Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ivor Hael
IVOR HAEL, or the Generous (d. 1361), patron of Welsh literature, and particularly of his nephew, the poet Dafydd ap Gwilym [q. v.], was lord of Maesaleg (Bassaleg), Y Wenallt, and Gwernycleppa in Monmouthshire, being the second son of Llewelyn ab Ivor of Tredegar, by Angharad, daughter of Sir Morgan ab Meredith. He married Nest, daughter of Rhys ab Grono ab Llywarch (his elder brother, Morgan, marrying her sister), and founded the cadet branch of Gwernycleppa. He died in 1361, and it is often erroneously stated that he left no issue behind him (Barddoniaeth, ed. Jones, p. vi), but he had a long line of descendants, in whose possession Gwernycleppa remained until it was sold, 15 Oct. 1733, to a descendant of Ivor's elder brother, from whom Lord Tredegar claims descent.
Ivor is the hero of much absurd fiction. Dafydd ap Gwilym is said to have fallen in love with his daughter, who was sent to a nunnery in Anglesey in order to prevent an alliance, while Dafydd was still retained in Ivor's household as family bard and land steward. This story is, however, probably based upon a mistaken interpretation of some of Dafydd's poems. Under Ivor's patronage was held, about 1328, at Gwernycleppa the first of the ‘three Eisteddfods of the Renascence’ of Welsh poetry (Tair Eisteddfod Dadeni).
At least nine poems were addressed by Dafydd ap Gwilym to Ivor and members of his family, and the same poet wrote elegies on the death of Ivor and Nest, his wife.
[Clark's Genealogies of Glamorgan, pp. 310, 329; Barddoniaeth Dafydd ap Gwilym, ed. Jones, Introduction; Llenddiaeth y Cymry, by Gweirydd ab Rhys.]