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Evolution of Welsh Bardic Tradition
- Welsh bardic tradition lasted centuries and evolved significantly after the 1282 English conquest.
- Bards adapted from court poets serving princes to traveling poets surviving through noble patronage and monasteries.
Status and Role of Bards
- Bards held high social status and required extensive education including apprenticeship and examinations.
- They preserved Welsh culture by conveying law, legend, and tradition, even as political power shifted.
Female Poets in Medieval Wales
- Female poets like Gwerful Mechain were excluded from male bardic guilds but existed mostly from high social status.
- She mainly produced religious poetry but also wrote ribald and irreverent verse showcasing female perspective.