Archdruid


Archdruid is the title used by the presiding official of the Gorsedd.
The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, the award of the and the Chairing of the Bard. Although Iolo Morganwg was the first to preside over the Gorsedd when the National Eisteddfod came into being, his successor David Griffith, under the bardic name "Clwydfardd", was the first to be known by the official title "Archdruid".
The Archdruid's regalia, devised by the early revivers of the eisteddfod during the early 19th century, includes a crown, a sceptre, and a breastplate in the form of a torc. These were redesigned in 1896 by Hubert von Herkomer, to be made of gold and decorated with oak leaves, symbolising the sacred groves associated with druidry. A special ring of office was also introduced. The current sceptre has been in use since 1910, and a stola or cape was first worn in 1911 by the Archdruid "Dyfed".
Since 1932, only former winners of the Eisteddfod Crown or Chair have been qualified to become Archdruid. By the beginning of the twenty-first century Prose Medal winners were included in this elite band and the first to be elected under this ruling was Robyn Llŷn . Christine James, who became Archdruid in 2013, is both the first woman and the first Welsh learner to have held the title.
Since the Second World War, only one Archdruid has served more than one three-year term. Albert Evans-Jones was elected in 1950 and again in 1963, and was regarded as a liberal influence on the festival; he publicly accepted that the eisteddfod as it stands has no direct descent from druidic culture. He was knighted in 1969 for his services to Welsh culture, the only Archdruid to have been so honoured.

List of Archdruids of Wales

The following is a list of Archdruids.
TermNameBardic nameImage
1888–1894Clwydfardd
1895–1905Hwfa Môn
1905–1923Dyfed
1923Cadfan
1924–1928Elfed
1928–1932Pedrog
1932–1936Gwili
1936–1939J. J.
1939–1947Crwys
1947–1950Wil Ifan
1950–1953Cynan
1954–1957Dyfnallt
1957–1960William Morris
1960–1962Trefin
1963–1966Cynan
1966–1969Gwyndaf
1969–1972Tilsli
1972–1975Brinli
1975–1978Bryn
1978–1981Geraint
1981–1984Jâms Nicolas
1984–1987Elerydd
1987–1990Emrys Deudraeth
1990–1993Ap Llysor
1993–1996John Gwilym
1999–2002Meirion
2002–2005Robin Llŷn
2005–2008Selwyn Iolen
2008–2009Dic yr Hendre
2010–2013Jim Parc Nest
2013–2016Christine
2016–2019Geraint Llifon
2019–2022