Coronations and Royal Regalia (Welsh History Post Glyndwr)

The details of Welsh coronations prior to the fall of Gwynedd in 1282 have largely been lost and when Prince Owain claimed the title and rights of the Prince of Wales new traditions were formed.

Owain Glyndwr was crowned in Machynlleth in Parliament House. He was crowned with the Coron Elisig, a relic of the House of Mathrafal. His son and successor, Maredudd was crowned in Bangor Cathedral although he set precedence by first swearing an oath to Parliament, something that would be largely followed by all Welsh monarchs after him. The ritual used for the first four Welsh monarchs was not recorded and therefore is lost to history, though the Coron Elisig appears to have been used for both Maredudd's coronations, Owain V's, and Hywel I & II.

It is with the esgyniad (accession) of Rhodri that we have records of the ceremony surviving to us

Esgyniad
The rules of a Welsh coronation date from the reign of King Rhodri and are called ordines (ordo coronam regalem), usually refered to as the Y Defodau Rhodri.

As part of the defod esgyniad (rite of accession), the new monarch would attend a specially convened session of parliament. He would present himself to the assembled peers and commote representatives. The Canghellor would ask "Sirs, I here present unto you [name]. Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God, the true profession of the Gospel and protect the Church of God here in Wales? Will you solemnly promise and swear to justly govern your people according to our laws and customs?"

After that the assembled members of the Senedd were asked whether they wish to submit themselves to the person who was to be crowned.

"Sirs, I have presented unto you [name]. They have sworn to uphold the laws and dignities of our country. All here present, acting for all men in your commotes, are you willing to acknowledge [name] as your undoubted King (Queen) and to offer homage and service to them"

The "bloedd" or acclamation of the new king or queen would then occur in the Senedd.

The crown would be present for this ceremony, placed on a cushion of velvet but not worn.

Coroniad (Coronation)
All coronations of Welsh monarchs have taken place at St Davids Cathedral, the home of the Archbishop of Wales. The night before the ceremony, the new monarch spends the night in prayer and reflection in the Palas yr Esgobion at Tyddewi (BIshops Palace, St Davids).

Then a procession from the palace to the west door of the Cathedral where the monarch is met by the bishops of Llandaff and Llanelwy (St Asaph) and challenged if they have spent the night in solitary reflection and prayer. Once the monarch has answered in the positive then the esgobs (bishops) order the west doors to be opened to admit the monarch.

The procession then leads down the nave to the throne set up in front of the choir. The peers and nobles of the realm are gathered in the nave to witness the ceremony.

Eneiniad (Anointing)
The anointing of a new monarch is within the rights and privileges of the Esgobaeth Bangor and it is he would anoint the sovereign in the form of a cross on the hands, head, and heart. While the Esgob Bangor performs the anointing, the Archesgob recites a consecratory formula recalling the anointing of King Solomon by Nathan the prophet and Zadok the priest. The four senior Knights of Golden Dragon hold a canopy over the monarch and bishops.

After being anointed, the monarch rises from the throne and kneels down at a faldstool placed in front of it. The archbishop then concludes the ceremonies of the anointing by reciting a prayer (the ancient Latin prayer Deus, Dei Filius), which is recited in the consecration of other Christian sovereigns. Once this prayer is finished, the monarch rises and sits again on the throne. The Knights of the Golden Dragon then bear away the canopy.

Arwisgai (Investing)
The monarch is presented with spurs by the Duke of March (representing chivalry), then the Prince of Powys girds the monarch with was then girded with sword of state whilst the Prince of Gwynedd/Morgannwg (Morgannwg originally, but Gwynedd after the accession of the princes of Morgannwg to the Welsh throne) places the bracelets on the monarch. Then the Esgob Henffordd presents the Orb and the Esgob Caerodor presents the Sceptre (originally the Esgob Henffordd presented both). The sceptre is put in their right hand and the orb in their left hand.

Coroni (Crowning)
The crown which has till now been on the high altar hidden behind the choir, is led in procession to the throne dais in the nave. The velvet cushion on which the crown is placed is carried by the Prif-Farchog Teyrnas Cymru (Chief Knight of Wales) and he is flanked by the Iarll Llwydd Cymru (Earl Marshall of Wales), which is the professional head of the armed forces and the Tywysog-Lyngesydd Cymru (Prince-Admiral of Wales). Guarding the party of three are the next six senior Knights of the Golden Dragon. As the Crown Party come round into the nave they are met by the Gwas Ystafell (Lord Great Chamberlain) and the Brawdwr Llys (Lord Chief Justice) who announce the arrival of the Crown. The party then approach the dais and Earl Marshal, taking the crown from the Prif-Farchog, presents it to the Archesgob Tyddewi.

The Archesgob then says a prayer over the crown as it is presented. The prayer is the ancient formula Deus tuorum Corona fidelium.

He then lifts the crown from its cushion and places it on the monarch's head. At this moment, the king or queen is crowned, and the guests in the cathedral cry in unison three times, "God Save the King/Queen". Peers of the realm and officers of arms put on their coronets, the trumpeters sound a fanfare and the cathedral bells ring out. Gun salutes are completed from the city walls of St Davids (and in modern times from Cardiff Castle, Harlech, Caernarfon, Caerodor and Caerfilli Castle.

Finally, the archesgob, standing before the monarch, says the crowning formula, which is a translation of the ancient Latin prayer Coronet te Deus: "God crown you with a crown of glory and righteousness, that having a right faith and manifold fruit of good works, you may obtain the crown of an everlasting kingdom by the gift of him whose kingdom endureth for ever." To this the guests, with heads bowed, say "Amen".

Following this, the Prifardd y Tywsog, or royal bard, addresses the new monarch with "Duw Bendithia Brenin Cymru", or "God Bless the King of Wales". The bard then recites the monarch's genealogy back to the first of his house, which for monarchs of the House of Morgannwg is Gwillym Bren, first prince of Morgannwg.