Wiktionary
n. A chief druid.
Wikipedia
Archdruid 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 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 Griffiths, under the bardic name "Clwydfardd", was the first to be known by the official title "Archdruid".
The Archdruid's regalia, devised by the early revivers of the eisteddfod during the early 19th century, includes a crown, sceptre and 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 élite 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 his or her 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") was elected in 1950 and again in 1963, and was regarded as a liberal influence on the festival; he publicly accepted that the eisteddfod as it stands has no direct descent from druidic culture. He was knighted in 1969 for his services to Welsh culture, the only Archdruid to have been so honoured.
Usage examples of "archdruid".
Rimi, like many Shapeshifter druids, makes an excellent spy or messenger and stands a good chance of being picked as a servant to a high-level druid, an archdruid, or a great druid.
Each circle can have only three archdruids and, as with the druid rank, advancement requires either filling a vacancy or winning a challenge against a seated archdruid.
Also, archdruids spend time training to step into the role of the great druid.
The three archdruids share the druid's responsibility for initiating newcomers to the Order.
By ancient custom, moots are called four times a year at these set dates, once by each archdruid and once (usually in spring) by the great druid.
After the High Council, the great druid (or an archdruid) addresses the entire moot, answers questions, and takes advice.
Though most moots last about four days, the meeting cannot end until the summoning archdruid or the great druid dissolves it.
If not, the great druid should start keeping an eye on the circle's archdruids--the opposition to the ban likely reflects an impending challenge.
The traditions of the Order prohibit an inner circle from including more than nine druids, three archdruids, and one great druid.
Hierophant druids (described later in this chapter) work well as witnesses, as do druids or archdruids visiting from different circles or from the Grand Druid's entourage.
Great druids, archdruids, and druids have the traditional right to select initiates as their servants.
After selecting a rising archdruid from a neighboring circle to step in as the new great druid, the Grand Druid helps recruit volunteers from nearby domains to replenish the circle.
While conveying the respects of the head of the Order, the archdruid takes the new leader's measure and reports back to the Grand Druid.
In their role as agents of the Grand Druid, these archdruids sometimes resemble spies.
For instance, a great druid afraid of being passed over for the position in favor of a rival may encourage a powerful, ambitious archdruid to challenge that rival, hoping to put the favorite out of the running before the Grand Druid can finalize the succession.