Nest verch Rhys
Encyclopedia
Nest ferch Rhys was a daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr
, last King of Deheubarth (South Wales), by his wife, Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn of Powys
. She is also known as "Nesta" or "Princess Nesta".
Nest had two younger brothers, Gruffydd ap Rhys
and Hywel, and several older illegitimate half-brothers and half-sisters. After their father's death in battle in 1093, "the kingdom of the Britons
fell" and was overrun by Normans. Nest's brother Gruffydd was spirited into Ireland
for safety; their brother Hywel was captured by Arnulf de Montgomery
, and injured while escaping. The immediate fate of Nest and her mother is unknown. What is least likely is that she was "given as a hostage" by her father to William the Conqueror
, or to William Rufus
, after her father's death. In any event, she came to the attention of the new king, Henry I of England
, to whom she bore one of his numerous illegitimate children, Henry FitzHenry
(c. 1103–1158).
, Arnulf de Montgomery's former constable for Pembroke
Castle and one of the recent Montgomery rebels. By Gerald, Nest is the maternal progenitor of the FitzGerald
dynasty, one of the most celebrated families of Ireland and Great Britain. They are referred to as Cambro-Norman
s or Hiberno-Norman
s, and have been Peers of Ireland since 1316, when Edward II created the earldom of Kildare for John FitzGerald
.
, prince of Powys; or they were not present, and Nest and her husband were "visited" by Owain ap Cadwgan
, one of Cadwgan's sons, or they were not visited by Owain, merely attacked by Owain and his men. The usual tale is that Owain hears at the eisteddfod that Gerald is in the neighbourhood, that Gerald's wife is very beautiful, and so he goes to visit her "as his kinswoman", but this is unlikely. The earliest account, that of Caradoc of Llancarfan, relates that "At the instigation of the Devil, he [Owain] was moved by passion and love for the woman, and with a small company with him...he made for the castle by night." The castle was Cenarth Bychan (possibly Cilgerran Castle
; Carew Castle
is also mentioned, but is unlikely.
Tradition has it that, during Owain's firing of some of the outbuildings, Nest persuaded her husband and his men to escape rather than face Owain outnumbered. They exited via a lavatory chute and escaped. Owain and his men burst into the castle and searched for Gerald. Nest said, "He whom you seek is not here. He has escaped." An infuriated Owain then raped Nest in front of her children—either her two sons and daughter and Gerald's son by a concubine; or Gerald's two sons by a concubine and Nest's two sons; or any other variant—following which he kidnapped Nest and the children, and took them to a hunting lodge by the Eglwyseg
Rocks north of the Vale of Llangollen
.
The rape of Nest aroused the wrath of the Normans, as well as of the Welsh who had been victimised by Owain and his followers. The truce was broken. The Norman lords, the Justiciar of Salop, and at least one bishop, bribed Owain's Welsh enemies to attack him and his father, which they promptly did. Owain's father tried to persuade him to return Nest, but to no avail. According to Caradoc, Nest told Owain, "If you would have me stay with you and be faithful to you, then send my children home to their father." She secured the return of the children. Owain and his father were driven to seek exile in Ireland. Nest was returned to her husband.
In recent years, Nest has been given two specious children by her rapist, Llywelyn and Einion. Owain, however, had a brother but not a son named Einion, and Welsh geneaologies do not name the mother of Owain's son Llywelyn. The omission of the name of a mother with the highborn status of Nest would be startling, if it were true.
In the 19th century, this "abduction", as well as the fighting which followed, earned Nest the nickname "Helen of Wales". She was depicted at having connived with Owain at her rape and abduction, and given more children than she had borne, along with more lovers than she had had.
In 1112, her brother Gruffydd returned from Ireland, spending most of his time with Gerald and Nest. When he was denied his inheritance from his father, and accused to the king of conspiring against him, he allied with the prince of Gwynedd, and war broke out. Owain ap Cadwgan had, by now, been pardoned by the king, and was prince of Powys; in 1111, his father had been assassinated by Owain's cousin and former comrade in arms, Madog ap Rhiryd, whom Owain captured, castrated, and blinded. Being then on the king's good side, Owain was ordered to rendezvous with a Norman force to proceed against Gruffydd. En route, he and his force chanced to run into none other then Gerald FitzWalter. Despite Owain being a royal ally, Gerald chose to avenge his wife's rape, and slew Owain.
Some historians have recently cast doubts on the account, suggesting it may have been revised or rewritten at a later date, by an author who had a motive to both demean Gerald and enhance the reputation of Owain. Thus,"we should hesitate to take it at full face value."
(Note: William Hay is frequently, and incorrectly, noted as an illegitimate son of Nest; the speculation is based on Nest's grandson, Gerald of Wales, naming William as one of the Geraldines, which he was, if only by marriage. William's father is usually given one "Hayt", a Flemish sheriff of Pembroke in 1130.)
, by whom she had another son, possibly two; the eldest was Robert Fitz-Stephen
(d. 1182), one of the Norman conquerors of Ireland; the second son, if such there were, may have been named Hywel. With Nest's son Maurice FitzGerald, his half-brother, Robert captured the town of Wexford
(see Siege of Wexford), and, with Maurice, was granted joint custody of the town.
Rhys 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...
, last King of Deheubarth (South Wales), by his wife, Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn of Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
. She is also known as "Nesta" or "Princess Nesta".
Nest had two younger brothers, Gruffydd ap Rhys
Gruffydd ap Rhys
Gruffydd ap Rhys was Prince of Deheubarth, in Wales. His sister was the Princess Nest ferch Rhys.-Early life:Following the death of Gruffydd's father Rhys ap Tewdwr in 1093, Deheubarth was taken over by the Normans, and Gruffydd spent much of his early years in exile in Ireland.In 1113 Gruffydd...
and Hywel, and several older illegitimate half-brothers and half-sisters. After their father's death in battle in 1093, "the kingdom of the Britons
King of the Britons
The Britons or Brythons were the Celtic-speaking people of what is now England, Wales and southern Scotland, whose ethnic identity is today maintained by the Welsh, Cornish and Bretons...
fell" and was overrun by Normans. Nest's brother Gruffydd was spirited into Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
for safety; their brother Hywel was captured by Arnulf de Montgomery
Arnulf of Montgomery
Arnulf of Montgomery was an Anglo-Norman aristocrat, who played a role in the history of England, Wales, and Ireland.- Lineage :He was the youngest son of Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and Mabel of Bellême....
, and injured while escaping. The immediate fate of Nest and her mother is unknown. What is least likely is that she was "given as a hostage" by her father to William the Conqueror
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
, or to William Rufus
William II of England
William II , the third son of William I of England, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales...
, after her father's death. In any event, she came to the attention of the new 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...
, to whom she bore one of his numerous illegitimate children, Henry FitzHenry
Henry FitzRoy (d. 1158)
Henry FitzRoy was an illegitimate son of Henry I of England by Nest, daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, last king of Deheubarth , and his wife, Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn. He held lands from his royal father in Narberth and Pebidiog...
(c. 1103–1158).
First Marriage
Some time after the rebellion of the powerful Montgomery clan of Normandy and England, King Henry married Nest to Gerald de WindsorGerald de Windsor
Gerald de Windsor, also known as Gerald FitzWalter, was the nobleman in charge of the Norman forces in Wales in the late 11th century. Notably, he was the progenitor of the FitzGerald and de Barry dynasties of Ireland...
, Arnulf de Montgomery's former constable for Pembroke
Pembroke Castle
Pembroke Castle is a medieval castle in Pembroke, West Wales. Standing beside the River Cleddau, it underwent major restoration work in the early 20th century. The castle was the original seat of the Earldom of Pembroke....
Castle and one of the recent Montgomery rebels. By Gerald, Nest is the maternal progenitor of the FitzGerald
FitzGerald
The surname FitzGerald is a translation of the French-Norman fils de Gérald, or son of Gerald . Variant spellings include Fitz-Gerald and the modern Fitzgerald. The name can also be used as two separate words Fitz Gerald...
dynasty, one of the most celebrated families of Ireland and Great Britain. They are referred to as Cambro-Norman
Cambro-Norman
Cambro-Norman is a term used for Norman knights who settled in southern Wales after the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Some historians suggest that the term is to be preferred to Anglo-Norman for the Normans who invaded Ireland after 1170 — many of whom originated in Wales. However, the term...
s or Hiberno-Norman
Hiberno-Norman
The Hiberno-Normans are those Norman lords who settled in Ireland who admitted little if any real fealty to the Anglo-Norman settlers in England, and who soon began to interact and intermarry with the Gaelic nobility of Ireland. The term embraces both their origins as a distinct community with...
s, and have been Peers of Ireland since 1316, when Edward II created the earldom of Kildare for John FitzGerald
John FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare
John FitzThomas FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare was a Peer in the Peerage of Ireland.The eldest son of Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald and Rohesia de St...
.
Rape and Abduction
The details of this most famous episode of Nest's life are obscure and vary, depending on who is relating it. Either Nest and Gerald were present at an eisteddfod given, during a truce, by Cadwgan ap BleddynCadwgan ap Bleddyn
Cadwgan ap Bleddyn was a prince of Powys in eastern Wales.Cadwgan was the second son of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn who was king of both Powys and Gwynedd. When Bleddyn was killed in 1075, Powys was divided between three of his sons, Cadwgan, Iorwerth and Maredudd. Cadwgan is first heard of in 1088 when he...
, prince of Powys; or they were not present, and Nest and her husband were "visited" by Owain ap Cadwgan
Owain ap Cadwgan
Owain ap Cadwgan was a prince of Powys in eastern Wales. He is best known for his abduction of Nest, wife of Gerald of Windsor.Owain was the eldest son of Cadwgan ap Bleddyn, prince of part of Powys. He is first recorded in 1106, when he killed Meurig and Griffri, the sons of Trahaearn ap Caradog,...
, one of Cadwgan's sons, or they were not visited by Owain, merely attacked by Owain and his men. The usual tale is that Owain hears at the eisteddfod that Gerald is in the neighbourhood, that Gerald's wife is very beautiful, and so he goes to visit her "as his kinswoman", but this is unlikely. The earliest account, that of Caradoc of Llancarfan, relates that "At the instigation of the Devil, he [Owain] was moved by passion and love for the woman, and with a small company with him...he made for the castle by night." The castle was Cenarth Bychan (possibly Cilgerran Castle
Cilgerran Castle
Cilgerran Castle is a 13th-century ruined castle located in Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, Wales, near Cardigan.The castle is a National Trust property, in the guardianship of Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments Executive Agency....
; Carew Castle
Carew Castle
Carew Castle is a castle in the civil parish of Carew in the Welsh county of Pembrokeshire. The famous Carew family take their name from the place, and still own the castle, although it is leased to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which administers the site.-Construction:The present castle,...
is also mentioned, but is unlikely.
Tradition has it that, during Owain's firing of some of the outbuildings, Nest persuaded her husband and his men to escape rather than face Owain outnumbered. They exited via a lavatory chute and escaped. Owain and his men burst into the castle and searched for Gerald. Nest said, "He whom you seek is not here. He has escaped." An infuriated Owain then raped Nest in front of her children—either her two sons and daughter and Gerald's son by a concubine; or Gerald's two sons by a concubine and Nest's two sons; or any other variant—following which he kidnapped Nest and the children, and took them to a hunting lodge by the Eglwyseg
Eglwyseg
The Eglwyseg valley is an area to the north east of Llangollen in Denbighshire, Wales; it is within the boundaries of Llantysilio Community. The name also refers to a widely-scattered hamlet in the valley....
Rocks north of the Vale of Llangollen
Llangollen
Llangollen is a small town and community in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, situated on the River Dee and on the edge of the Berwyn mountains. It has a population of 3,412.-History:...
.
The rape of Nest aroused the wrath of the Normans, as well as of the Welsh who had been victimised by Owain and his followers. The truce was broken. The Norman lords, the Justiciar of Salop, and at least one bishop, bribed Owain's Welsh enemies to attack him and his father, which they promptly did. Owain's father tried to persuade him to return Nest, but to no avail. According to Caradoc, Nest told Owain, "If you would have me stay with you and be faithful to you, then send my children home to their father." She secured the return of the children. Owain and his father were driven to seek exile in Ireland. Nest was returned to her husband.
In recent years, Nest has been given two specious children by her rapist, Llywelyn and Einion. Owain, however, had a brother but not a son named Einion, and Welsh geneaologies do not name the mother of Owain's son Llywelyn. The omission of the name of a mother with the highborn status of Nest would be startling, if it were true.
In the 19th century, this "abduction", as well as the fighting which followed, earned Nest the nickname "Helen of Wales". She was depicted at having connived with Owain at her rape and abduction, and given more children than she had borne, along with more lovers than she had had.
In 1112, her brother Gruffydd returned from Ireland, spending most of his time with Gerald and Nest. When he was denied his inheritance from his father, and accused to the king of conspiring against him, he allied with the prince of Gwynedd, and war broke out. Owain ap Cadwgan had, by now, been pardoned by the king, and was prince of Powys; in 1111, his father had been assassinated by Owain's cousin and former comrade in arms, Madog ap Rhiryd, whom Owain captured, castrated, and blinded. Being then on the king's good side, Owain was ordered to rendezvous with a Norman force to proceed against Gruffydd. En route, he and his force chanced to run into none other then Gerald FitzWalter. Despite Owain being a royal ally, Gerald chose to avenge his wife's rape, and slew Owain.
Some historians have recently cast doubts on the account, suggesting it may have been revised or rewritten at a later date, by an author who had a motive to both demean Gerald and enhance the reputation of Owain. Thus,"we should hesitate to take it at full face value."
Issue
Nest bore five children to Gerald. The two eldest sons married two daughters of Arnulf de Montgomery.- William FitzGerald, Lord of Carew and Emlyn (d. c.1173). By his wife Marie de Montgomery, William was the father of
- Odo de Carew
- Raymond FitzGeraldRaymond FitzgeraldRaymond FitzGerald , nicknamed Le Gros, was a Cambro-Norman commander during the Norman invasion of Ireland....
le Gros - Griffin
- Richard
- Ralph
- William, Justice of Eyre
- Robert
- Isabella, who m. William Hay (Gulielmus de Haia Wallenisis).
(Note: William Hay is frequently, and incorrectly, noted as an illegitimate son of Nest; the speculation is based on Nest's grandson, Gerald of Wales, naming William as one of the Geraldines, which he was, if only by marriage. William's father is usually given one "Hayt", a Flemish sheriff of Pembroke in 1130.)
- Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of LanstephanMaurice FitzGerald, Lord of LanstephanMaurice FitzGerald, Lord of Maynooth, Naas, and Llanstephan) was a major figure in the Norman invasion of Ireland....
, NaasNaasNaas is the county town of County Kildare in Ireland. With a population of just over twenty thousand, it is also the largest town in the county. Naas is a major commuter suburb, with many people residing there and working in Dublin...
and MaynoothMaynoothMaynooth is a town in north County Kildare, Ireland. It is home to a branch of the National University of Ireland, a Papal University and Ireland's main Roman Catholic seminary, St. Patrick's College...
, (died 1 September 1177). By his wife Alice de Montgomery, the sister of Marie, Maurice was the father of- Gerald FitzMaurice, 1st Lord of OffalyGerald FitzMaurice, 1st Lord of OffalyGerald FitzMaurice, jure uxoris 1st Lord of Offaly was a Cambro-Norman nobleman who settled in Ireland, with his father, Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan, founding the notable FitzGerald dynasty who were to play important roles in Irish history...
- Alexander
- William (1st Baron NaasNaasNaas is the county town of County Kildare in Ireland. With a population of just over twenty thousand, it is also the largest town in the county. Naas is a major commuter suburb, with many people residing there and working in Dublin...
) - Maurice of Kiltrany
- Thomas
- Robert
- Nest
- Gerald FitzMaurice, 1st Lord of Offaly
- David FitzGerald, Archdeacon of Cardigan and Bishop of St David'sBishop of St David'sThe Bishop of St David's is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St David's.The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St David's in Pembrokeshire, founding St David's Cathedral. The current Bishop of St...
who was the father of:- Milo FitzBishop of Iverk
- Angharad, who married (2) William FitzOdo de BarryDe Barry FamilyThe de Barry family is an ancient family of Cambro-Norman origins which once had extensive land holdings in Wales and County Cork, Ireland. The founder of the family was a knight who assited in the Norman Conquest of England and Wales during the 11th century...
(William de Barry), by whom she was the mother of- Philip de BarryPhilip de BarryPhilip de Barry , was a Cambro-Norman warrior from Manorbier in Pembrokeshire who participated in the colonisation of Kingdom of Desmond following the Norman invasion of Ireland...
, founder of Ballybeg Abbey at ButtevantButtevantButtevant is a medieval market town, incorporated by charter of Edward III, situated in North County Cork, Ireland.While there may be reason to suggest that the town may occupy the site of an earlier settlement of the Donegans, Carrig Donegan, the origins of the present town are clearly and...
in Ireland - Robert de BarryRobert de BarryRobert de Barry was a Cambro-Norman warrior from Manorbier in Pembrokeshire who participated in the colonisation of the Kingdom of Desmond following the Norman invasion of Ireland.-Nesta:...
- Edmond de Barry
- Gerald of WalesGiraldus CambrensisGerald of Wales , also known as Gerallt Gymro in Welsh or Giraldus Cambrensis in Latin, archdeacon of Brecon, was a medieval clergyman and chronicler of his times...
- Philip de Barry
- Gwladys, mother of
- Milo de Cogan
Second Marriage and Issue
After Gerald's death, Nest's sons married her to Stephen, her husband's constable of CardiganCardigan, 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...
, by whom she had another son, possibly two; the eldest was Robert Fitz-Stephen
Robert Fitz-Stephen
Robert Fitz-Stephen was a 12th century Cambro-Norman soldier, one of the leaders of the Norman invasion of Ireland, for which he was granted extensive lands in Ireland. He was a son of the famous Nest, daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, the last king of Deheubarth . His father was Nest's second husband,...
(d. 1182), one of the Norman conquerors of Ireland; the second son, if such there were, may have been named Hywel. With Nest's son Maurice FitzGerald, his half-brother, Robert captured the town of Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
(see Siege of Wexford), and, with Maurice, was granted joint custody of the town.
In fiction
- Fairburn, Eleanor, "The Golden Hive, A novel founded on historical fact 1093-1120", London: Heinemann (1966)
- Knight, Bernard, "Lion Rampant", London: Robert Hale (1972), ISBN 1-903552-47-8
- Orford, Margaret, "Royal Mistress", Swansea: C. Davies (1976), ISBN 0-7154-0304-4
- Bell, Anne, "Daughter of the Dragon", London: Robert Hale (1978, ISBN 1-7091-6679-6
- McKinlay, Margaret, "Pawns of Kings", London: Robert Hale (1981), ISBN 0-7091-9201-0