HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Gruffydd ap Rhys (c. 1090 – 1137) was Prince of Deheubarth, in
Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
. His sister was the Princess Nest ferch Rhys. He was the father of
Rhys ap Gruffydd Rhys ap Gruffydd or ap Gruffudd (often anglicised to "Griffith"; c. 1132 – 28 April 1197) was the ruler of the kingdom of Deheubarth in south Wales from 1155 to 1197. Today, he is commonly known as The Lord Rhys, in Welsh ''Yr Arglwydd Rhys' ...
, known as 'The Lord Rhys', who was one of the most successful rulers of Deheubarth during this period.


Family

Gruffydd had at least two sons prior to marriage to Gwenllian: * Anarawd (murdered in 1143). He had a son, Einion, who was murdered in his bed in 1163 * Cadell (died 1175) He married
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd () (''Gwenllian, daughter of Gruffydd''; 1097 – 1136) was a 12th-century Welsh rebel and Princess of Deheubarth. The daughter of Prince of Gwynedd Gruffudd ap Cynan and member of the House of Aberffraw, she marrie ...
and by her he had issue: * 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 language, 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. ...
(born c. 1132) * Sion ap Gruffydd (born c. 1134)


Early life

Gruffydd was born in
Llandeilo Llandeilo () is a town and Community (Wales), community in Carmarthenshire, Wales, situated where the River Towy is crossed by the A483 road, A483 on a 19th-century stone bridge. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census the community had ...
. Following the death of his father Rhys ap Tewdwr in 1093,
Deheubarth Deheubarth (; , thus 'the South') was a regional name for the Welsh kingdoms, realms of south Wales, particularly as opposed to kingdom of Gwynedd, Gwynedd (Latin: ''Venedotia''). It is now used as a shorthand for the various realms united under ...
was taken over by the Normans, and Gruffydd spent much of his early years in exile in
Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
. In 1113 Gruffydd returned to South Wales, taking two years to gather support around him, after which, in 1115 he was accused by King Henry I of England of stirring up revolt and so went to
Gruffudd ap Cynan Gruffudd ap Cynan (–1137) was List of rulers of Gwynedd, King of Gwynedd from 1081 until his death in 1137. In the course of a long and eventful life, he became a key figure in Welsh resistance to House of Normandy, Norman rule. As a descen ...
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. This was followed by the marriage of Gruffydd ap Rhys to
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd () (''Gwenllian, daughter of Gruffydd''; 1097 – 1136) was a 12th-century Welsh rebel and Princess of Deheubarth. The daughter of Prince of Gwynedd Gruffudd ap Cynan and member of the House of Aberffraw, she marrie ...
daughter of Gruffydd ap Cynan. The story goes that the two became romantically involved and
eloped Elopement is a marriage which is conducted in a sudden and secretive fashion, sometimes involving a hurried flight away from one's place of residence together with one's beloved with the intention of getting married without parental approval. A ...
. She married Gruffydd ap Rhys shortly after 1116. In 1116 Gruffydd attacked Castle Llanmyddyfri, but was defeated. He also attacked Swansea Castle, and destroyed the outer walls; and captured
Carmarthen Castle Carmarthen Castle (Welsh language, 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 bef ...
, and either in this year or in 1114 captured Kidwelly Castle. However an attack on
Aberystwyth Aberystwyth (; ) is a University town, university and seaside town and a community (Wales), community in Ceredigion, Wales. It is the largest town in Ceredigion and from Aberaeron, the county's other administrative centre. In 2021, the popula ...
was defeated and Gruffydd's army dispersed. In 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 southwest Wales. It was of strategic importance in medieval Wales as the location of the main seat of the princes of Deheubarth Deheubarth (; , thus 'the South') was a regional name for the Welsh kingdoms, realms o ...
, 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. The following year he joined his brothers in law
Owain Gwynedd Owain ap Gruffudd ( – 23 or 28 November 1170) was King of Gwynedd, North Wales, from 1137 until his death in 1170, succeeding his father Gruffudd ap Cynan. He was called Owain the Great () and the first to be styled "Prince of Wales" and th ...
and
Cadwaladr Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon (also spelled Cadwalader or Cadwallader in English) was king of Gwynedd in Wales from around 655 to 664 or 682. He died in one of two devastating plagues that happened in 664 and in 682. Little else is known of his reig ...
, the sons of
Gruffudd ap Cynan Gruffudd ap Cynan (–1137) was List of rulers of Gwynedd, King of Gwynedd from 1081 until his death in 1137. In the course of a long and eventful life, he became a key figure in Welsh resistance to House of Normandy, Norman rule. As a descen ...
of
Gwynedd Gwynedd () is a county in the north-west of Wales. It borders Anglesey across the Menai Strait to the north, Conwy, Denbighshire, and Powys to the east, Ceredigion over the Dyfi estuary to the south, and the Irish Sea to the west. The ci ...
, in a rebellion against Norman rule. While Gruffydd was away from home, his wife Gwenllian led her husband's troops against Maurice de Londres, 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 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 early 1137 Gruffydd died in uncertain circumstances. Florence of Worcester claimed that Gruffydd was murdered by his second wife. Of course, this is impossible, since Gwenllian herself had already been executed by the English at Kidwelly Castle. 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


Bibliography

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