- Rhys ap Tewdwr
Rhys ap Tewdwr (before 1065 – 1093) was a Prince of
Deheubarth in WestWales and member of theDinefwr dynasty, a branch descended fromRhodri the Great .He was born in present-day
Carmarthenshire and died at the battle ofBrecon in April 1093.Family
Rhys ap Tewdwr claimed the throne of
Deheubarth following the death of his second cousinRhys ab Owain in battle againstCaradog ap Gruffydd in 1078.He was a grandson of
Cadell ab Einion ab Owain ab Hywel Dda.He married to
Gwladys verch Rhiwallon daughter ofRhiwallon ap Cynfyn of theMathrafal dynasty of Powys, by whom he had four sons, Gruffydd,Hywel ap Rhys , Goronwy and Cadwgan, and a daughter Nest.Early rule
In 1081
Caradog ap Gruffydd invadedDeheubarth and drove Rhys to seek sanctuary in theSt David's Cathedral .Rhys however made an alliance with
Gruffydd ap Cynan who was seeking to regain the throne ofGwynedd , and at theBattle of Mynydd Carn in the same year they defeated and killedCaradog ap Gruffydd and his alliesTrahaearn ap Caradog of Gwynedd andMeilyr ap Rhiwallon .Norman homage
The same year
William the Conqueror visitedDeheubarth , ostensibly on a pilgrimage toSt David's , but with a major show of power as well, traversing the width of Wales, and it seems likely he came to an arrangement with Rhys, whereby Rhys paid him homage and was confirmed in possession of Deheubarth. Rhys paid William £40 a year for his kingdom, ensuring good future relations with William that lasted until the end of his lifetime. Rhys was content as the arrangement meant that he only had to deal with the jealousy of his fellow Welsh princes.Internal conflict
In 1088
Cadwgan ap Bleddyn of Powys attackedDeheubarth and forced Rhys to flee toIreland . However Rhys returned later the same year with a fleet from Ireland and defeated the men of Powys in a battle in which two of Cadwgan's brothers, Madog and Rhiryd, were killed.In 1091 he faced another challenge in the form of an attempt to put Gruffydd, the son of
Maredudd ab Owain , on the throne of Deheubarth. Rhys was able to defeat the rebels in a battle atSt. Dogmaels , killing Gruffydd.Death
Rhys was able to withstand the increasing Norman pressure following the end of William's reign in 1087 until 1093, when he was killed at
Brecon by theNormans led byBernard de Neufmarche .Succession
Rhys's son Gruffydd inherited some of
Deheubarth , but Rhys's death led to the Normans taking over much of the kingdom, with Gruffydd being left to rule a much smaller area.Rhys's daughter,
Nest verch Rhys , was a legendary beauty, as her abduction from her husband's castle at Cenarth Bychan started a civil war.Owen Tudor andJames A. Garfield were among those who claimed descent from Rhys ap Tewdwr.References
Remfry, P.M., "A Political Chronology of Wales 1066 to 1282" (ISBN 1-899376-46-1)
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