also won the National Eisteddfod chair. He spent most of his life in London, working as a reporter for the Daily Telegraph and the News Chronicle newspapers. Caradog Prichard was married to Mattie, and they had one daughter, Mari. 28
Richie Thomas - Penmachno Cantor / Singer G20 / C20 Tenor byd enwog a enillodd Wobr David Ellis yn Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Machynlleth, 1953. Bu Thomas yn gweithio am dros ddeugain mlynedd yn ffatri wlân Penmachno. A world renowned tenor who won the David Ellis Prize at Machynlleth National Eisteddfod, 1953. Thomas worked for over forty years at the wool factory in Penmachno. Marion Eames - Dolgellau Llenor / Litterateur 1921-2007 Ganwyd Marion Eames ym Mhenbedw a magwyd hi yn Nolgellau, Sir Feirionnydd. Ar ôl ymadael â r ysgol, bu n gweithio fel llyfrgellydd yn Nolgellau ac Aberystwyth ac fel trefnydd Plaid Cymru yng ngogledd Cymru, cyn gadael am Lundain, i astudio r piano a r delyn yn Ysgol Gerdd y Guildhall. Priododd Eames â Griffith Williams, Crynwr y cyfarfodd yn Llundain, a phan benodwyd hi yn gynhyrchydd rhaglenni radio BBC Cymru, daeth y pâr yn ôl i Gymru, i fyw ym Morgannwg y tro hwn. Cyhoeddodd Marion Eames gyfres o nofelau hanesyddol, llwyddiannus, sef Y Stafell Ddirgel (1969), Y Rhandir Mwyn (1972), I Hela Cnau (1978), Y Gaeaf Sydd Unig (1982), Seren Gaeth (1985) ac Y Ferch Dawel (1992). Marion Eames was born in Birkenhead and was raised in Dolgellau. After leaving school, she worked as a librarian in Dolgellau and Aberystwyth, and then as organiser for Plaid Cymru in north Wales, before leaving for London to study the piano and harp at the Guildhall Academy of Music. Eames married Griffith Williams, a Quaker whom she met in London, and when Eames was appointed a producer of BBC Cymru radio programmes, the pair moved back to Wales to Glamorgan this time. Marion Eames published a series of successful historical novels, such as Y Stafell Ddirgel (1969), Y Rhandir Mwyn (1972), I Hela Cnau (1978), Y Gaeaf sydd Unig (1982), Seren Gaeth (1985) and Y Ferch Dawel (1992). Gwyn Thomas Bardd ac Ysgolhaig / Poet and Scholar 1936- Ganed yr Athro Gwyn Thomas yn Nhanygrisiau a derbyniodd ei addysg yn Ysgol Sir Ffestiniog, Coleg Prifysgol Cymru Bangor a Choleg Iesu, Rhydychen. Apwyntiwyd ef yn Fardd Cenedlaethol gan yr Academi yn 2006. Cyhoeddodd doreth o gyfrolau o gerddi megis Chwerwder y Ffynhonnau (1962), Symud y Lliwiau (1981) ac Apocalups Yfory (2005) yn ogystal ag astudiaethau fel Y Traddodiad Barddol. Gwyn Thomas gyfansoddodd y cerddi sydd i w gweld yn Hafod Eryri, canolfan ymwelwyr copa r Wyddfa. Professor Gwyn Thomas was born in Tanygrisiau and was educated at Ffestiniog County School, University of Wales College Bangor and Jesus College Oxford. He was appointed National Poet for Wales by the Academi in 2006 and has published several volumes of poetry, including Chwerwder y Ffynhonnau (1962), Symud y Lliwiau (1981) and Apocalups Yfory (2005) as well as studies such as Y Traddodiad Barddol. Gwyn Thomas composed the poetry featured at Hafod Eryri, the Snowdon summit visitor centre. 29
Sarah Jones - Ysbyty Ifan Arwres nofel / Novel heroine G20 / C20 Claddwyd Sarah Jones o Fferm Gwernhywel Uchaf ym mynwent Ysbyty Ifan, a hi fu r ysbrydoliaeth y tu ôl i nofel Merch Gwern Hywel gan Saunders Lewis, a gyhoeddwyd yn 1964. Mae r nofel yn adrodd trasiedi y ferch go iawn, Sarah Jones, pan briododd hi â r Parchedig Williams Roberts, clerigwr yn Sir Fôn, yn erbyn dymuniad ei mam. Ymddengys fod gwrthwynebiad mam Sarah Jones yn deillio o r ffaith ei bod hi n credu fod Sarah yn priodi o dan ei statws cymdeithasol ac oherwydd fod y Parchedig Roberts wedi awgrymu i w mab sefydlu ymarfer meddygol yn Nhreffynnon, gan arwain at ei farwolaeth cyn-amserol. Sarah Jones, of Gwernhywel Uchaf farm and the inspiration behind Saunders Lewis acclaimed novel, Merch Gwernhywel ( Daughter of Gwernhywel ) published in 1964, is buried in Ysbyty Ifan cemetery. The novel tells the real life tragedy of Sarah Jones, when she married the Reverend William Roberts, a clergyman from Anglesey, against her mother s wishes. It seems that Sarah s mother s objection derived from the fact that she felt that Sarah was marrying below her social status and since the Reverend Roberts had suggested that her son establish a medical practice in Holywell, leading to his untimely death. Merched y Wawr - Y Parc Mudiad Cymreig / Welsh Movement 1967 Ym mis Rhagfyr 1966, cyhoeddwyd llythyr o gŵ yn gan aelodau cangen Y Parc Sefydliad y Merched yn Y Cymro, yn dangos anfodlonrwydd yr aelodau bod Sefydliad y Merched yn ymdrin â changhennau Cymreig trwy gyfrwng y Saesneg, er fod y canghennau n gweithredu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg fel arall. Ymwelodd swyddogion y sefydliad â r Parc ac awgrymu os nad oedd yr aelodau n fodlon gyda r trefniant, y dylid cau r gangen. Nid dyna fwriad yr aelodau yn Y Parc, ond dan yr amgylchiadau, penderfynwyd sefydlu cymdeithas Gymreig a Chymraeg newydd i ferched, gyda r gangen gyntaf yn agor yn Y Parc. Dechreuwyd casglu arian ar gyfer sefydlu r mudiad yn Ffair Glame r Bala, pan ddaeth Meirion Jones ar eu traws. Pan glywodd yr hanes, aeth ati i hyrwyddo r mudiad newydd a chyn diwedd mis Mai, roedd cangen arall o Ferched y Wawr wedi i sefydlu yn Y Ganllwyd. Cafwyd presenoldeb gan Ferched y Wawr yn Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Y Bala, 1967 ac yn deillio o holl fôn braich merched Parc, tyfodd y mudiad yn un cenedlaethol, sy n parhau n rhan amlwg o Gymreictod. In December 1966, a letter of complaint was printed in the Welsh newspaper, Y Cymro stating the disappointment of members of the Y Parc branch of the Women s Institute that the W.I. corresponded with Welsh branches through the medium of English, although the branches worked entirely through the medium of Welsh. W.I. officials visited Y Parc and suggested that if members weren t satisfied with the order, the branch should be shut. The members at Y Parc hadn t intended for this to happen, but felt that they were left with little choice and decided to set up a Welsh society for women, with the first branch opening in Y Parc. The women began to fundraise for their new society at Bala fair, where Meirion Jones came across them. When he heard their story, he began to promote the new society and by the end of May, another branch of Merched y Wawr was established in Ganllwyd. These branches were present in the National Eisteddfod of 1967 and due to the hard work of the women of Y Parc, Merched y Wawr grew into a major national movement and a lively part of the Welsh culture. 30
Cymeriadau Anhygoel Eryri Amazing Characters of Snowdonia Tirwedd a Natur Landscape and Nature Edward Lhuyd - Croesoswallt / Oswestry Naturiaethwr / Naturalist 1660-1709 Bu Edward Lhuyd yn athrylith o naturiaethwr a hynafiaethydd yn ei ddydd, a chyhoeddodd weithiau pwysig iawn ym meysydd botaneg a daeareg. Ei waith enwocaf, mae n debyg, yw Archaeologia Britannica, a gyhoeddwyd yn 1707. Yn ystod Haf 1688, bu Lhuyd yn casglu ac yn ymchwilio planhigion yn Eryri, a gallwn briodoli enw Lladin Lili r Wyddfa, sef y Lloydia Serotina, i enw Edward Lhuyd. Edward Lhuyd was an intuitive naturalist and antiquarian in his day, and published several important botanical and geological works. His most famous publication is probably Archaeologica Britannica, published in 1707. During the Summer of 1688, Lhuyd was on expedition in north Wales, collecting and researching plants in Snowdonia and the Latin name of the Snowdon Lily, Lloydia Serotina can be attributed to the name of Edward Lhuyd. Thomas Pennant - Sir y Fflint / Flintshire Naturiaethwr / Naturalist 1726-1798 Byth er ei blentyndod, bu gan Thomas Pennant syched am adaryddiaeth a byd natur, ac fel oedolyn, cafodd gyfle i deithio n bell: trwy Gymru a Lloegr, yr Alban a r Hebrides, Iwerddon a thros y môr i gyfandir Ewrop. Derbyniodd ei addysg yn yr ysgol yn Wrecsam ac yng Ngholeg y Frenhines Rhydychen, er nad enillodd radd yn y diwedd. Er i Pennant gyhoeddi sawl gwaith, mae n debyg mai ei weithiau mwyaf adanbyddus yw Tours in Wales (1778) ac A Journey in Snowdonia (1781). Gohebodd â rhai o ddeallusion mwyaf blaenllaw r dydd, megis Linnaeus a Dr Pallas, Morrisiaid Môn, Hugh Davies a Moses Griffith. Ever since his childhood, Thomas Pennant had an insatiable interest in birds and nature, and as an adult he was given the opportunity to travel widely: through England and Wales, Scotland and the Hebrides, Ireland and mainland Europe. Pennant was educated in Wrexham and Queen s College, Cambridge, although he didn t achieve a degree. Pennant published several works but his most famous publications are probably Tours in Wales (1778) and A Journey in Snowdonia (1781). He corresponded with some of the most prominent intellectuals of his era, such as Linnaeus, Dr Pallas, the Morris of Anglesey, Hugh Davies and Moses Griffith. 31
William Williams (Will Boots) - Llanberis Tywysydd yr Wyddfa / Snowdon Guide 1805-1861 Ganed William Williams yn Llanfwrog, Sir Ddinbych a bu n gweini teuluoedd bonheddig yno ac ym Mangor. Mynychodd yr ysgol ym Mangor am chwe mis, ac yn dilyn hynny, aeth i weithio i westy r Royal Victoria yn Llanberis. Un o i brif ddyletswyddau oedd glanhau esgidiau r ymwelwyr, a dyna sut y bathwyd yr enw Will Boots arno. Ymddiddorai Will Boots mewn crisialau, planhigion a phryfaid a daethpwyd i w adnabod fel y botanical guide. Roedd ganddo wybodaeth ddaearegol dda hefyd. Byddai ymwelwyr yn gwirioni at ei hanesion a i wybodaeth eang a byddai n arwain hyd at dair taith i gopa r Wyddfa bob dydd. Roedd Will Boots yn gymeriad lled-enwog ac mae n eironig iawn iddo farw wrth chwilio am blanhigion ar Glogwyn y Garnedd. Hyd heddiw, gelwir y man lle y daethpwyd o hyd i w gorff yn Ffos Will Boots. William Williams was born in Llanfwrog, Denbighshire and served gentry families there and in Bangor. He attended school in Bangor for six months and then went to work at the Royal Victoria, Llanberis. One of his main duties was to clean the shoes of visitors, which is how he was given the nickname, Will Boots. Will had a great interest in crystals, plants and insects and came to be known as the botanical guide. He also had a good geological knowledge too. Visitors would delight at his stories and his wealth of knowledge. Will would lead three journeys to the summit of Snowdon daily, becoming an infamous persona. It is ironic that he died while searching for plants on Clogwyn y Garnedd. The spot where his body was found is called Ffos Will Boots ( Will Boots Gully ) to this day. Charles Darwin - Yr Amwythig / Shrewsbury Daearegydd / Geologist 1809-1882 Ganwyd Charles Robert Darwin i deulu adnabyddus yn yr Amwythig yn 1809. Roedd ei daid ar ochr ei dad, Erasmus Darwin yn un o ddeallusion mwyaf blaenllaw y bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg a i daid ar ochr ei fam oedd Josiah Wedgwood, sefydlydd y cwmni serameg byd-enwog, Wedgwood. Er mai fel biolegydd y caiff Darwin ei gofio yn bennaf, fel daearegydd yr oedd o fwyaf adnabyddus, hyd 1850. Yn Haf 1831, ymunodd Charles Darwin ag Adam Sedgwick, ei Athro Daeareg yng Nghaergrawnt, ar ei daith ddaearegol flynyddol i ogledd Cymru, ac yn ystod y daith hon, datblygodd sgiliau mewn amrywiaeth o feysydd daearegol, e.e. arsylwi cemegol. Cyfeiria Michael Roberts at y daith hon yn 1831 fel one of the most formative aspects of Darwin s scientific development. Ar Awst 29ain, dychwelodd Darwin i r Amwythig, lle r oedd llythyrau gan John Stevens Henslow a George Peacock yn ei wahodd i ymuno â mordaith HMS Beagle, ar daith arolwg i ynysoedd y Galapagos yn y Môr Tawel. Mi fu gwaith daearegol Darwin yng ngogledd Cymru, gyda Sedgwick yn allweddol i w ymchwil ddaearegol ar fwrdd y Beagle, e.e. ar Quail Island. Yr ymweliad hwn i r Galapagos ffurfiodd sail ymchwil a damcaniaeth Charles Darwin ar esblygiad. Bu farw Darwin yn 1882 ac fe i gladdwyd yn Abaty San Steffan. Charles Robert Darwin was born to a well-known family in Shrewsbury in 1809. His paternal grandfather, Erasmus Darwin was one of the most prominent intellectuals of the C19, and his maternal grandfather, Josiah Wedgwood was the founder of the world famous Wedgwood ceramics manufacturer. Although Charles Darwin is mainly commemorated as a biologist, it was as a geologist that he was mostly know, until 1850. In Summer 1831, Charles Darwin joined Adam Sedgwick, his Geology tutor at Cambridge on his annual geology tour of north Wales and whilst on this tour, Darwin developed key skills in several geological fields, such as chemical observations. Michael Roberts refers to this journey in 1831 as one of the most formative aspects of Darwin s scientific development. On August 29th, 1831, Darwin returned to Shrewsbury, where letters from John Stevens Henslow and George Peacock had arrived, inviting Darwin to join the HMS Beagle voyage to the Galapagos Island in the Pacific Ocean. Darwin s geological work with Darwin in north Wales were key to his geological research onboard HMS Beagle, e.g. on Quail Island. This visit to the Galapagos Islands formed the basis of Darwin s Theory of Evolution. Darwin died in 1882, and is buried in Westminster Abbey. 32
John Menlove Edwards - Southport Dringwr / Climber 1910-1958 Meddyg oedd John Menlove Edwards wrth ei waith, ond fel dringwr creigiau arloesol ac arbrofol y byddwn ni n ei gofio yn Eryri. Adnabyddir Edwards fel y mwyaf blaenllaw o ddringwyr creigiau Eryri Ail Oes Aur mynydda, yn ystod yr 1930au, a bu n ysgrifennu llawlyfrau Clwb y Dringwyr ar Gwm Idwal (1936), Tryfan (1937), Lliwedd (1939) a Chlogwyn Du r Arddu (1942). Ymhyfrydai Edwards yn her mynyddoedd Eryri, a lleoedd megis Clogwyn y Geifr sy n nodweddiadol yn llaith a llithrig, ond doedd ganddo fawr o ddiddordeb ym mynyddoedd yr Alpau. Er gwaetha i ddoniau proffesiynol a i dalent fel dringwr, methodd Edwards â dygymod â i broblemau personol, ac ym 1958, cyflawnodd hunanladdiad. Yn ôl Bywgraffiadur Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, â Menlove Edwards yn anad neb y cysylltir naws y 1930au ar greigiau Eryri. John Menlove Edwards was a doctor by vocation, but it s as an innovative, experimental rock climber that we in Snowdonia remember him. Edwards is regarded as being the most prominent of the rock climbers of Snowdonia during the Second Golden Age of rock climbing during the 1930s and wrote the Climbers Club s handbooks on several areas, such as Cwm Idwal (1936), Tryfan (1937), Lliwedd (1939) and Clogwyn Du r Arddu (1942). Edwards took great enjoyment in the mountains of Snowdonia and places such as Clogwyn y Geifr which is characteristically moist and slippery, although he held very little regard for the Alps. Despite his professional talents and his skills as a rock climber, Edwards couldn t come to terms with his personal problems and committed suicide in 1958. According to the National Library of Wales Welsh Biography the atmosphere of the 1930s on the rock-face in Snowdonia is associated more with Menlove Edwards than anyone else.. Eric Jones - Tremadog Mynyddwr / Mountaineer Daeth Eric Jones yn adnabyddus fel aelod o r tim a wnaeth yr ymdrech gyntaf i ddringo Everest heb ocsigen, yn 1978, ac am ddringo wyneb ogleddol yr Eiger ar ei ben ei hun yn 1981. Dringodd fynydd Everest eto yn 1995. Eric Jones became prominent as a member of the team that made the first attempt to climb Everest without the aid of oxygen in 1978, and for climbing the north face of the Eiger on his own in 1981. He climbed Everest again in 1995. 33
Cymeriadau Anhygoel Eryri Amazing Characters of Snowdonia Llên Gwerin Folklore Branwen ferch Llŷ r, Harlech Cymeriad chwedlonol / Mythological character Ail gainc y Mabinogi / Second branch of the Mabinogi Branwen ferch Llŷ r Mae r chwedl epig hon o frad a chenfigen yn dechrau gyda dyfodiad Matholwch, Brenin Iwerddon, i Harlech i geisio cymryd Branwen yn wraig iddo. Cafodd y wledd briodas ar Ynys Môn ei difetha gan falais hanner brawd Branwen, Efinisien, a oedd yn flin am nad oedd Bendigeidfran y Cawr, sef brawd Branwen wedi ymgynghori ag ef ynghylch y briodas. Aeth Efnisien ati i anafu r ceffylau, a roddwyd i r Brenin Gwyddelig fel gwaddol, trwy dorri eu cynffonau, eu hamrannau a u gwefusau. Yn ddiweddarach, wedi i Branwen ymgartrefu yn Iwerddon a geni mab o r enw Gwern, cafodd ei chosbi oherwydd yr hyn a wnaeth Efinisien gynt - cafodd ei di-raddio i statws morwyn a chafodd fonclust dyddiol gan y cigydd. Fel morwyn, y gegin oedd cartref Branwen, ond roedd ganddi un ffrind yno, sef drudwy fach. Dywedodd Branwen wrth y drudwy am ei loes ac mewn anobaith, anfonodd y drudwy i Gymru, i gludo neges at Fendigeidfran, yn ceisio cymorth ganddo. Gyrrodd Fendigeidfran fyddin o Gymru i Iwerddon ar unwaith, a cherddodd drwy r môr, gan nad oedd unrhyw long yn ddigon cryf i w gario. Bu i r Gwyddelod ymladd yn ôl, ond cawsant eu trechu. Gwnaethpwyd Gwern, mab Branwen a Matholwch, yn Frenin Iwerddon, ond darganfu Efinisien gynllwyn bradwrus i ladd y Brythoniaid yn ystod y wledd goroni. Taflodd Gwern i r tân yn fwriadol, gan ddechrau brwydr hyd farwolaeth rhwng y ddwy fyddin. Yn y diwedd, dim ond saith Brython oedd yn weddill - lladdwyd Bendigeidfran hyd yn oed. Dychwelodd y saith i Ynys Môn gyda Branwen ac yno y bu hi farw o dôr-calon, wrth sylweddoli fod y ddwy deyrnas wedi u dinistro o i hachos hi. This epic tale of treason and jealousy begins with Matholwch, King of Ireland arriving in Harlech, requesting Branwen s hand in marriage. He was granted permission to marry her, by Branwen s brother, the giant and King of Britain, Bendigeidfran. The wedding feast was held on Anglesey, but was ruined by Branwen s half brother, Efnisien s rage that his permission wasn t sought before the marriage. Efnisien set to injure the horses that were given to Matholwch as dowry, by cutting their tails, eyebrows and lips. Later, when Branwen had made her home in Ireland and given birth to a son named Gwern, she was punished for Efnisien s actions: she was demoted to the status of a maid and was beaten daily by the butcher. As a maid, the kitchen was her home, but she did have one friend there: a starling. Branwen told the starling of her anguish and in her despair, she sent the starling to Wales, with a message for Bendigeidfran, asking for his help. Bendigeidfran sent an army from Wales to Ireland at once, and Bendigeidfran walked through the sea, since there wasn t a boat big enough to carry him. The Irish fought back, but they were soon beaten. Gwern, Branwen and Matholwch s son was proclaimed King of Ireland, but Efnisien heard of a plot to kill the Brythonic soldiers during the coronation ceremony. He threw Gwern into a fire, and began a tooth and nail war between the two armies. Eventually, only seven Brythons remained even Bendigeidfran was killed. The seven returned to Anglesey with Branwen, who died there of a broken heart, as she realised that two kingdoms were destroyed because of her. 34
Bendigeidfran fab Llŷ r, Harlech Cymeriad chwedlonol / Mythological character Ail Gainc y Mabinogi / Second branch of the Mabinogi Branwen ferch Llŷ r Bendigeidfran fab Llŷ r oedd brenin Ynys Prydain. Roedd o n frawd i Branwen, ac yn hanner brawd i Nisien ac Efnisien. Yn ôl yr arfer yn y dyddiau hynny, priododd Branwen â Matholwch, Brenin Iwerddon, wedi iddi dderbyn caniatâd Bendigeidfran i wneud hynny. Am nad oedd Bendigeidfran wedi ymgynghori ag Efnisien, penderfynodd Efnisien ddial, trwy ymosod ar geffylau Matholwch yn ystod gwledd priodas Matholwch a Branwen. Aeth Branwen i fyw gyda Matholwch yn Iwerddon, a chafodd ei chosbi am sarhad Efnisien, trwy gael ei gyrru i fyw i r gegin a chael ei bonclustio gan y cigydd. Gyrrodd Branwen ddrudwy yn ôl i Gymru, gyda neges at Fendigeidfran, yn dweud wrthi am y sarhad yn ei herbyn. Gyrrodd yntau fyddin i Iwerddon i w hachub, ond cafwyd rhyfel erchyll, a lladdwyd pob un ond saith o r Brythoniaid. Roedd Bendigeidfran hefyd wedi i ladd. Bendigeidfran fab Llŷ r was King of Britain. He was a brother to Branwen and half brother to Nisien and Efnisien. As was custom in those days, Branwen married Matholwch, King of Ireland, having received permission from Bendigeidfran to do so. As Bendigeidfran hadn t consulted with Efnisien, Efnisien decided to take his revenge by attacking Matholwch s horses during Matholwch and Branwen s wedding feast. Branwen went to live in Ireland with Matholwch and was punished for Efnisien s insult by being sent to live in the kitchen and being beaten daily by the butcher. Branwen sent a starling to Wales, with a message for Bendigeidfran, telling him of the slight against her. Bendigeidfran sent an army to Ireland to save her, but a horrendous was followed, with all except seven of the Brythonic army being killed. Bendigeidfran was among the dead. Blodeuwedd Cymeriad chwedlonol / Mythological character Pedwaredd cainc y Mabinogi / Fourth branch of the Mabinogi Math fab Mathonwy Merch a grewyd o flodau gan Gwydion y dewin, i fod yn wraig i Lleu Llaw Gyffes oedd Blodeuwedd ac fe i chrewyd hi o flodau r dderwen, y banadl a r erwain. Priododd Blodeuwedd a Lleu, ond ymhen fawr o amser, roedd Blodeuwedd wedi disgyn mewn cariad â Gronw Pebr o Benllyn a chynllwyniodd y ddau i ladd Lleu. Roedd hi n dipyn o gamp i ladd Lleu Llaw Gyffes, ond trwy dwyll, perswadiodd Blodeuwedd, Lleu i ddangos iddi sut yr oedd rhaid iddo sefyll i gael ei ladd: gydag un troed ar gafn a r llall ar fwch gafr a chael ei drywannu gan waywffon a oedd wedi i gynhyrchu tros gyfnod o flwyddyn, yn ystod amser yr Offeren. Trywanwyd ef gan Gronw a throdd Lleu yn eryr a hedfan i ffwrdd. Bu hi a Gronw n byw yn ddedwydd yng nghwmni ei gilydd am gyfnod ond ymhen hir a hwyr, dychwelodd Lleu a Gwydion, i ddial arnynt am eu twyll. Cafodd Gronw Pebr ei ladd, ond trowyd Blodeuwedd yn dylluan, fel na châi ddangos ei hwyneb yn ystod golau r dydd fyth eto. Blodeuwedd was created by Gwydion the wizard, as a wife for Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Blodeuwedd was made of the bloom of oak, broom and meadow-sweet trees. She and Lleu were married but soon after their wedding, Blodeuwedd fell in love with Gronw Pebr of Penllyn and the pair plotted to kill Lleu. Killing Lleu would take some doing, since there were certain conditions that had to be met first: Lleu had to stand with one foot on a trough and the other on a billy-goat and be struck with a spear which had been produces over a period of a year, during the Mass service. Blodeuwedd tricked Lleu into showing her this position, and Gronw struck him with a spear. Lleu immediately transformed himself into an eagle and flew away. Blodeuwedd and Gronw lived happily together for a while, but sure enough, Gwydion and Lleu returned, to take their revenge for the pair s treachery. Gronw Pebr was killed, but Blodeuwedd was turned into an owl, so that she could never again show her face in daylight. 35
Lleu Llaw Gyffes Cymeriad Chwedlonol / Mythological Character Pedwaredd gainc y Mabinogi / Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi Math fab Mathonwy Mab Arianrhod, chwaer Gwydion y dewin oedd Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Ni chafodd ei fagu gan Arianrhod, ac ni chafodd enw ganddi nes ei fod yn tua wyth mlwydd oed. Pan aeth Gwydion â r plentyn at Arianrhod, rhoddodd hi dynged arno, gan ddweud na châi o fyth enw oni bai ei bod hi n ei enwi, a doedd yna ddim ffiars beryg iddi wneud hynny! Ond, llwyddodd Gwydion i w thwyllo, a phan welodd Arianrhod ei mab yn taflu carreg at aderyn a i daro, heb iddi sylweddoli pwy oedd o, dywedodd fod ganddo law gyffes. Diolchodd Gwydion iddi am roi r enw Lleu Llaw Gyffes arno. Cynddeiriogiwyd Arianrhod gan hyn, a rhoddodd dynged arall arno: na fyddai o fyth yn cario arfau oni bai mai hi roddodd nhw iddo fo. A dyna i chi sarhad yn erbyn Lleu! Unwaith eto, llwyddodd Gwydion i dwyllo Arianrhod, trwy ei pherswadio fod ei chartref, Caer Arianrhod, dan warchae. Heb sylweddoli mai Lleu oedd o, rhoddodd Arianrhod arfau i w mab, cyn i Gwydion ddatgelu mai hud yn unig oedd y gwarchae. Wrth gwrs, roedd Arianrhod o i cho, a thyngodd na fyddai Lleu fyth yn briod a gwraig o r genedl sydd ar y ddaear hon yn awr. Dyna i chi achosi penbleth i Gwydion. Doedd ganddo ddim dewis ond creu gwraig i Lleu drwy swyn a blodau a chafodd ei henwi n Blodeuwedd. Priododd Lleu ac Arianrhod, ond cyn pen dim, roedd Blodeuwedd a Gronw Bebr o Benllyn wedi disgyn mewn cariad â i gilydd. Cynllwyniodd y ddau i ladd Lleu ond roedd hynny n goblyn o gamp. I ladd Lleu, roedd gofyn i w drywanu gyda gwaywffon oedd wedi i gynhyrchu tros gyfnod o flwyddyn, pan fo Lleu yn sefyll gydag un troed ar gafn a r llall ar gefn bwch gafr, yn ystod yr offeren. Trwy ffalsio i bod yn poeni am Lleu, perswadiodd Blodeuwedd, Lleu i ddangos sut fyddai n rhaid iddo sefyll i gael ei ladd. Cymrodd Gronw Bebr ei gyfle i drywanu Lleu a throdd Lleu yn eryr. Rhoddodd y sgrech mwyaf diasbedain a hedfanodd i ffwrdd. Ond nid dyna r diwedd. Roedd Lleu a Gwydion yn benderfynol o ddial ar Gronw a Blodeuwedd: lladdwyd Gronw gyda gwaywffon a throdd Gwydion, Blodeuwedd yn dylluan. Lleu Llaw Gyffes was the son of Arianrhod, sister of Gwydion, the wizard. He wasn t brought up by Arianrhod and wasn t named by her either, until he was around eight years old. When Gwydion took the child to Arianrhod, she swore that Lleu would never have a name, unless she gave it to him which would never happen. Gwydion, however, tricked her and when she saw her son hitting a bird with a stone (without realising that it was Lleu), she said that he had a llaw gyffes (a deft hand ). Gwydion thanked her for naming her son, which maddened Arianrhod, and she swore that he would never carry arms a true disgrace. Once again, Gwydion tricked Arianrhod by persuading her that her home, Caer Arianrhod was under attack. Without realising that he was Lleu, she handed arms to her son, before Gwydion revealed that the attack was an illusion. Arianrhod was furious and swore that Lleu would never marry a woman of the species of this world. This caused a real problem for Gwydion, who was left with little choice but to create a woman out of flowers, and she was named Blodeuwedd. Lleu and Blodeuwedd were married, but Blodeuwedd soon fell in love with Gronw Bebr, lord of Penllyn. The pair plotted to kill Lleu, which was no easy task. Killing Lleu would mean that he would need to be struck with an arrow produced over a period of a year during the Mass service, while standing with one foot on a trough and another on a billy goat. Blodeuwedd lied and told Lleu that she was worried about him, persuading him to show her how he would need to stand in order to be killed. Gronw Bebr took the opportunity to kill Lleu and shot the arrow. Lleu turned into an eagle, giving off the most deafening screech. But that wasn t the end of the matter. Lleu and Gwydion were determined to take their revenge on Gronw and Blodeuwedd: Gronw was killed with a spear and Gwydion turned Blodeuwedd into an owl. Idris Gawr- Cadair Idris Cawr / Giant Cawr yn llechu yng nghyffiniau Cadair Idris oedd Idris Gawr medden nhw Yn ôl y stori, roedd o a Rhita Gawr, a oedd yn byw ar yr Wyddfa, yn yn ymladd yn gyson, trwy daflu creigiau a phoeri at ei gilydd. Mae n debyg mai dyna pam fod cynifer o lynnoedd a chreigiau yn Eryri. They say that Idris lived in the region of Cadair Idris He and Rhita, the giant who occupied Snowdon are said to have fought regularly and would throw stones and spit at each other. Apparently, this is the reason why there are so many lakes and rocks in Snowdonia. 36
Ceridwen Gwrach Chwedlonol / Mythological Witch Hanes Taliesin Gwrach chwedlonol oedd Ceridwen, ac yn ôl y stori, roedd hi n wraig i Tegid Foel, sef y cawr a roddodd ei enw ar Lyn Tegid, Y Bala. Ganwyd mab o r enw Morfran i Ceridwen a Tegid, ond gan ei fod o mor eithriadol o hyll, roedd pobl yr ardal yn ei alw n Afagddu. Penderfynodd Ceridwen y byddai hi n cynhyrchu swyn er mwyn ceisio gwneud Morfan yn harddach. Paratodd drwyth a oedd angen ei ferwi am flwyddyn a diwrnod, a Gwïon Bach gafodd y gwaith o droi r swyn, a chadw r tân i losgi, yn Llanfor. Rhywsut, cafodd Gwïon ddamwain, a llwyddodd i lyncu tri diferyn o r trwyth. Cafodd y fath fraw nes iddo ddianc i ffwrdd, ond doedd ei fraw o ddim yn cymharu â chynddaredd Ceridwen. Trodd Gwïon ei hun yn ysgyfarnog er mwyn medru dianc oddi wrth Ceridwen, ond roedd y wrach yn glyfar, a throdd ei hun yn filiast er mwyn rhedeg yn gynt nag o. Yna trodd Gwïon ei hun yn bysgodyn, a neidiodd i r afon, ond trodd Ceridwen yn ddyfrast a nofiodd ar ei ôl. Roedd Ceridwen bron â i ddal, pan drodd Gwïon yn aderyn a hedfan i r awyr, ond roedd Ceridwen wedi troi n hebog a dod yn agosach. Pan welodd Gwïon ronynnau ŷd, trodd ei hun yn ronyn a neidiodd i w canol, ond gwelodd Ceridwen ei chyfle, a throdd yn iâr, gan fwyta r holl ronynnau, a Gwïon yn un ohonynt. Yn fuan, sylweddolodd Ceridwen ei bod yn feichiog ac mai Gwïon oedd y babi r tu fewn iddi. Fe i chynddeiriogwyd hi, ac roedd hi â i bryd ar ladd y baban, nes iddi ei eni a gweld mor dlws yr oedd o. Yn hytrach na i ladd, lapiodd Ceridwen y babi mewn croen anifail a i roi ar y môr, mewn cwrwgl. Elffin ddaeth o hyd iddo ger Cors Fochno yng Ngheredigion, gan enwi r baban yn Taliesin, oherwydd ei dalcen uchel. Mae n debyg mai ar ôl y Taliesin hwn yr enwyd pentref Tre Taliesin, ger Aberystwyth. Ceridwen was a mythological witch and legend has it that she was married to Tegid Foel (the giant who was namesake of Llyn Tegid, Bala). A son named Morddu was born to Ceridwen and Tegid, but since he was so despairingly ugly, local people called him Afagddu. Ceridwen decided to create a spell, to try to improve Morddu s looks. She prepared a spell which needed to be boiled for a year and a day, and Gwïon Bach was given the job of keeping the fire burning in Llanfor. Somehow, Gwïon managed to swallow three drops of the spell and had such a fright that he ran away. Unfortunately, his horror was nothing compared to Ceridwen s fury. Gwïon transformed into a hare, to escape from Ceridwen, but she was a very clever witch, and turned herself into a greyhound, to be able to run faster than him. Gwïon then turned himself into a fish and jumped into the river, but Ceridwen became an otter and swam after him. Ceridwen had almost caught up with him, when Gwïon turned himself into a bird and flew into the air, when Ceridwen became a hawk and caught him up again. When Gwïon saw a pile of grain, he became a particle and jumped into the pile, but Ceridwen, never one to miss an opportunity, became a hen and ate the whole pile, including Gwïon. Soon after, Ceridwen fell pregnant and she realised that the baby she was carrying was Gwïon. She was livid, and intended to kill the baby, but once she saw the beautiful child, she knew that she couldn t go through with it. Instead, she lapped the baby in animal skins, and put him in a vessel on the sea. Elffin found the vessel near Cors Fochno in Ceredigion and named the baby Taliesin because of his high forehead. It seems that Tre Taliesin, the village near Aberystwyth, was named after this Taliesin. Rhita Gawr - Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon Cawr / Giant Glywsoch chi erioed hanes Rhita Gawr? Maen nhw n dweud fod Rhita Gawr yn arfer byw ar yr Wyddfa, a i fod yn gwisgo clogyn wedi i wneud o farfau ei elynion. Roedd o n awyddus iawn i gael ymladd yn erbyn y Brenin Arthur, er mwyn ei ladd, ac ychwanegu barf Arthur i w glogyn. Ond, aeth pethau o u lle i Rhita pan ymladdodd yn erbyn y Brenin Arthur: llwyddodd Arthur i ladd Rhita, ac yn ôl y sôn, claddwyd Rhita o dan garnedd o gerrig ar gopa r Wyddfa. Have you ever heard of Rhita Gawr? They say that he lived on Snowdon and wore a cloak made of the beards of his slain enemies. He was eager to fight against King Arthur, so that he could add his beard to the cloak. However, things didn t go quite according to plan for Rhita: Arthur defeated him and it is said that Rhita was buried under the cairn of rocks at the summit of Snowdon. 37
Tegid Foel Cymeriad Chwedlonol, Mythological Character Hanes Taliesin Gŵ r Ceridwen oedd Tegid Foel ac roedd y pâr yn rieni i bump o blant: tair merch hardd, a mab o r enw Morfran. Yn ôl y sôn, roedd Tegid Foel yn dywysog eithriadol o flin a chas, ac roedd o n byw mewn llys ysblennydd yng nghanol dyffryn llydan. Un diwrnod, clywodd lais yn sibrwd yn ei glust, Dial a ddaw ac ei iddo anwybyddu r llais, fe i clywodd yn aml, Dial a ddaw, dial a ddaw. Dechreuodd bobl eraill glywed y llais yn sibrwd Dial a ddaw pan ddaw plant i r plant, ac yn fuan iawn, ganed mab i fab Tegid Foel a i wraig. Cynhaliwyd gwledd crand er mwyn dathlu genedigaeth ŵ yr i Tegid a daeth telynor i r llys i ddiddanu r gwesteion. Ymddangosodd aderyn wrth ochr y telynor, a thywysodd yr aderyn, y telynor allan o r llys, i ben bryn cyfagos. Disgynnodd y telynor i gysgu, ond gyda thorriad y wawr, deffrodd y telynor a sylweddoli fod hen dref y Bala wedi diflannu dan lyn anferthol. Dyma leoliad Llyn Tegid heddiw. Mae na sôn, hefyd, bod anghenfil o r enw Tegid yn byw yn y llyn welsoch chi o erioed? Tegid Foel was Ceridwen s husband, and the pair had five children: three beautiful daughters and a son named Morfran. Tegid Foel is said to have been a mean and vicious prince, who lived in a fabulous court at the centre of a wide valley. One day, he heard a voice whispering in his ear, Revenge will come and though he ignored the voice he still heard those words, Revenge will come, revenge will come. Other people began to hear the voice too, Revenge will come, when children are given to the children and very soon, a son was born to Tegid Foel s son. A grand feast was held to celebrate the birth of Tegid Foel s grandchild and a harpist came to the court to entertain guests. A bird appeared next to the harpist, and lead the harpist out of the court, to the top of a nearby hill. The harpist fell asleep, but with the break of day, the harpist woke up and realised that the old town of Bala had disappeared under a large lake. This is the location of Llyn Tegid. They also say that a monster called Tegid lives in the lake have you ever seen him? Brenin Arthur / King Arthur Cymeriad Chwedlonol, Mythological Character Y Chwedl Arthuraidd / Arthurian Legend Brenin Ynys Prydain oedd Arthur medden nhw ac mae r straeon amdano n deillio o r G9. Roedd o n briod â Gwenhwyfar a chysylltir ei enw â sawl lle yn Eryri, gan gynnwys Llyn Llydaw, Elidir Fawr, Cwm Dyli, Yr Wyddfa ac ardal Dinorwig. Yn ôl y traddodiad, lladdwyd Brenin Arthur ar ôl cael ei drywannu gan saeth ym Mwlch Saethau. Wrth farw, rhoddodd ei gleddyf, Caledfwlch i Bedwyr i w daflu i Lyn Glaslyn. Methodd Bedwyr â gwneud hynny ddwy waith ond ar y trydydd tro, daeth llaw allan o r llyn a dal y cleddyf. Yna, ymddangosodd gwch, gyda thair morwyn hardd arni, yn y llyn, ac aethant â chorff Arthur i ynys Afallon, i esmwytho i anafiadau. Mae rhai pobl yn honni fod milwyr Arthur yn cysgu yn Ogof Llanciau Eryri, ger Lliwedd, yn aros am yr alwad i wasanaethu Arthur unwaith eto. They say that Arthur was the King of Britain and Arthurian tales date back to the C9. He was married to Guinevere and his name is connected so several places in Snowdonia, including Llyn Llydaw, Elidir Fawr, Cwm Dyli and Snowdon. Tradition has it that King Arthur was killed by an arrow in Bwlch Saethau on Snowdon, and gave his sword, Excalibur to Bedivere to be thrown into Llyn Glaslyn. Bedivere failed to do so twice, but on his third attempt, a hand appeared from the lake and caught the sword. Then, a boat appeared in the lake, with three beautiful maidens onboard, wearing white gowns, who took King Arthur to the isle of Avalon, to heal his wounds. Some people claim that King Arthur s soldiers are asleep in Ogof Llanciau Eryri, in the foothills of Snowdon, awaiting the call to serve Arthur again. 38
Seithennyn - Cantre r Gwaelod Cymeriad Chwedlonol / Mythological Character Cantre r Gwaelod Ers talwm, roedd na ddinas o dan y môr ym Mae Ceredigion, dim ond tafliad carreg o bentref Aberdyfi, a Seithennyn oedd gan y cyfrifoldeb i gloi r giatiau bob nos, er mwyn gwneud yn siwr na fyddai r môr yn boddi r ddinas. Ond un noson, pan oedd Gwyddno r brenin yn cynnal gwledd yn y llys, yfodd Seithennyn ormod o fedd, ac roedd y ffŵl wedi meddwi. Anghofiodd bopeth am gloi r giatiau, a disgynnodd i gysgu. Yn reit siwr i chi, llifodd y môr i fewn, a boddodd y ddinas. Maen nhw n dweud os gwrandewch chi n astud iawn ar ddiwrnod tawel yn Aberdyfi, y clywch chi glychau Cantre r Gwaelod yn canu dan y dŵ r. A long, long time ago, a kingdom called Cantre r Gwaelod stood under the sea in Cardigan bay. The kingdom was just a stone s throw from Aberdyfi, and Seithennyn was responsible for locking the gates every night, to ensure that the kingdom wouldn t be flooded. But one night, Gwyddno, the King of Cantre r Gwaelod held a feast in the court, and Seithennyn drank far too much mead. The fool was drunk and fell asleep, forgetting to lock the gates. Sure enough, the sea flooded in and the kingdom was drowned. They say that if you listen closely on a quiet day in Aberdyfi, you ll hear the bells of Cantre r Gwaelod chiming under the sea Gelert - Beddgelert Cymeriad Chwedlonol / Mythological Character Chwedl Gelert Welsoch chi erioed fedd y ci, Gelert ar lan afon Glaslyn ym Meddgelert? Yn ôl y stori, aeth Llywelyn Fawr i hela un diwrnod, a phan ddaeth yn ôl adref, gwelodd olygfa erchyll. Roedd gwaed ym mhob man a chrud ei faban yn wag. Yna, gwelodd Gelert, â i geg a i ddannedd wedi u gorchuddio gyda gwaed. Credai Llywelyn fod Gelert wedi lladd y baban, ac yn ei wylltineb, lladdodd Llywelyn, Gelert, gan ei drywannu â i gleddyf. Yn fuan wedyn, clywodd Llywelyn fabi n crïo, a daeth o hyd i r baban yn ddiogel, gyda blaidd wedi marw wrth law. Roedd Gelert wedi amddiffyn y baban a lladd y blaidd. Torrodd Llywelyn Fawr ei galon gan ei fod wedi lladd Gelert, ei gi ffyddlon. Have you ever seen Gelert the hound s gravestone in Beddgelert? According to the story, Llywelyn Fawr had been out hunting one day and returned home to a horrendous scene. There was blood everywhere and the child s crib was empty. Then, he saw Gelert with his mouth and teeth covered with blood, and believed that Gelert had killed the child. In his rage, Llywelyn killed Gelert, stabbing him with his sword. Soon after, Llywelyn heard a baby crying, and found his child safe and well, with a dead wolf nearby. Gelert had defended the baby and killed the wolf. Llywelyn Fawr broke his heart, having killed Gelert, his faithful hound. Canthrig Bwt - Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon Cymeriad Chwedlonol, Mythological Character Wyddoch chi fod Canthrig Bwt yn byw dan greigiau ar odre r Wyddfa a i bod yn bwyta plant bach? Un diwrnod, penderfynodd griw o ddynion lleol i fynd i chwilio amdani, a i lladd. Yn reit siwr i chi, mi gawsant afael arni, a thorrwyd ei phen i ffwrdd. Cafodd blant bach yr ardal lonydd byth wedi hynny! Local folklore claims that Canthrig Bwt lived under rocks, somewhere in the foothills of Snowdon, and that she ate small children. One day, a gang of local men went to hunt her down. You can bet that they tracked her down and cut off her head. Local children have been left in peace ever since! 39
Elen Lhuydog - Segontiwm / Segontium Cymeriad Chwedlonol, Mythological Character Breuddwyd Macsen Wledig Un noson, breuddwydiodd yr Ymerawdwr Rufeinig, Macsen Wledig am ferch hardd a oedd yn byw mewn caer rhwng y môr a r mynyddoedd. Gyrrodd rhai o i wŷ r i chwilio amdani drwy r ymerodraeth, ac ymhen amser, daethpwyd o hyd i r ferch, yn nghaer Segontiwm, ger Caernarfon. Roedd Elen yn ferch i Eudaf ac yn chwaer i Cynan ac Adeon. Gwrthododd Elen briodi Macsen, nes iddo ddyfod i Gymru i ymofyn am gael ei phriodi, a dyna wnaeth o. Gadawodd Rufain am gyfnod o saith mlynedd a phan ddychwelodd, roedd ymerawdwr newydd wedi cymryd ei le. Bu n rhaid i Facsen ymladd er mwyn adenill ei statws fel ymerawdwr, ac yn ôl chwedl, llwyddodd i wneud hynny gyda chymorth brodyr Elen Lhuddog. Ceir traddodiad sy n honni mai ar ôl yr Elen hon yr enwyd y lôn Rufeinig, Sarn Helen ac mae n bosib mai hi ysbrydolodd yr enw ar fynydd Yr Elen yn Eryri hefyd. One night, the Roman Emperor, Magnus Maximus dreamt of a beautiful woman who lived at a fort between the mountains and sea. He sent his men to search for her through the empire and they eventually found her at Segontium, near Caernarfon. Elen was the daughter of Eudaf and sister of Cynan and Adeon. Elen refused to marry Magnus, until he came to Wales to propose marriage to her, and this is what he did. He left Rome for a period of seven years and when he returned, he found that another Emperor had taken his place. Magnus was forced to battle to regain his status as Emperor, and according to legend, he succeeded to do so with the help of Elen s brothers. Tradition dictates that the Roman road of Sarn Helen is named after Elen Lhuydog, and it s possible that she also inspired the name of the mountain, Elen in Snowdonia. Tylwyth Tanddaearol Bodau Chwedlonol / Mythological Beings Mae r tywlyth anhygoel yma, sy n cael eu hadnabod fel cnocwyr neu nocars yn byw yng nghrombil y ddaear, mewn pyllau glo, copr a phlwm ac o dan chwareli llechi. Mae r cnocwyr yn bethau gweithgar iawn, ac maen nhw n siwr o wybod am leoliad pob tamaid o graig neu fwyn gwethfawr, gan ei gnocio, er mwyn helpu r mwynwyr a r chwarelwyr i gael rhywfaint o r trysor. Mae yna sôn fod y creaduriaid yma n trigo yn ardal yr Wyddfa, Cwm Dyli a Dinorwig. These amazing folk are also known as Knockers and they live in the core of the earth, in coal, copper and lead mines and under slate quarries. The knockers are said to be very hardworking and know of every piece or vein of precious stone. They knock the stone from inside the earth, to enable miners and quarrymen to get some of the treasure. These fascinating characters are said to live in the area of Snowdon, Cwm Dyli and Dinorwig. 40
Tylwyth Teg Bodau Chwedlonol / Mythological Beings Mae hanesion am y tylwyth teg yn bodoli ar draws y byd i gyd, ac mae na lawer iawn o sôn amdanyn nhw yn Eryri hefyd. Fel rheol, bydd y Tylwyth Teg yn byw mewn ogofau ar yr ucheldir, ac yn aml iawn, bydd yn dabŵ iddynt gyffwrdd â metel. Priodolir straeon am dylwyth teg i ardaoledd llynnoedd Glaslyn, Cwellyn a r Dywarchen, yr Wyddfa, Nant Gwynant, Maen Du r Arddu a fferm Hafod Lwyfog. Un o r straeon difyrraf am y tylwyth teg yn Eryri yw eu hanes yn Llyn Cwellyn Mae n sôn am fugail ifanc o Fetws Garmon a ddisgynnodd dros ei ben a i glustiau mewn cariad â thylwythen deg a oedd yn byw yn y llyn. Cipiodd y llanc y dylwythen deg ac ymhen amser cytunodd i fod yn wraig iddo ar yr amod na fyddai n ei chyffwrdd â haearn. Pe byddai n gwneud hyn, byddai n rhydd i ddychwelyd i w gwlad at ei phobl ei hun. Am flynyddoedd bu r ddau n byw n hapus iawn gyda i gilydd, yr oedd y fferm yn llewyrchus a ganwyd iddynt ddau o blant. Un diwrnod, wrth i r ddau geisio dal ceffyl i w werthu yn y ffair ceisiodd y g ŵr daflu ffrwyn am ben y ceffyl, ond wrth wneud hynny fe gyffyrddodd darn haearn y ffrwyn â boch ei wraig. Mewn chwinciad, yr oedd ei wraig wedi diflannu yn ôl i r llyn ac ni welwyd hi eto oni bai am un noson pan ddaeth at ffenestr ei g ŵr yng nghanol y nos i ofyn iddo ofalu n dyner am ei phlant: Os bydd annwyd ar fy mab Rhowch amdano gôt ei dad; Os anwydog a fydd can Rhowch amdani bais ei mam. Priodolir yr un stori i nifer o ardaloedd ond weithiau, amod y dylwythen deg yw nad yw ei gŵ r i wybod ei henw, a thro arall nid yw r dylwythen deg i gyffwrdd y ddaear. Tales of the Tylwyth Teg, or fairies exist all over the world and many tales of them are based in Snowdonia. As a rule, the Tylwyth Teg live in caves on the highlands and it is often seen as taboo for them to touch metal. Tylwyth Teg myths are attributed to the areas surrounding Llyn Glaslyn, Llyn Cwellyn, Llyn y Dywarchen, Snowdon, Nant Gwynant, Maen Du r Arddu and Hafod Lwyfog Farm. One of the most fascinating Tylwyth Teg tales is their presence in Llyn Cwellyn It is about a young shepherd from Betws Garmon who fell head over heels in love with a fairy who lived in the lake. The young shepherd abducted the fairy and in time, she agreed to become his wife on one condition; that he was never to strike her with iron. On breaking this condition the fairy wife would return to her people in the otherworld. For many years they both lived happily together, the farm prospered and two children were born to them. One day, the couple were trying to catch a horse to sell at the fair, but as the husband threw a bridle at the horse he accidentally struck his wife on the cheek with the iron bit. In a flash, his fairy wife had disappeared back into the lake and was never to be seen again, apart from one night when she came to her husband s window in the middle of the night to ask him to take care of her children: If my son should feel it cold, Let him wear his father s coat; If the fair one feel the cold, Let her wear my petticoat The same story is attributed to many areas although sometimes the condition is that the husband is not to discover the fairy s real name, or another is that the fairy must not touch the ground. 41
Cymeriadau Anhygoel Eryri Amazing Characters of Snowdonia Cymeriadau Characters Marged Ferch Ifan - Drws y Coed Reslar, Telynores a Thafarnwraig / Wrestler, Harpist and Innkeeper Arferai cawres o r enw Marged Ferch Ifan fod yn dafarnwraig yn Nhafarn y Telyrniau, Drws y Coed. Priododd â llipryn o ŵ r, ac mae storïau di-rif am eu perthynas tymestlog. Roedd hi n eithriadol o ddawnus, gan wneud enw da iddi hi ei hun fel telynores, reslar, gof a saer! Bu Marged yn rhwyfo copr ar hyd llynnoedd Padarn a Pheris a galwyd hi n Frenhines y Llynoedd. Mae sôn iddi gael ei chladdu dan yr allor yn Eglwys Nant Peris, sy n destament i w henw da. Ceir cyfres o benillion sy n ei choffau a chawn argraff o i chymeriad lliwgar ohonyn nhw: Mae gan Farged fwyn ach Ifan Glocsen fawr a chlocsen fechan, Un i gicio r cŵ n o r gornel A r llall i gicio r gŵ r i gythrel. A giantess named Marged ferch Ifan was once landlady of Tafarn y Telyrniau in Drws y Coed. She was married to a dreg of a man, and there are many tales of their tempestuous relationship. Marged was a very talented lady, and made a name for herself as a harpist, wrestler, carpenter and smithy! She rowed copper across the Padarn and Peris lakes and was dubbed Queen of the Lakes. It is said that Marged is buried under the altar of Nant Peris Church, which in itself is testament to her good name. A series of poems commemorate Marged and give us a glimpse of her vibrant character: Mae gan Farged fwyn ach Ifan Glocsen fawr a chlocsen fechan, Un i gicio r cŵ n o r gornel A r llall i gicio r gŵ r i gythrel. TRANSLATION: Fair Marged ferch Ifan Has a large clog and a small clog, One to kick the dog from the corner And another to kick the husband to hell Mary Owen - Trefriw Person hynaf ym Mhrydain / Oldest person in Britain, 1911 1803-1911 Ym mis Mai, 1911, daeth Mary Owen yn berson hynaf ym Mhrydain a chynhyrchwyd cardyn post yn coffau hynny. Bu hi farw rhai misoedd yn ddiweddarach, yn 108 mlwydd oed! In May, 1911, Mary Owen became the oldest person in Britain and a post card commemorating this fact was produced. She died a few months later, at the age of 108! 42
Dorti - Llandecwyn Gwrach / Witch Yn ardal Llandecwyn yr oedd Dorti n byw, yn ystod yr G17, ac mae n debyg fod ganddi gath ddu ar ei hysgwydd bob amser. Dorti gafodd y bai am unrhyw anffawd neu anlwc a ddaeth i ran ei chymdogion. Un hanes oedd iddi gael ei gwylltio gan ffermwr lleol a phan aeth hwnnw i mewn i w feudy, gwelodd ei fuwch yn gelain ar lawr, gyda i pherfedd allan. Aeth â rhodd o fenyn a llefrith draw i Dorti, ac ar ddychwelyd i r beudy, gwelodd y fuwch mewn hwyliau da, a i pherfedd yn ôl yn ei le. Maen nhw n dweud fod Dorti wedi i lladd trwy gael ei thaflu mewn casgen oddi ar y creigiau uchel uwch Llyn Tecwyn. Disgynnodd ger y llyn ac yno i chladdwyd hi. Bu n draddodiad i bawb a basiodd y bedd daflu carreg wen arno, er mwyn rhwystro Dorti rhag eu dilyn ac i lefaru r rhigwm: Dorti, Dorti, Bara gwyn yn llosgi, dŵ r ar y tân i olchi r llestri. Dorti lived in the Llandecwyn area during the C17 and it is said that she would always have a black cat on her shoulder. Dorti was blamed for any misfortune that struck her neighbours and one tale alleges that she was once angered by a local farmer, who found one of his cows paralysed on the floor of the cowshed, with her guts hanging out. The farmer took a gift of milk and butter to Dorti, and when he returned to the cowshed, he found the cow in good spirits, with her guts back in their place. They say that Dorti was killed when she was put in a cask and thrown off the high rocks above Llyn Tecwyn. The cask fell near the lake and Dorti was buried at that spot. It became tradition for those who passed the grave to throw a white stone on it, to prevent Dorti from following them. Passers by would also recite this rhyme: Dorti, Dorti, Bara gwyn yn llosgi, Dŵ r ar y tân I olchi r llestri. TRANSLATION: Dorti, Dorti, The white bread is burning, Water on the fire To wash the dishes. Siwsi Felen - Llanfachreth Gwrach / Witch Mae dwy stori am Siwsi Felen, naill un yn ei chysylltu gydag Arglwydd Nannau. Yn ôl un traddodiad, byddai Arglwyddi Nannau yn hela ceirw, ond pob tro yr aethant yn agos at Afon Las yng nghoedwig Coed y Brenin, byddai r carw yn neidio ar draws yr afon ac yn diflannu. Ymhen hir a hwyr, sylweddolwyd bod Siwsi Felen yn trawsffurfio i hun yn garw a heddiw, ceir pont ar draws Afon Las, o r enw Pont Llam yr Ewig. Mae r hanes arall yn dweud bod Arglwydd Nannau wedi lladd cath Siwsi Felen, gan ei bod yn hela n gyson ar Foel Cynwch. Dialodd Siwsi trwy drawsffurfio n ysgyfarnog a rhedeg o flaen cŵ n hela Arglwydd Nannau. Rhedodd am yr Afon Las a llwyddodd i neidio ar draws yr afon a glanio n ddiogel ar yr ochr draw. Methodd y cŵ n i gyflawni r gamp a disgynnodd y cyfan ohonynt i r afon a boddi. Siwsi Felen is featured in two tales involving Lord Nannau. One tale claims that Lord Nannau hunted for deer, but every time he and his hunting party went anywhere near Afon Las, the deer would disappear. Some time later, they realised that the deer was in fact, Siwsi, who had transformed herself into a deer and would then leap across the river and disappear. The other story alleges that Lord Nannau killed Siwsi s cat, as it would hunt on Moel Cynwch. Siwsi got her revenge by transforming herself into a hare and running ahead of Lord Nannau s hounds towards Afon Las. She then leaped across the river and landed safely on the other side, whereas the hounds failed to do so, and drowned in the river. 43
Teulu Wood Sipsiwn Cymreig / Welsh Gypsies Mae r dywediad Teulu Abram Wood yn gyfarwydd iawn ar lafar gwlad Cymreig, ac yn gyfystyr â sipsiwn neu deulu mawr. Ychydig iawn y gwyddom am darddiad Abram Wood, y penteulu, ond cofnodir ei farwolaeth ym Mhlwyf Llangelynnin ac fe i ddisgrifir fel a travelling Egyptian. Mae n debyg fod yr enw sipsiwn, neu gypsy yn Saesneg yn deillio o r gair Egyptian gan y credwyd mai o r Aifft y daeth y sipsiwn oherwydd eu pryd tywyll. Serch hynny, o r India y daeth y Romani gwreiddiol, yn ôl pob sôn. Medrai r Woodiaid yr ieithoedd Romani a Chymraeg ac roeddent yn lled-adnabyddus fel teulu cerddorol hefyd, gan fagu telynorion a ffidilwyr, gan gynnwys Valentine (John) Wood, Adam Wood, John Wood Jones ac Edward Wood. Aelodau adnabyddus eraill o r tylwyth oedd Alabaina Wood a r clocsiwr, Hywel Wood (sef un o r diwethaf o r teulu i fedru r iaith Romani). The name Wood has become synonymous with large families and gypsies, in Welsh folklore. Very little is known of Abram Wood, the head of the family, or of where he came from, but his death is marked in the parish of Llangelynnin, and he is described as a travelling Egyptian. It seems that the name gypsy derived from the word Egyptian as it was believed that gypsies came from Egypt (due to the darker pigmentation of their skin), but in reality, it seems that the Romany gypsies originally came from India. The Wood family could speak the Romany and Welsh languages and were renowned as musicians too, including Valentine (John) Wood, Adam Wood, John Wood Jones and Edward Wood. Other prominent members of the family were Alabaina Wood and the clogdancer, Hywel Wood (one of the last members of the Wood family to be able to speak Romany). Mary Lewis - Llangelynnin Lleidr / Thief Merch o Langelynnin oedd Mary Lewis yn wreiddiol, a aeth i fyw ym Mrynhir, Llwyngwril gyda i mam a i chwaer fawr, Sarah. Roedd y teulu n dlawd ac yn bymtheg mlwydd oed, dygodd Mary ddau gynfas gan dafarnwr yn Nolgellau a chafodd ei dedfrydu i gael ei chwipio n gyhoeddus gan Lys y Seiswn Chwarter, Dolgellau yn 1788. Ychydig o flynyddoedd yn ddiweddarach, dechreuodd drigolion Llangelynnin a Llwyngwril sylwi ar bethau n mynd ar goll, gan amau Mary a i theulu o r drosedd. Wedi iddo sicrhau gwarant, aeth y Cwnstabl draw i Frynhir i chwilio am yr eitemau a oedd ar goll, a daeth o hyn i dair gŵ ydd, hidlen, sach, set o napcynau, crwyn defaid, pennau defaid a siwed. Roedd pethau n edrych yn ddu iawn ar y merched ac er i Sarah a i mam wadu eu bod nhw wedi dwyn, dedfrydwyd y dair i farwolaeth. Newidiodd y barnwr ei feddwl, a chafodd Sarah a i mam eu dedfrydu i saith mlynedd yn y carchar, a chafodd Mary ei halltudio i Awstralia am ei hoes. Fe i halltudiwyd ar long y Nile yn 1801, ond gallwn ni ond dychmygu r caledi a fu arni wedi iddi lanio yn Awstralia. Mary Lewis was a girl from Llangelynnin, who moved to live to Brynhir, Llwyngwril with her mother and older sister, Sarah. The family was poor and when she was fifteen, Mary stole two canvasses from an innkeeper in Dolgellau. She was sentenced to be whipped in public by the Courts of the Quarter Session in 1788. Some years later, local residents noticed that some of their possessions were missing, suspecting that Mary and her family were behind the disappearances. The Constable was granted a warrant to search the Lewis home and found three geese, a filter, a sack, a set of napkins, sheepskins, sheep s skulls and suet. Things were looking bleak for the Lewis and although Sarah and her mother denied theft, all three were sentenced to death. However, the judge changed his mind and Sarah and her mother were sentenced to seven years imprisonment, whereas Mary was exiled to Australia for life. She was exiled on the Nile ship in 1801, but we can only imagine the hardship she faced once the ship reached Australia. 44
Annie Ellis - Dolgellau Perchennog gwesty yn y Gorllewin Gwyllt / Hotel proprietor in the Wild West Fel nifer o Gymry ei chyfnod, ymfudodd Annie Lewis a i brawd o Gymru yn 1870, er mwyn chwilio am fywyd gwell iddyn nhw ei hunain yn Unol Daleithiau America. Ar ôl glanio yn U.D.A., cafodd Annie ei gadael ar ei phen ei hun gan ei brawd, yn ferch amddifad 14 oed, mewn gwlad estron. Cafodd waith fel morwyn yn nhref Grant, gan briodi â David Rule a symud i dref Abilene, yn nhalaith Kansas. Roedd Abilene yn dref cowbois, wedi i leoli ar un o r llwybrau porthmona enwog, a daeth Annie yn weinydd mewn tŷ bwyta yno. Yn fuan, roedd wedi cynilo digon o bres i brynu t ŷ lojins ei hun yn Wichita, gan symud i Dodge City gydag ehangiad y rheilffordd, yn 1875 - wedi iddi golli i gŵ r a i harian. Priododd Annie â George Anderson, ac agorodd y pâr fwyty a thŷ lojins, gydag enwogion fel Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Luke Short a Bil Tighman yn gwsmeriaid da iddyn nhw. Bu farw Annie Ellis yn ddynes gyfoethog yn 1931, wedi iddi lwyddo i gadw trefn ar gowbois gwyllt America am dros hanner canrif. Like many of her Welsh contemporaries, Annie Lewis and her brother emigrated from Wales in 1870, in search of a better life for themselves in the U.S.A. Having arrived in the U.S.A., Annie was left alone by her brother, as a 14 year old orphan, in a strange country. She became a maid in the town of Grant, marrying David Rule and moving to the town of Abilene in Kansas. Abilene was a cowboy town, located on one of the famous cattle trails, and Annie became a waitress at a restaurant there. She had soon saved enough money to buy her own lodging house in Wichita, moving to Dodge City with the expansion of the railway in 1875 having lost her husband and her money. Annie then married George Anderson, and the pair opened a restaurant and lodging house, with renowned customers such as Wyatt Earp, Luke Short, Bat Masterson and Bill Tighman. Annie Ellis died a rich woman in 1931, after she had managed to keep control of America s wild cowboys for over half a century. Richard Vaughan - Ysbyty Ifan Sylfaenydd elusendai Ysbyty Ifan Founder of the Ysbyty Ifan almshouses G17-18 / C17-18 Un arall o ddisgynyddion Rhys Fawr oedd Richard Vaughan, o deulu Pant Glas a gladdwyd yng Nghapel Sant Siôr, Windsor yn 1700. Bu Vaughan yn filwr yn Rhyfel Cartref Lloegr ac yn 1663, daeth yn aelod o r Poor Men of Windsor. Cronfa oedd hon a sefydlwyd gan Frenin Edward III er mwyn sicrhau safon da o fyw i filwyr dewr a brofodd anffawd yn sgîl ymladd tros y goron. Yn ei ewyllys, gadawodd Richard Vaughan arian ar gyfer cynnal chwe gŵ r tlawd ac oedrannus ym mhlwyf Ysbyty Ifan, gan arwain at adeiladu chwe elusendy yn y pentref. Another of Rhys Fawr s descendants was Richard Vaughan of the Pant Glas family, who was buried at St. George s Chapel Windsor in 1700. Vaughan was a soldier in the English Civil War, 1663, and became a member of the Poor Men of Windsor. This was a fund set up by King Edward III in order to ensure a good standard of living for brave soldiers who experienced misfortune when fighting in the name of the crown. Richard Vaughan bequeathed money for the keeping of six poor and elderly men in Ysbyty Ifan parish, leading to the building of six almshouses in the village. 45
Dafydd Cadwaladr - Llanycil Gweinidog Methodistaidd / Methodist Minister 1752-1834 Magwyd Dafydd Cadwaladr yn nhyddyn Erw Ddinmael yn Llangwm, lle y dysgodd ddarllen trwy edrych ar lythrennau ar gotiau defaid a chraffu ar y Llyfr Gweddi Cyffredin. Yn ôl y sôn, roedd gan Ddafydd gof arbennig, a medrai adrodd darnau o Weledigaethau r Bardd Cwsg gan Ellis Wynne heb y testun o i flaen. Bu n pregethu ar hyd ac ar led Cymru, gan deithio ar droed maen nhw n dweud ei fod wedi cerdded yr holl ffordd i Lundain o r Bala! Roedd Dafydd yn gyfoeswr i Thomas Charles, a r ddau yn gyfeillion da, cymaint felly nes i Ddafydd ganu marwnadau i Thomas Charles a i wraig. Claddwyd Dafydd Cadwaladr ym mynwent Llanycil yng Ngorffennaf 1834. Dafydd Cadwaladr was brought up in Erw Ddinmael small-holding in Llangwm, where he learned to read by studying the letters on sheepskins and the Book of Common Prayer. It is said that Dafydd had a brilliant memory, and could recite parts of Ellis Wynne s work, Gweledigaethau r Bardd Cwsg without having the text in front of him. He preached across the length and breadth of Wales they even say that he walked all the way from Bala to London! Dafydd Cadwaladr was a contemporary of Thomas Charles both men were great friends, so much so that Dafydd sang elegies to Thomas Charles and his wife. Dafydd Cadwaladr was buried at Llanycil cemetery in July, 1834. Betsi Cadwaladr - Llanycil Anturwraig a Nyrs / Adventurer and Nurse 1789-1860 Ganed a magwyd Betsi ger y Bala a phan yn chwe mlwydd oed, bu farw ei mam. Magwyd Betsi wedi hynny gan Gwenllïan, ei chwaer orthrymus, a phan yn naw mlwydd oed, penderfynodd ddianc, a mynd i weithio i deulu Simon Lloyd, Plas yn Dre, Y Bala, gan ffoi o r fan honno yn bedair ar ddeg mlwydd oed, i fynd i weithio i ddinas Lerpwl. Wrth weithio i deulu Pendefig yn Lerpwl, cafodd gyfle i deithio i gyfandir Ewrop gyda nhw, er i w thad wrthod ei chaniatáu i deithio i r India. Gadawodd Lerpwl am Lundain, lle bu n gweithio i deulu oedd gan diroedd yn y Caribî - cafodd ymweld â r ynysoedd er mwyn gofalu am fab ei meistr. Yna, bu n gweithio ar fwrdd llong Denmark Hill, sef llong fasnach, a bu n teithio i bedwar ban byd arno y Dwyrain Pell, Seland Newydd, Awstralia, India, De America, Mauritius a De Affrica. Llwyddodd Betsi i gasglu cryn dipyn o arian ar ei theithiau, ond collodd y cyfan trwy dwyll yn Llundain ac felly penderfynodd ddilyn gyrfa nyrsio yn Ysbyty Guy s yn Llundain. Yn 1854, wedi iddi ddarllen hanes brwydr Alma yn Rhyfel y Crimea, penderfynodd mai nyrsio yn y Crimea oedd ei galwad. Wedi cyrraedd y Crimea, teimlai Betsi yn rhwystredig nad oedd hi n cael mynd i r ysbyty ar faes y gad. Gan anwybyddu awdurdod Florence Nightingale ei hun, aeth Betsi yn nyrs i r ysbyty yn Balaclafa, lle gwelodd effeithiau peidio rhoi sylw digonol i anafiadau, yn ogystal ag erchyllterau r rhyfel ei hun. Yn fuan iawn, sicrhaodd Betsi fod trefn wedi i adennill yn y Crimea. Bu hi farw yn Llundain yn 1860, yn dlotyn. Betsi Cadwaladr was born and bred near Bala, and when she was six years old, her mother died. Betsi was then brought up by her overbearing sister, Gwenllïan and ran away when she was nine years old, to work for Simon Lloyd s family at Plas yn Dre, Bala. At fourteen, Betsi ran away from Plas yn Dre, to Liverpool and it was while she worked there, for an aristocratic family, that she was given the opportunity to travel to Europe with them, although her father refused to give permission for her to travel to India. Betsi then left Liverpool for London, and travelled to the Caribbean with her employers. Following her time in London, she worked on the Denmark Hill trade ship, travelling to New Zealand, Australia, the Far East, India, South America, Mauritius and South Africa. Betsi saved quite a bit of money on her travels but lost the lot when she was cheated in London. Following this, she decided to become a nurse and trained at Guy s Hospital, London. In 1854, having read about the Battle of Alma in the Crimean War, Betsi decided that nursing in the Crimea was her calling, but having arrived there, she felt frustrated that she wasn t permitted to work at a hospital near the front line, where help was most desperately needed. Ignoring Florence Nightingale s instructions, Betsi became a nurse in Balaclava, where she saw the true effect of not treating wounds properly, as well as the horrors of war. Betsi soon saw order restored in the Crimea. Betsi died in London in 1860, as a poor woman. 46
R.Festyn Davies - Trawsfynydd Arweinydd Corau / Choir Master Roedd R.Festyn Davies yn denor adnabyddus, ond fel arweinydd côr y Welsh Imperial Singers y caiff ei gofio n bennaf. Adweinir y côr hwn fel The greatest male ensemble a derbyniasant glod gan y teulu brenhinol a gan David Lloyd George ei hun! Cynhaliasant gyngherddau yng Nghymru, Lloegr, yr Alban, Canada ac Unol Daleithiau America, lle y buont yn eithriadol o boblogaidd. Gwisgasant wisgoedd lliwgar a buont yn feistri ar eu crefft, gan wefreiddio r gynulleidfa. Mae n debyg mai r côr mwyaf i Festyn Davies ei arwain oedd côr o 10,000 o leisiau a chwech band, yn y Great Festival a gynhaliwyd yn stadiwm Prifysgol Standford, U.D.A.,o flaen cynulleidfa o 50,000 o bobl! R.Festyn Davies was a well known tenor, but is as the conductor of the Welsh Imperial Singers choir that he is most widely known. The choir was regarded as The greatest male ensemble and was acclaimed by the Royal Family and David Lloyd George himself! They held concerts in Wales, England, Ireland, Canada and the U.S.A., where they were very warmly received. The choir wore colourful regalia and mastered their craft, giving electrifying performances. It is alleged that R.Festyn Davies once conducted a choir of 10,000 singers and six bands at the Great Festival at the stadium of Stanford University, U.S.A. in front of an audience of 50,000 people! Siân Owen - Cefncymerau Prif gymeriad darlun Salem Main character of the Salem painting 1837-1927 Paentiwyd y darlun enwog, Salem gan Sidney Curnow Vosper yn 1908. Mae n ymdrech i grynhoi ysbryd sidet, Fictorianaidd yr oedfa ar fore Sul yng Nghapel Cefncymerau ger Llanbedr. Siân Owen yw prif gymeriad y darlun, ac mae n debyg ei bod hi n cyrraedd yn hwyr i r oedfa, gan fod y cloc yn dangos amser toc cyn 10 o r gloch y bore. Awgrymodd rai ei bod hi wedi cyrraedd yn hwyr ar fwriad, er mwyn denu sylw ati hi ei hun, ac mae r siôl a r het yr oedd hi n eu gwisgo, hefyd yn denu cryn sylw. Mae n debyg mai benthyg y siôl wnaeth Siân Owen, gan wraig ficer Harlech, a r fath oferedd yn bechod yn llygaid cylch y capel. Mentrodd rhai i ddweud mai dyna pam y gwelir wyneb y diafol ym mhlygiadau r siôl Nid dweud yr wyf mai urddas ffôl Oedd urddas benthyg, crand y siôl. Bellach, mae r llun yn cael ei arddangos yn Amgueddfa Lever, Port Sunlight. The famous Salem painting was created by Sidney Curnow Vosper in 1908. The painting is an attempt to capture the spirit of the sedate, Victorian service on a Sunday morning in Cefncymerau chapel near Llanbedr. Sian Owen is the main character depicted, and it seems that she has arrived late to the service as the clock points to a few minutes before ten o clock. Some people have inferred that she arrived late to attract attention to herself, and the shawl and hat she is wearing also draw attention. It appears that Siân Owen borrowed the shawl from the vicar of Harlech s wife. Such flamboyancy was frowned upon by the chapel s congregation and officials. Some have even suggested that this is why the devil s face is said to be seen in the folds of the shawl. The painting is now exhibited at the Lever Museum, Port Sunlight. 47
Thomas Francis Roberts, Aberdyfi Prifathro Coleg y Brifysgol, Aberystwyth Principal of University College, Aberystwyth 1860-1919 Mab rhingyll pentref Aberdyfi oedd Thomas Francis Roberts, a derbyniodd ei addysg yn Ysgol Tywyn, Coleg y Brifysgol Aberystwyth a Choleg Sant Ioan Rhydychen. Yn 1891, dychwelodd i Aberystwyth yn Brifathro ar y Coleg a bu n ffigwr allweddol yn y broses o sefydlu Prifysgol Cymru. Bu Roberts yn adnabyddus fel ysgolhaig gwych ac am ei gymeriad bonheddig. Thomas Francis Roberts was the son of the village Sergeant of Aberdyfi, and was educated at Ysgol Tywyn, University College Aberystwyth, and Jesus College Oxford. In 1891, Roberts returned to Aberystwyth as Principal of the College and became a key figure in establishing the University of Wales. Roberts became renowned as a fantastic scholar and for his genteel personality. Merched Blaenau Ffestiniog / Blaenau Ffestiniog Ladies Gwau hosanau yn ystod y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf Knitting socks during the First World War Bu r diwydiant gwlân yn rhan allweddol o economi gogledd Cymru, fel cymdeithas wledig, amaethyddol. Cynhyrchwyd hosanau a nwyddau gwlân eraill mewn lleoedd amrywiol yn Sir Feirionnydd, cyn gwerthu r cynnyrch i asiantau yn Ffair y Bala. Yna, cai r nwyddau eu gwerthu ymlaen ym marchnadoedd mawrion Lerpwl a Manceinion. The wool industry formed a key part of the north Wales economy, as a rural, agricultural society. Socks and various other woollen goods were produced in Merionethshire and were then sold on to agents in Bala Fair. Goods were then sold on in the big commercial markets of Liverpool and Manchester. Orig Williams (El Bandito) - Ysbyty Ifan Reslar / Wrestler 1932- Ganwyd a magwyd Orig Williams yn Ysbyty Ifan, ac mae o fwyaf adnabyddus fel reslar. Tra r oedd o n reslo yn Unol Daleithiau America y bathwyd yr enw El Bandito ar Orig Williams. Credai rhyw Americanwr ei fod yn edrych fel bandit gyda i locsyn a i fwstash. Wrth gwrs, mae yna gysylltiad rhwng Ysbyty Ifan a r bandit hefyd, gan fod y pentref yn enwog fel lloches ar gyfer troseddwyr yn yr G15 ac 16! Orig Williams was born and raised in Ysbyty Ifan, and is most widely known as a wrestler. It was while he was wrestling in the U.S.A. that he was given the nickname El Bandito, as one American believed that his moustache and beard gave him the look of a bandit. Of course, there s a link between Ysbyty Ifan and bandits too, as the village became known as a safe-haven for criminals during the C15 and 16! 48
Cymeriadau Anhygoel Eryri Amazing Characters of Snowdonia Pensaernïaeth a Pheirianeg Architecture and Engineering James o St.George / James of St.George - Harlech Pensaer / Architect c.1230-1309 Y Ffrancwr, James o St George, fu r grym ymenyddol y tu ôl i gastell mawreddog Harlech, a adeiladwyd fel rhan o ymgyrch Edward I i oresgyn Tywysogaeth Gymreig Gwynedd yn yr Oesoedd Canol. Caiff James o St George ei adnabod fel pensaer a pheriannydd milwrol mwyaf blaenllaw ei gyfnod ac mae n debyg mai ef oedd yn gyfrifol am holl Gestyll Edward I yng Nghymru ym mlynyddoedd olaf y drydedd ganrif ar ddeg. Roedd gwychder pensaernïol y cestyll hyn yn atgyfnerthu r syniad o rym Edward I, ac yn tanlinellu buddugoliaeth Edward tros un o elynion pennaf coron Lloegr. Cymaint fu r bri ar waith James o St George yn Harlech, nes yr apwyntiwyd ef yn gwnstabl Castell Harlech yn 1290, gan Edward I, a daeth y castell yn gartref iddo. Bellach, mae Castell Harlech yn Safle Treftadaeth y Byd UNESCO (Sefydliad Addysgol, Gwyddonol a Diwylliannol y Cenhedloedd Unedig). The Frenchman, James of St George was the intellectual force behind the magnificent Harlech castle, built as part of Edward I s campaign to conquer the Welsh Principality of Gwynedd in C13. James of St George is regarded as the most prominent architect and military engineers of his day and it seems that he was the think tank behind the building of Edward I s castles in Wales during the final years of the C13. The architectural magnificence of these castles reinforced the idea of Edward I s might, and underlined his victory over one of the English Crown s most notorious enemies. James of St George s work in Harlech was felt to be so worthy that he was appointed Constable of Harlech Castle in 1290 by Edward I, and the castle became his home. Harlech Castle is now a World Heritage Site, designated by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Institute). 49 Thomas Telford - Yr Alban / Scotland Peiriannydd / Engineer 1757-1834 Go brin y gallai run ohonom ddychmygu teithio ar draws gogledd Cymru, heb yr A5, sef y lôn a ddatblygwyd gan Thomas Telford yn 1815. Adeiladwyd yr A5 yn dilyn galwadau ar gyfer adeiladu lonydd gwell a chwtogi r amser yr oedd hi n cymryd i r post fynd o Lundain i Ddulyn, yn dilyn Deddf Uno Lloegr ac Iwerddon, 1800-1. Yn dilyn adeiladu r A5, adeiladwyd Pont Waterloo, yn coffhau buddugoliaeth byddin Dûg Wellington tros fyddin Napoelon Boneparte ym Mrwydr Waterloo, 1812. Mae campweithiau eraill Thomas Telford yng ngogledd Cymru yn cynnwys Pont Menai a Phont Grog Conwy. Yn sicr, roedd Thomas Telford un o athrylithwyr disgleiriaf y Chwyldro Diwydiannol. It s difficult for anyone to imagine travelling across north Wales without the A5, the road developed by Thomas Telford in 1815. The A5 was built following calls to improve the condiions of roads, to enable the Royal Mail to travel more quickly between London and Dublin, following the Act of Union between Britain and Ireland in 1800-1. Following the development of the A5, the Waterloo Bridge, Betws y Coed was built, commemorating the Duke of Wellington s defeat over Napoleon Bonaparte s army in the Battle of Waterloo, 1812. Telford s other masterpieces in north Wales include the Menai Bridge and the Conwy Suspension Bridge. Telford was certainly one of the most innovative engineers of the Industrial Revolution.
Clough Williams-Ellis - Llanfrothen Pensaer/ Architect 1833-1913 Yn Swydd Northampton ganed Clough Williams-Ellis, ac yn ŵ r ifanc, heb lawer o hyfforddiant pensaernïol, symudodd i Lundain ac agorodd swyddfa bensaer yno. Ar farwolaeth ei dad, etifeddodd Clough Williams-Ellis Plas Brondanw yn Llanfrothen, a symudodd i fyw yno. Bu Williams-Ellis yn cynllunio tai ac adeiladau cyhoeddus a threfol, ond ei gampwaith mwyaf yn ôl pob tebyg oedd pentref Eidalaidd Portmeirion, a adeiladiwyd rhwng 1925 a 1976. Clough Williams-Ellis was born in Northamptonshire, and as a young man with very little architectural training, he moved to London and opened his own practice as an architect. Upon his father s death, Clough Williams-Ellis inherited Plas Brondanw manor house in Llanfrothen, and moved to live there. Williams-Ellis designed houses and public or urban buildings, but it seems that his most famous accomplishment was the Italianate village of Portmeirion, which was built between 1925 and 1976. 50