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?"
Stylised image of the Esgyniad Ceremony in the old Ty Senedd, Machynlleth
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 Marchogion Urdd y Ddraig Aur (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 Marchogion Urdd y Ddraig Aur then bear away the canopy.
Arwisgai (Investing)[]
The monarch is presented with spurs by the Dug Y Mers (representing chivalry), then the Tywysog Powys girds the monarch with the sword of state whilst the Tywysog 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 Pelen (Orb) and the Esgob Caerodor presents the Teyrnwialen (Sceptre), originally the Esgob Henffordd presented both. The teyrnwialen is put in their right hand and the pelen in their left hand.
Coroni (Crowning)[]
The crown which has, until 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 Marchogion Urdd y Ddraig Aur. 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 Iarll Llwydd, 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 Castell Caerfilli.
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 Meurig Senghenydd.
Duw Bendithia Brenin Cymru[]
Llywelyn, brenin yma o'n blaenau, mab Arthur a oedd yn fab i Gristion o Ddenmarc ac a Marged o Forgannwg, merch Iorwerth, a oedd yn fab i Rhisiart. Pwy yn ei dro oedd mab Rhisiart fab Cystennin y Merthyr, mab Arthur a oedd yn fab i Rhisiart, a oedd yn ei dro yn fab i Rhisiart y Rhyddfrydwr.
Yma yn gorffen llinell y brenhinoedd ac yn cychwyn llinell tywysogion.
Roedd Rhisiart y Rhyddfrydwr yn fab i Cystennin Llwyd fab Iago fab Meurig fab Gwillym, a oedd yn fab i Dafydd fab Cystennin a oedd yn ei dro yn fab i Gwillym, tywysog bonheddig cyntaf Morgannwg.
Yma yn gorffen llinell tywysogion ac felly'n dechrau llinell arglwyddi mwyaf bonheddig Senghenydd.
Roedd Gwillym, tywysog cyntaf Morgannwg yn fab i Gwillym fab Iolo fab Meurig fab Gruffydd a oedd yn fab i Llywelyn, cyntaf Tŷ'r Bren. Roedd Llywelyn yn fab i Gruffudd fab Rhys fab Gruffudd a oedd yn fab i Ifor Bach, a darddodd o Meurig Senghenydd, y cyntaf o'ch llinell fwyaf bonheddig a darluniadol o arglwyddi, tywysogion a brenhinoedd.
Boed i chi ychwanegu at hanes gogoneddus eich teulu a dod â gogoniant i anrhydedd Cymru
Llywelyn, king here before us, son of Arthur who was the son of Christian of Denmark and Marged of Morgannwg, daughter of Iorwerth, who was the son of Rhisiart. Who in turn was the son of Rhisiart, son of Cystennin the Martyr, son of Arthur who was the son of Rhisiart, who was in turn the son of Rhisiart the Liberator.
Here ends the line of kings and begins the line of princes.
Rhisiart the Liberator was the son of Cystennin Llwyd, son of Iago, son of Meurig, son of Gwillym, who was the son of Dafydd, son of Cystennin, who in turn was the son of Gwillym, the first noble prince of Morgannwg.
Here ends the line of princes and so begins the line of the most noble lords of Senghenydd.
Gwillym, first prince of Morgannwg was the son of Gwillym, son of Iolo, son of Meurig, son of Gruffydd who was the son of Llywelyn, first of the House of Bren. Llywelyn was the son of Gruffudd, son of Rhys, son of Gruffudd, who was the son of Ifor Bach, who originated from Meurig Senghenydd, first of your most noble and illustrious line of lords, princes and kings.
May you add to the glorious history of your family and bring glory to the honour of Wales.
Teyrn-Addurnau Brenhiniol (Royal Regalia)[]
The Royal Regalia of Wales consist mainly of items that date from after the restoration of Welsh independence in 1796, though some items remain of the pre-conquest kingdom.
Coron[]
The original royal regalia consisted of the Coron Elisig, which was the coronet of the House of Mathrafal. It was used in the coronations of Owain IV, Maredudd, Owain V and Hywel I & II. The crown itself was lost during the Protestant Uprising, but Rhodri had already had a newer crown made by this time. The Coron Rhodri was used for his coronation, his daughters, Elen, and Marc's. It was melted down and recast for the Coron Dafydd. Hywel III had made for himself a new crown, which was used by his successors, Hywel IV and Dafydd V. Dafydd V however had a new coron which he intended to pass onto his successor. Rhisiart I & II both decided to use simple coronets at their coronations, whilst Arthur used the Coron Dafydd V. Cystennin also used the Coron Dafydd V, but his successor, Rhisiart III purchased a new crown which was used for all Welsh monarchs until the coronation of Arthur II. He had restored the Coron Hywel and passed legislation making it the Goron Ymerodrol (Imperial Crown) with the Coron Rhisiart being designated the Coron y Wladwriaeth (State Crown).
Coronau Cymru
- Coron Elisig - Lost during reign of Marc
- Coron Rhodri - Recast as Coron Dafydd IV
- Coron Dafydd IV - Sold during the English Occupation. Lost to history
- Coron Hywel III - The Goron Ymerodrol. Worn at the coronation & used during the monarch's funeral service, where it is placed atop the casket
- Coron Dafydd V - Sold during the English Occupation. Repurchased by Arthur I. Last used at the coronation of Cystennin
- Coron Rhisiart - The Coron y Wladwriaeth. Used for all State Parliament Openings and used to present the king at his Esgyniad
- Coron Henrietta - Queen Consort crown. The partner to Hywel III
- Coron Catrin - The crown of Queen Catherine, wife to Rhisiart IV. A gift from the Russian Tsar on her marriage to Rhisiart
Other Regalia[]
Teyrnwialen a Pelen
- Teyrnwialen Hywel - The original sceptre used by Welsh monarchs at their coronation. This was made by Caernarfon goldsmiths and was sold off during the English Occupation by Rhys to raise funds.
- Teyrnwialen Cymru - The Sceptre of Wales was a gift made in Italy from Pope Pius VI in 1779
- Pelen y Brenin - The King's Orb. The original orb was purchased by Rhodri but was only used in Elen's coronation. It wasn't until Hywel IV that a new orb was purchased from Berlin goldsmiths. This was sold off during the English Occupation and Arthur I had a new pelen commissioned from jewellers in Caerdydd.
Cleddyf y Wladwriaeth
- The sword of state was also a Papal gift. Pope Julius III in 1554 gifted this to King Rhodri and is the oldest part of the Regalia. It was never sold off during the Occupation, but kept safe and hidden in St David's Cathedral where it was brought out of hiding following its liberation by Rhisiart I.
Ampulla a Llwy
- Both these artifacts were gifts from Charles I of England to his cousin, Hywel III for his coronation. They survived the English Occupation, secured in a reliquary in Abaty Strata Florida.
Yspardun
- The spurs were commissioned by Cystennin and reintroduced to the coronation ceremony by him. There were created by goldsmiths in Caerodor. Neither Rhisiart IV or Marged used yspardun at their coronations and Iorwerth and Iago had yspardun donated by the Imperial Colonies. Arthur and Llywelyn used the "Iorwerth" and "Cystennin" yspardun respectively.
Arddyrn-dlws (Breichrwy)
- The bracelets were commissioned by Cystennin along with the spurs and were created by the same firm of goldsmiths in Caerodor. These remain in the Royal Treasury in Caerdydd. A new set were commissioned for Iago and again for Marged and Arthur. Llywelyn used the original Cystennin arddyrn-dlws.
Modrwy Coroni
- The coronation ring was traditionally new for each monarch, but Dafydd V obtained a collection of precious stones (emeralds, rubies and diamonds) and used some to fashion a coronation ring. This ring was kept safe by both Rhys and the Regency Council and returned to the monarch when Rhisiart was crowned.
Tlysau Brenhinol (Royal Jewels)[]
Over the centuries the Welsh Crown has acquired or purchased various jewels, pieces of jewelry or precious gems. Whilst some pieces have been lost or sold, many pieces remain in the royal collection.
- Marged Cameo - A Byzantine cameo imported from Constantinople for Princess Marged, wife of Owain Glyndwr
- Opal and garnet necklace and earrings for Princess Elizabeth of Northumbria
Arhydeddau Morgannwg[]
The princes of Morgannwg are not crowned as they are not sovereigns, but they are invested at Llandaff Cathedral. Prior to Prince Iago (reign 1660-1673), there has existed the Arhydeddau Morgannwg (Honours of Morgannwg). The Honours of Morgannwg are not part of the Royal Regalia but are the personal property of the Prince of Morgannwg.
Notable items in the Honours of Morgannwg consist of
- Coron Iago - This was a wedding gift from Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor and father, to Iago's wife, Princess Anna-Maria. It is never worn, simply displayed on the altar as the new prince announced and blessed.
- Coron Gwillym - This is the oldest surviving Morgannwg coron. Produced for Twysog Gwillym, it contains the Butler Emerald, part of the dowry of Joan Butler, wife to Gwillym. The coron was thought lost during the 3rd Anglo-Welsh War, but was rediscovered in renovation work at Llandaff Cathedral in the 1890's
- Tlysau Moravia (The Moravia Jewels) - These consist of a string of 12 freshwater pearls and an unmounted 10 carat diamond
- Tlysau Savoy (The Savoy Jewels) - A wedding gift from Charles Emmanuel III, Duke of Savoy & King of Sardinia to his daughter on her marriage to Rhisiart II of Wales, this is a 22 carat ruby with the Morgannwg arms carved into it