ap Tewdwr, Rhys 1 2a 3a

Birth Name ap Tewdwr, Rhys
Gender male
Age at Death 58 years

Narrative

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rhys ap Tewdwr (before 1065 – 1093) was a Prince of Deheubarth in south-west Wales and member of the Dinefwr dynasty, a branch descended from Rhodri the Great. He was born in the area which is now Carmarthenshire and died at the battle of Brecon in April 1093.

Rhys ap Tewdwr claimed the throne of Deheubarth following the death of his second cousin Rhys ab Owain in battle against Caradog ap Gruffydd in 1078.

He was a grandson of Cadell ab Einion ab Owain ab Hywel Dda, and a great-grandson of the Einon ab Owain ap Hywel Dda, who fell in 984.[1] He married Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon daughter of Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn of the Mathrafal dynasty of Powys, by whom he had four sons, Gruffudd, Hywel ap Rhys, Goronwy and Cadwgan, and a daughter Nest.

In 1081 Caradog ap Gruffydd invaded Deheubarth and drove Rhys to seek sanctuary in the St David's Cathedral.

Rhys however made an alliance with Gruffydd ap Cynan who was seeking to regain the throne of the Kingdom of Gwynedd, and at the Battle of Mynydd Carn in the same year they defeated and killed Caradog ap Gruffydd and his allies Trahaearn ap Caradog of Gwynedd and Meilyr ap Rhiwallon.

The same year William the Conqueror visited Deheubarth, ostensibly on a pilgrimage to St David's, but with a major show of power as well, traversing the width of southern 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.

In 1088 Cadwgan ap Bleddyn of Powys attacked Deheubarth and forced Rhys to flee to Ireland. 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 at St. Dogmaels, killing Gruffydd.

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 the Normans led by Bernard de Neufmarche.

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, was a legendary beauty, as her abduction from her husband's castle at Cenarth Bychan started a civil war.

Owain Tudur and James A. Garfield[citation needed] were among those who claimed descent from Rhys ap Tewdwr.

Footnotes

1. ^ A history of Wales from the earliest times to the Edwardian conquest, Volume 2

References

* The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales, University of Wales Press, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6
* Remfry, P.M., A Political Chronology of Wales 1066 to 1282 (ISBN 1-899376-46-1)
* A history of Wales from the earliest times to the Edwardian conquest, Volume 2, John Edward Lloyd, 1911

 

Events

Event Date Place Description Sources
Birth 1035 Deheubarth, Wales   4
Death 1093 Wales   4

Age: 58y

Parents

Relation to main person Name Birth date Death date Relation within this family (if not by birth)
Father ap Cadell, Tewdwr997
Mother ferch Gwyn, Gwenllian1000
         ap Tewdwr, Rhys 1035 1093
    Sister     ferch Tewdwr, Ellinor 1050

Families

Family of ap Tewdwr, Rhys and ferch Iestyn, Catrin
Married Wife ferch Iestyn, Catrin ( * 1065 + ... )
   
Event Date Place Description Sources
Marriage 1081     5
  Children
Name Birth Date Death Date
ferch Rhys, Margred1085

Family of ap Tewdwr, Rhys and verch Rhywallon, Gladys
Unknown Partner verch Rhywallon, Gladys ( * 1051 + ... )
  Children
Name Birth Date Death Date
ap Rhys, Tewdwr Mawr1066
ap Rhys, Hywel1072
verch Deheubarth Rhys, Nest Heiress of Carew, Tywysoges Deheubarth10731163
ferch Rhys, Gwenllian1075
verch Rhys, Margred1075
ferch Rhys, Gwladus Ddu1076
ferch Rhys, Efa1077
ferch Rhys, Arden1079
ap Rhys, Gruffydd10811157
ap Rhys, Llywelyn Ddiriaid1084

Source References

  1. http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=jdp-fam&id=I85298&style=TABLE
  2. Arthur E Turner-Thomas: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=aet-t&id=I6763 @ RootsWeb Celtic Royal Genealogy
      • Source text:

        # ID: I6763
        # Name: Rhys ap Tewdwr Mawr Tywysog Deheubarth
        # Surname: ap Tewdwr Mawr
        # Given Name: Rhys
        # Suffix: Tywysog Deheubarth
        # Sex: M
        # Birth: ABT 1015 in Caerfyrddin, Cymru
        # Death: 1093 in Aberhonndu, Brycheiniog, Cymru
        # _UID: 9B577CBE6D2FC24E883C814D409EFD6BB054 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
        # Change Date: 27 Feb 2009 at 00:00:00

         

         

        Father: Tewdwr Mawr ap Cadell Tywysog Deau Cymru b: ABT 0977 in Dynefor, Llandyfeisant, Caerfyrddin, Cymru
        Mother: Gwenllian ferch Gwyn o Dyfed b: ABT 0977 in Blaen Cuch, Gogledd Dyfed, Cymru

        Marriage 1 Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon o Powys b: ABT 1041 in Powys, Cymru

        * Married: BEF 1073 9

        Children

        1. Has Children Hywel ap Rhys b: ABT 1072 in Deheubarth, Cymru
        2. Has Children Nest ferch Rhys Heiress of Carew, Tywysoges Deheubarth b: ABT 1073 in Dynefor, Llandyfeisant, Caerfyrddin, Cymru
        3. Has No Children Gwenllian ferch Rhys b: ABT 1075
        4. Has No Children Gwladus Ddu ferch Rhys b: ABT 1076 in Caerfyrddin, Cymru
        5. Has No Children Efa ferch Rhys b: ABT 1077
        6. Has No Children Ardden ferch Rhys b: ABT 1079
        7. Has No Children Arden ferch Rhys b: ABT 1079
        8. Has Children Gruffudd ap Rhys Tywysog Deheubarth b: ABT 1081 in Castell Dynefor, Dynefor, Llandyfeisant, Caerfyrddin, Cymru
        9. Has Children Llywelyn Ddiriaid ap Rhys b: ABT 1084 in Deheubarth, Cymru

         

        Marriage 2 Catrin ferch Iestyn b: ABT 1065 in , Morgannwg, Cymru

        * Married: BEF 1081

        Children

        1. Has Children Margred ferch Rhys b: ABT 1085 in Cymru
        2. Has No Children Gronwy ap Rhys b: ABT 1088

         

        Sources:

        1. Title: Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy
        Author: Alison Weir
        Publication: rev. ed, Pimlico Random House, London 1989, 1996
        Page: p 49
        Text: Rhys ap Tewdwr, Prince of Deheubarth, no parents
        2. Repository:

        Title: Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition, 2 volumes
        Author: Editor: Mosley, Charles
        Publication: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, Crans, Switzerland, 1999
        Page: 469, 2540
        3. Repository:

        Title: The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant
        Author: Editor: G.E. Cokayne, with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden
        Publication: St. Catherine Press, 29 Great Queen St, Kingsway, W.C. 1959
        Page: X:11
        4. Title: Dictionary of Welsh Biography down to 1940
        Author: John Edward Lloyd & R T Jenkins
        Publication: 1957
        Page: 940
        5. Repository:

        Title: Dictionary of National Biography
        Author: Ed by Sir Leslie S
        Publication: George Smith, Oxford Press, Vols 1-21 (Orignially published 1885-90)
        Page: XVI:974-975
        6. Title: Welsh Genealogies AD 300-1400
        Author: Peter Clement Bartrum
        Publication: 8 Vols. Cardiff, 1974, microfiche edition, 1980
        Page: Tewdwr Mawr 1, p.847.
        7. Title: Y Bywgraffiadur Cymraig Hyd 1940
        Publication: Anrhydeddus Gymdeithas y Cymmrodorion
        8. Title: A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen
        Author: Robert Williams M.A.
        Publication: Llandovery: William Rees, MDCCCLII
        9. Title: Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy
        Author: Alison Weir
        Publication: rev. ed, Pimlico Random House, London 1989, 1996
        Page: p 49
        Text: no date

         

         

      • Citation:

        e-mail: arthur.turnerthomas@live.com

  3. Michael Neuman: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=clcaldwell&id=I033760 @ RootsWeb Caldwell and related families
      • Source text:

        # ID: I033760
        # Name: Rhys ap Tewdwr Mawr 1
        # Sex: M
        # Birth: ABT 1040 in Dynevor Castle, Llandyfeisant, Caernarvonshire, Wales 1
        # Death: 1093 in Brecknock Castle, Wales 1

         

         

        Father: Tewdwr "the Great" ap Cadell , Prince of Wales b: ABT 997 in Dynevor Castle, Llandyfeisant, Caernarvonshire, Wales
        Mother: Gwenllian ferch Gwyn b: ABT 1000 in Dyvet, Caernarvonshire, Wales

        Marriage 1 Beatrice Gladys ferch Rhiwalon b: ABT 1040 in Powys, Montgomeryshire, Wales

        Children

        1. Has Children Tewdwr Mawr Ap Rhys b: ABT 1066 in Dynevor Castle, Llandyfeisant, Caernarvonshire, Wales
        2. Has Children Nesta verch Rhys , Princess of Deheubarth b: ABT 1070 in Dynevor Castle, Llandyfeisant, Caernarvonshire, Wales
        3. Has Children Margred Verch Rhys b: ABT 1075 in Dynevor Castle, Llandyfeisant, Caernarvonshire, Wales
        4. Has Children Gruffydd Ap Rhys , King of Wales b: 1081 in Brecknock Castle, Carmarthenshire, Wales

         

        Marriage 2 Catrin ferch Iestyn b: ABT 1000

        Children

        1. Has No Children Hywel ap Rhys b: ABT 1045

         

        Sources:

        1. Title: gwerful verch grgeneu.ged
        Repository:
        Media: Other
        Text: Date of Import: 27 Apr 2005

         

         

      • Citation:

        e-mail: michaelneuman@earthlink.net

  4. Leanne Stark: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=:3108866&id=I2879&style=TABLE @ RootsWeb Tree as at 18th July 2005
  5. Arthur E Turner-Thomas: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=aet-t&id=I6772&style=TABLE @ RootsWeb Celtic Royal Genealogy