Generally regarded as the greatest Welsh poet of all time, Dafydd ap Gwilym was born in about 1320, to a noble family of Ceredigion Cardiganshire. Although not a professional bard, he travelled widely and his work shows a wider European influence. He was responsible for popularising the metre known as "cywydd".

His main theme is love, and his poems are addressed to many women, but particularly to "Morfudd". Probably his best-known work is "The girls of Llanbadarn", in which he speaks of going to church on Sunday purely in order to ogle the local women. He died in 1380.