Einion Offeiriad
Encyclopedia
Einion Offeiriad (d. 1356) was a Welsh language
poet and grammarian.
Einion lived in Ceredigion
, where he was a chaplain to Sir Rhys ap Gruffudd ap Hywel ap Gruffudd ab Ednyfed Fychan, a wealthy nobleman. Amongst Einion’s surviving poems is an awdl sung is praise of Sir Rhys ap Gruffudd.
Einion’s fames lies primarily with his metrical grammar, ‘llyfr cerddwriaeth’, the earliest of its kind known in Welsh. Although written in Welsh it is partly an adaption of Latin grammars in use during the early Middle Ages, in particular those of Donatus
and Priscianus.
The provides a description of the twenty four metres, how they should be composed and a strict edict on proscribed faults. It also lays out the precedence for the subjects of praise: spirirual poetry in praise of God, Christ and the saints before temporal poetry in praise of the King and nobility.
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
poet and grammarian.
Einion lived in Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, where he was a chaplain to Sir Rhys ap Gruffudd ap Hywel ap Gruffudd ab Ednyfed Fychan, a wealthy nobleman. Amongst Einion’s surviving poems is an awdl sung is praise of Sir Rhys ap Gruffudd.
Einion’s fames lies primarily with his metrical grammar, ‘llyfr cerddwriaeth’, the earliest of its kind known in Welsh. Although written in Welsh it is partly an adaption of Latin grammars in use during the early Middle Ages, in particular those of Donatus
Donatus
-People:* Aelius Donatus, a Roman grammarian and teacher of rhetoric* Donatus , a Khan of the Eastern Black Sea Huns & beyond c. 412 AD; preceded by Uldin and succeeded by Charaton-Churchmen:...
and Priscianus.
The provides a description of the twenty four metres, how they should be composed and a strict edict on proscribed faults. It also lays out the precedence for the subjects of praise: spirirual poetry in praise of God, Christ and the saints before temporal poetry in praise of the King and nobility.
See also
- An introduction to the poetc metres can be found at Gwenllian's Poetry Primer