Gruffydd ap Rhys
Encyclopedia
Gruffydd ap Rhys was Prince of Deheubarth, in Wales
. His sister was the Princess Nest ferch Rhys.
in 1093, Deheubarth was taken over by the Normans, and Gruffydd spent much of his early years in exile in Ireland.
In 1113 Gruffydd visited Prince Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd at their family seat
at Aberffraw on Ynys Môn. The Prince of Gwynedd owed an honour debt to the House of Dinefŵr, as Gruffydd's father, Rhys ap Tewdwr, had aided Gruffydd ap Cynan in his own bid to reclaim Gwynedd from rivals in 1081. In Aberffraw, Gruffydd ap Tewdwr met Gwenllian, the beautiful youngest daughter of Gwynedd's prince. After a brief courtship the couple eloped, with Gwenllian joining Gruffydd ap Rhys on his military campaigns.
After several years Gruffydd was able to raise enough men to attack a number of Norman castles and towns with some success. However an attack on Aberystwyth
was defeated and Gruffydd's army dispersed.
Gruffydd came to terms with King Henry I of England
and was allowed to rule a portion of his father's kingdom, the Cantref Mawr
, although he was soon under pressure from the Normans again and was forced to flee to Ireland for a period in 1127.
and Cadwaladr, the sons of Gruffydd ap Cynan
of Gwynedd
, in a rebellion against Norman rule. While Rhys was away from home, his wife Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd
raised an army and attacked the Norman castle of Kidwelly
but was defeated and killed.
Gruffydd himself with Owain and Cadwaladr gained a crushing victory over the Normans at Crug Mawr
near Cardigan
the same year.
, but died shortly afterwards in uncertain circumstances.
Gruffydd had four sons by Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd
, Maredudd
, Rhys
, Morgan and Maelgwn. He also had two older sons by a previous marriage, Anarawd
and Cadell
, and at least three daughters, Gwladus, Elizabeth and Nest. He was followed by his eldest son, Anarawd. Of his other sons, Cadell, Maredydd and Rhys (later known as The Lord Rhys) all ruled Deheubarth in turn.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. His sister was the Princess Nest ferch Rhys.
Early life
Following the death of Gruffydd's father Rhys ap TewdwrRhys ap Tewdwr
Rhys ap Tewdwr was a Prince of Deheubarth in south-west Wales and member of the Dinefwr dynasty, a branch descended from Rhodri the Great...
in 1093, Deheubarth was taken over by the Normans, and Gruffydd spent much of his early years in exile in Ireland.
In 1113 Gruffydd visited Prince Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd at their family seat
Family seat
A seat or family seat is the principal residence of a family. The residence usually denotes the social, economic, political, or historic connection of the family within a given area. Some families took their dynasty name from their family seat , or named their family seat after their own dynasty...
at Aberffraw on Ynys Môn. The Prince of Gwynedd owed an honour debt to the House of Dinefŵr, as Gruffydd's father, Rhys ap Tewdwr, had aided Gruffydd ap Cynan in his own bid to reclaim Gwynedd from rivals in 1081. In Aberffraw, Gruffydd ap Tewdwr met Gwenllian, the beautiful youngest daughter of Gwynedd's prince. After a brief courtship the couple eloped, with Gwenllian joining Gruffydd ap Rhys on his military campaigns.
After several years Gruffydd was able to raise enough men to attack a number of Norman castles and towns with some success. However an attack on Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
was defeated and Gruffydd's army dispersed.
Gruffydd came to terms with King Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
and was allowed to rule a portion of his father's kingdom, the Cantref Mawr
Cantref Mawr
Cantref Mawr was a cantref in south-west Wales. It was of strategic importance in medieval Wales as the location of the main seat of the princes of Deheubarth at Dinefwr....
, although he was soon under pressure from the Normans again and was forced to flee to Ireland for a period in 1127.
Rebellion
In 1136 Gruffydd joined with Owain GwyneddOwain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd , in English also known as Owen the Great, was King of Gwynedd from 1137 until his death in 1170. He is occasionally referred to as "Owain I of Gwynedd"; and as "Owain I of Wales" on account of his claim to be King of Wales. He is considered to be the most successful of...
and Cadwaladr, the sons of Gruffydd ap Cynan
Gruffydd ap Cynan
Gruffydd ap Cynan was a King of Gwynedd. In the course of a long and eventful life, he became a key figure in Welsh resistance to Norman rule, and was remembered as King of all Wales...
of Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
, in a rebellion against Norman rule. While Rhys was away from home, his wife Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd was Princess-consort of Deheubarth in Wales, and married to Gruffydd ap Rhys, Prince of Deheubarth. Gwenllian was the daughter of Gruffydd ap Cynan , Prince of Gwynedd, and a member of the princely Aberffraw family of Gwynedd. Gwenllian was the sister of Prince Owain...
raised an army and attacked the Norman castle of Kidwelly
Kidwelly
Kidwelly is a town in Carmarthenshire, west Wales, approximately north-west of the main town of Llanelli.It lies on the River Gwendraeth Fach above Carmarthen Bay. The town is twinned with French village St Jacut de la Mer.-History:...
but was defeated and killed.
Gruffydd himself with Owain and Cadwaladr gained a crushing victory over the Normans at Crug Mawr
Battle of Crug Mawr
The Battle of Crug Mawr took place in September or October 1136, as part of a struggle for control of Ceredigion which had been captured by the Normans....
near Cardigan
Cardigan, Ceredigion
Cardigan is a town in the county of Ceredigion in Mid Wales. It lies on the estuary of the River Teifi at the point where Ceredigion meets Pembrokeshire. It was the county town of the pre-1974 county of Cardiganshire. It is the second largest town in Ceredigion. The town's population was 4,203...
the same year.
Death and succession
In 1137 Gruffydd gained further success in DyfedDyfed
Dyfed is a preserved county of Wales. It was created on 1 April 1974 under the terms of the Local Government Act 1972, and covered approximately the same geographic extent as the ancient Principality of Deheubarth, although excluding the Gower Peninsula and the area west of the River Tawe...
, but died shortly afterwards in uncertain circumstances.
Gruffydd had four sons by Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd was Princess-consort of Deheubarth in Wales, and married to Gruffydd ap Rhys, Prince of Deheubarth. Gwenllian was the daughter of Gruffydd ap Cynan , Prince of Gwynedd, and a member of the princely Aberffraw family of Gwynedd. Gwenllian was the sister of Prince Owain...
, Maredudd
Maredudd ap Gruffydd
Maredudd ap Gruffydd was a prince of the kingdom of Deheubarth in south west Wales.Maredudd was the eldest son of Gruffydd ap Rhys by Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd, though he had two older half-brothers, Anarawd and Cadell. He was only six years old when his mother and then his father were killed...
, Rhys
Rhys ap Gruffydd
Rhys ap Gruffydd or ap Gruffudd was the ruler of the kingdom of Deheubarth in south Wales. He is commonly known as The Lord Rhys, in Welsh Yr Arglwydd Rhys, but this title may not have been used in his lifetime...
, Morgan and Maelgwn. He also had two older sons by a previous marriage, Anarawd
Anarawd ap Gruffydd
- Lineage :Anarawd was the eldest son of Gruffydd ap Rhys. On the death of his father in 1137 Anarawd took over the rule of Deheubarth.- Resistance :...
and Cadell
Cadell ap Gruffydd
Cadell ap Gruffydd was prince of the kingdom of Deheubarth in south west Wales.Cadell was the son of Gruffydd ap Rhys, who held part of the kingdom of Deheubarth with the remainder in the hands of various Norman lords. Gruffydd died in 1137 and Cadell's brother Anarawd ap Gruffydd took over the...
, and at least three daughters, Gwladus, Elizabeth and Nest. He was followed by his eldest son, Anarawd. Of his other sons, Cadell, Maredydd and Rhys (later known as The Lord Rhys) all ruled Deheubarth in turn.