Iolo Morganwg

Iolo Morganwg
Unknown author · Public domain · source
Name	Iolo Morganwg
Birth date	1747
Birth place	Llancarfan, Glamorgan, Wales
Death date	1826
Death place	Flemington, Monmouthshire, Wales
Occupation	Bard, poet, antiquarian, collector

Iolo Morganwg was a prominent figure in Welsh literature and a key player in the Romantic movement in Wales, closely associated with Owen Pughe, William Owen Pughe, and Shelley. His life and work were deeply connected to the Glamorgan region, where he was born and raised, and he was influenced by the works of Dafydd ap Gwilym, Gwyneth Lewis, and Saunders Lewis. Iolo Morganwg's contributions to Welsh poetry and his role in preserving Welsh language and Welsh culture are still studied by scholars at University of Wales, Aberystwyth University, and Bangor University. His connections to London and the London Welsh community, including David Williams (inventor), Richard Price, and Joseph Priestley, also played a significant role in shaping his literary career.

● Early Life and Education

Iolo Morganwg was born in Llancarfan, Glamorgan, Wales, to a family of stewards and farmers, and was educated at Cowbridge Grammar School, where he developed an interest in Welsh history and Welsh literature, inspired by the works of Giraldus Cambrensis, Nennius, and Geoffrey of Monmouth. He was also influenced by the Moravian Church and the Methodist movement, which had a significant presence in Wales during the 18th century, with notable figures such as Howell Harris, Daniel Rowland, and Ann Griffiths. Iolo Morganwg's early life was marked by a strong connection to the Welsh gentry, including Lord Mansel, Lord Vernon, and Sir John Stepney, and he was familiar with the works of William Williams (Pantycelyn), William Owen (poet), and Robert ap Gwilym Ddu.

● Literary Career

Iolo Morganwg's literary career was marked by his contributions to Welsh poetry and his efforts to preserve Welsh language and Welsh culture, closely associated with the Gwyneddigion Society, the Cymreigyddion Society, and the Eisteddfod. He was influenced by the works of Dafydd ap Gwilym, Gwyneth Lewis, and Saunders Lewis, and his poetry was praised by William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Robert Southey. Iolo Morganwg's connections to London and the London Welsh community, including David Williams (inventor), Richard Price, and Joseph Priestley, also played a significant role in shaping his literary career, with notable interactions with The Gentleman's Magazine, The Monthly Review, and The Analytical Review. His work was also influenced by the French Revolution and the Reform Movement in Britain, with connections to Charles James Fox, William Wilberforce, and Thomas Paine.

● Forgeries and Controversies

Iolo Morganwg was involved in several controversies throughout his career, including accusations of forgery and plagiarism, which were discussed in the Gentleman's Magazine, the Monthly Review, and the Analytical Review. His most notable forgery was the creation of the Barddas, a collection of Welsh poetry and Welsh mythology that was later revealed to be largely fabricated, with connections to The Mabinogion, The Red Book of Hergest, and The Black Book of Carmarthen. Iolo Morganwg's forgeries were influenced by the works of James Macpherson and the Ossian controversy, as well as the Gothic Revival and the Romantic movement in Europe, with notable interactions with Horace Walpole, Ann Radcliffe, and Matthew Lewis. Despite these controversies, Iolo Morganwg's contributions to Welsh literature and Welsh culture remain significant, with connections to University of Wales, Aberystwyth University, and Bangor University.

● Legacy and Influence

Iolo Morganwg's legacy is complex and multifaceted, with both positive and negative assessments of his contributions to Welsh literature and Welsh culture, discussed by scholars such as Saunders Lewis, Gwyn Alf Williams, and Gwyn Jones (writer). His efforts to preserve Welsh language and Welsh culture have been praised by Plaid Cymru, the Welsh National Party, and the Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, while his forgeries have been criticized by scholars such as William Owen Pughe, Shelley, and Lord Byron. Iolo Morganwg's influence can be seen in the work of later Welsh poets and Welsh writers, including Hedd Wyn, R. S. Thomas, and Dylan Thomas, as well as in the Eisteddfod and the National Eisteddfod of Wales, with connections to BBC Wales, S4C, and The Welsh Arts Council.

● Personal Life and Politics

Iolo Morganwg's personal life was marked by his connections to the Moravian Church and the Methodist movement, as well as his involvement in the Reform Movement in Britain, with notable interactions with Charles James Fox, William Wilberforce, and Thomas Paine. He was also a strong supporter of Welsh nationalism and the Welsh language, and was involved in the Cymreigyddion Society and the Gwyneddigion Society, with connections to Owen Pughe, William Owen Pughe, and Shelley. Iolo Morganwg's politics were influenced by the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution in Britain, with connections to Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Robert Owen, and his legacy continues to be studied by scholars at University of Wales, Aberystwyth University, and Bangor University.

Category:Welsh writers