Factfile

Life in a Welsh Court

Llewelyn at Court

Each Welsh prince had his own court with its officers: the magistrate (ynad) who ran the court, the steward (distain) who organised the meals, the chamber servant (gwas ystafell) who looked after the bed chamber and the prince's wardrobe, the prince's household Bard or minstrel poet (bardd teulu), and the Pencerdd or chief Bard/poet-musician.

Bards would compose and recite poems singing the praises of the prince and his warriors' exploits in victory. They were also repositories of histories, stories, legends, songs and poetry of the people and were honoured wherever they travelled. With no newspapers or TVs, news travelled very slowly and inaccurately but the Bard would know the latest news. The Pencerdd was an important figure and would train for nine years; he was chief bard for the region and as such would have students under him. The Pencerdd would receive a harp from the King.

Court life had rules governing who sat where at mealtimes and on how to behave. Meals were a time to reward followers with gifts and plunder and a time to re-affirm communal bonds. The court moved with the prince on his travels; a prince had to be seen as an invisible ruler would become an irrelevant figurehead.

View larger version of photo.

Photo Credit: By permission of Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Gymru/The National Library of Wales.