Gruffydd ap Rhys (c. 1090 – 1137) was Prince of Deheubarth, in

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

. His sister was the Princess Nest ferch Rhys. He was the father of Rhys ap Gruffydd, known as 'The Lord Rhys', who was one of the most successful rulers of Deheubarth during this period.

Family

Issue prior to marriage to Gwenllian: * Anarawd (murdered in 1143). He had a son, Einion, who was murdered in his bed in 1163 *

Cadell Cadell or Cadel is an old Welsh personal name derived from the Latin Catullus. As a surname, it derives from the Welsh patronymic "ap Cadell". Notable people with the name include: Given name Middle Ages * Cadell Ddyrnllwg, King of Powys c.447� ...

(died 1175) Second he married

Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd () (''Gwenllian, daughter of Gruffydd''; 1100 – 1136) was Princess consort of Deheubarth in Wales, and married to Gruffydd ap Rhys, Prince of Deheubarth. Gwenllian was the daughter of Gruffudd ap Cynan (1055–113 ...

and by her he had issue:Cadw (Llywodraeth Cymru Welsh Government), April 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2020, from https://cadw.gov.wales/sites/default/files/2019-04/20140916gwenlliancardsen.pdf. * Morgan (born c. 1116) * Maelgwyn (born c. 1119) * Gwladus (born between 1120 and 1130) * Nest (born between 1120 and 1130) * Owain ap Gruffydd (born c. 1126) * Maredudd (born c. 1130/1, died 1155) *

Rhys Rhys or Rhŷs is a popular Welsh given name (usually male) that is famous in Welsh history and is also used as a surname. It originates from Deheubarth, an old region of South West Wales, with famous kings such as Rhys ap Tewdwr. It is pronounce ...

(born c. 1132) * Sion ap Gruffydd (born c. 1134)

Early life

Gruffydd was born in Llandeilo. Following the death of his father Rhys ap Tewdwr in 1093,

Deheubarth Deheubarth (; lit. "Right-hand Part", thus "the South") was a regional name for the realms of south Wales, particularly as opposed to Gwynedd (Latin: ''Venedotia''). It is now used as a shorthand for the various realms united under the House o ...

was taken over by the Normans, and Gruffydd spent much of his early years in exile in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...

. In 1113 or 1115 Gruffydd returned to South Wales. He was accused by

King Henry I of England Henry I (c. 1068 – 1 December 1135), also known as Henry Beauclerc, was King of England from 1100 to his death in 1135. He was the fourth son of William the Conqueror and was educated in Latin and the liberal arts. On William's death in ...

and so went to Gruffudd ap Cynan for help. Gruffudd ap Cynan planned to murder Gruffydd to receive a reward from King Henry I, but Gruffydd's sister Nest warned him and he was able to escape to Llŷn. In 1116 Gruffydd attacked Castle Llanmyddyfri, but was defeated. He also attacked

Swansea Castle Swansea Castle (Welsh: ''Castell Abertawe'') is located in the city centre of Swansea, Wales, UK. It was founded by Henry de Beaumont in 1107''Medieval Secular Monuments – The Early Castles from the Norman Conquest to 1217'', page 29. as the '' ...

, and destroyed the outer walls; and captured or destroyed

Carmarthen Castle Carmarthen Castle ( Welsh: ''Castell Caerfyrddin'') is a ruined castle in Carmarthen, West Wales, UK. First built by Walter, Sheriff of Gloucester in the early 1100s, the castle was captured and destroyed on several occasions before being rebu ...

, and either in this year or in 1114 captured Kidwelly Castle. However an attack on

Aberystwyth Aberystwyth () is a university and seaside town as well as a community in Ceredigion, Wales. Located in the historic county of Cardiganshire, means "the mouth of the Ystwyth". Aberystwyth University has been a major educational location i ...

was defeated and Gruffydd's army dispersed. In 1121 or 1122 Gruffydd made peace with King Henry I and was allowed to rule a portion of his father's kingdom, the

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. ''Cantref Mawr'' means "The Great Cantref". Each cantref in medieval Wale ...

, although he was soon under pressure from the Normans again and was forced to flee to Ireland for a period in 1127.

Rebellion

In 1135 Gruffydd was summoned by King Stephen of England to London, but refused to go. In 1136 he joined Owain Gwynedd and Cadwaladr, the sons of Gruffudd ap Cynan of

Gwynedd Gwynedd (; ) is a county and preserved county (latter with differing boundaries; includes the Isle of Anglesey) in the north-west of Wales. It shares borders with Powys, Conwy County Borough, Denbighshire, Anglesey over the Menai Strait, an ...

, in a rebellion against Norman rule. While Gruffydd was away from home, his wife

Gwenllian Gwenllian (or Gwenllïan) ( Welsh, a combination of ''gwen'' "fair, blessed, white" and ''llian'' " flaxen") was the name of several ladies who lived in medieval Wales. The two best known have, for different reasons, become symbols of Welsh patriot ...

led her husband's troops against Maurice of London, but was defeated, captured, and beheaded. In this battle his son Morgan was also slain, and his son Maelgwn was captured. In revenge for his wife's execution Gruffydd attacked the English and the Fleming residents of South Wales, causing great destruction of property, crops, and livestock. Gruffydd himself with Owain and Cadwaladr gained a crushing victory over the Normans at

Crug Mawr Crug Mawr is a hill in the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons National Park in southern Powys, Wales. Its summit at a height of 550 m (1,805 ft) is marked by a trig point. The peak sits high above the valleys of the Grwyne Fawr ...

near Cardigan the same year. In celebration of driving the English and the Fleming from South Wales, Gruffydd hosted a grand festival that lasted for 40 days.

Death and succession

In 1136 or early 1137 Gruffydd died in uncertain circumstances. Florence of Worcester claimed that Gruffydd was murdered by his second wife. He was succeeded by his son, Anarawd. Of his other sons, Cadell, Maredydd, and Rhys (later known as ''The Lord Rhys'') all ruled Deheubarth in turn.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhys, Gruffydd Ap 1090s births Gruffydd ap Rhys, Prince of Deheubarth Gruffydd Monarchs of Deheubarth 12th-century Welsh monarchs People from Llandeilo