Archdruid

This article is about the literary title. For the religious title of Archdruid, see Ár nDraíocht Féin.

Archdruid (Welsh: Archdderwydd) 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 Prose Medal 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".

Jim Parc Nest, Archdruid of Wales, 2010–2013

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. (The Welsh word for "oak" is "derw" from which "druid" is thought to be derived.) 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 (Robyn Léwis) (2002–05). Christine James, who became Archdruid in 2013, is both the first woman and the first Welsh learner (i.e. a person not brought up with Welsh as their first language) to have held the title.

Since the Second World War, only one Archdruid has served more than one three-year term. Albert Evans-Jones ("Cynan"), a World War I veteran and a significant war poet, was elected in 1950 and again in 1963, and was regarded as a reforming influence on the festival; he publicly accepted that the eisteddfod and the gorsedd have no direct descent from Welsh mythology or from the druids. 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.

Term	Name	Bardic name	Image
1888–1894	David Griffith	Clwydfardd
1895–1905	Rowland Williams	Hwfa Môn
1905–1923	Evan Rees	Dyfed
1923	John Cadvan Davies	Cadfan
1924–1928	Howell Elvet Lewis	Elfed
1928–1932	John Owen Williams	Pedrog
1932–1936	John Jenkins	Gwili
1936–1939	John James Williams	J. J.
1939–1947	William Williams	Crwys
1947–1950	William Evans	Wil Ifan
1950–1953	Sir Albert Evans-Jones	Cynan
1954–1957	John Dyfnallt Owen	Dyfnallt
1957–1960	William Morris	William Morris
1960–1962	Edgar Phillips	Trefin
1963–1966	Sir Albert Evans-Jones (second term)	Cynan
1966–1969	E. Gwyndaf Evans	Gwyndaf
1969–1972	Gwilym Tilsley	Tilsli
1972–1975	Brinley Richards	Brinli
1975–1978	R. Bryn Williams	Bryn
1978–1981	Geraint Bowen	Geraint
1981–1984	James Nicholas	Jâms Nicolas
1984–1987	W. J. Gruffydd	Elerydd
1987–1990	Emrys Roberts	Emrys Deudraeth
1990–1993	William R. P. George	Ap Llysor
1993–1996	John Gwilym Jones	John Gwilym
1996-1999	Dafydd Rowlands	Dafydd Rolant
1999–2002	Meirion Evans	Meirion
2002–2005	Robyn Léwis	Robin Llŷn
2005–2008	Selwyn Griffith	Selwyn Iolen
2008–2009	Dic Jones	Dic yr Hendre
2010–2013	T. James Jones	Jim Parc Nest
2013–2016	Christine James	Christine
2016–2019	Geraint Lloyd Owen	Geraint Llifon
2019–2024	Myrddin ap Dafydd	Myrddin ap Dafydd
2024–2027	Mererid Hopwood	Mererid Hopwood