View source for Gruffydd ap Rhys

{{Short description|Welsh prince (c. 1090 – 1137)}}
{{For|Rhys ap Gruffydd, known as The Lord Rhys (1132–1197)|Rhys ap Gruffydd}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Welsh name|Gruffydd|Rhys}}
'''Gruffydd ap Rhys''' (c. 1090 – 1137) was [[Prince of Deheubarth]], in [[Wales]]. 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 ==
Gruffydd had at least two sons prior to marriage to Gwenllian:{{sfn|Turvey|1996|p=30}}{{sfn|Pierce|1959a}}

* [[Anarawd ap Gruffydd|Anarawd]] (murdered in 1143). He had a son, Einion, who was murdered in his bed in 1163
* [[Cadell ap Gruffydd|Cadell]] (died 1175)

He married [[Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd]] and by her he had issue:{{sfn|Bartrum|1965}}

* 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 ap Gruffydd|Maredudd]] (born c. 1130/1, died 1155){{sfn|Pierce|1959a}}
* [[Rhys ap Gruffydd|Rhys]] (born c. 1132){{sfn|Pierce|1959a}}
* 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]] was taken over by the Normans, and Gruffydd spent much of his early years in exile in [[Ireland]].

In 1113 Gruffydd returned to South Wales, taking two years to gather support around him,{{sfn|Turvey|2014|p=140}} after which, in 1115 he was accused by [[Henry I of England|King Henry I of England]] of stirring up revolt 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.{{sfn|Glenn|1913|p=56}} This was followed by the marriage of Gruffydd ap Rhys to [[Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd]] daughter of Gruffydd ap Cynan. The story goes that the two became romantically involved and [[Elopement (marriage)|eloped]].{{sfn|Warner|2014}} She married Gruffydd ap Rhys shortly after 1116.{{sfn|Pierce|1959b}}

In 1116 Gruffydd attacked [[Llandovery Castle|Castle Llanmyddyfri]], but was defeated. He also attacked [[Swansea Castle]], and destroyed the outer walls; and captured{{sfn|Glenn|1913|p=57}} [[Carmarthen Castle]], and either in this year{{sfn|Glenn|1913|p=57}} or in 1114{{sfn|Glenn|1913|p=57}} captured [[Kidwelly Castle]].{{sfn|Glenn|1913|p=57}} However an attack on [[Aberystwyth]] was defeated and Gruffydd's army dispersed.{{sfn|Bridgeman|1876|p=28}}

In 1122{{sfn|Glenn|1913|p=57}} Gruffydd made peace with King Henry I and was allowed to rule a portion of his father's kingdom, the [[Cantref Mawr]], 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 [[Stephen, King of England|King Stephen of England]] to London, but refused to go.{{sfn|Glenn|1913|p=57}} The following year he joined his brothers in law [[Owain Gwynedd]] and [[Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd|Cadwaladr]], the sons of [[Gruffudd ap Cynan]] of [[Gwynedd]], in a rebellion against Norman rule. While Gruffydd was away from home, his wife [[Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd|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.{{sfn|Glenn|1913|p=58}} 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.{{sfn|Glenn|1913|p=58}} Gruffydd himself with Owain and Cadwaladr gained a crushing victory over the Normans at [[Battle of Crug Mawr|Crug Mawr]] near [[Cardigan, Ceredigion|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.{{sfn|Glenn|1913|p=58}}

==Death and succession==
In early 1137{{sfn|Glenn|1913|p=57}} Gruffydd died in uncertain circumstances. [[Florence of Worcester]] claimed that Gruffydd was murdered by his second wife.{{sfn|Glenn|1913|p=58}} 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.{{sfn|Turvey|2014|p=33}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
{{sfn whitelist|CITEREFPierce1959a|CITEREFPierce1959b}}
{{refbegin}}
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*{{cite journal |last1=Bartrum |first1=P.C. |title=Plant yr Arglwydd Rhys |journal=National Library of Wales Journal |date=1965 |volume=14 |pages=97–104}}
*{{cite book |last1=Bridgeman |first1=George Thomas Orlando |title=History of the Princes of South Wales |date=1876 |publisher=Thomas Birch |location=Wigan |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofprinces00bridiala/page/22/mode/2up?ref=ol |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=en}}
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*{{Cite book|title=Welsh Founders of Pennsylvania volume II|last=Glenn|first=Thomas Allen|year=1913|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112045816078&seq=13|access-date=17 August 2024|location=Oxford|publisher=Fox Jones}}
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*{{ Dictionary of Welsh Biography |id=s-GRUF-APR-1090 |title=GRUFFYDD ap RHYS (c. 1090 - 1137), prince of Deheubarth |year=1959 |first=Thomas Jones |last=Pierce |access-date=17 August 2024|ref={{harvid|Pierce|1959a}} }}
*{{ Dictionary of Welsh Biography |id=s-GWEN-FER-1100 |title=GWENLLIAN (died 1136) |year=1959 |first=Thomas Jones |last=Pierce |access-date=17 August 2024|ref={{harvid|Pierce|1959b}} }}
<!--T-->
*{{cite book |last1=Turvey |first1=Roger |title=The Lord Rhys: Prince of Deheubarth |date=1996 |publisher=Gomer |location=Llandysul |isbn=1859024300}}
*{{cite book |last1=Turvey |first1=Roger K. |title=The Welsh Princes: The Native Rulers of Wales 1063-1283 |date=6 June 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-88397-5 |language=en}}
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*{{cite book |last1=Warner |first1=Philip |title=Famous Welsh Battles |date=2014 |publisher=Class Warfare |isbn=978-1859595206 |edition=Kindle}}



{{refend}}

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box|before=[[Rhys ap Tewdwr]]|title=[[Deheubarth|King of Deheubarth]]|years=1116–1137|after=[[Anarawd ap Gruffydd]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{Rulers of medieval Wales}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gruffydd Ap Rhys}}
[[Category:1090s births]]
[[Category:1137 deaths|Gruffydd ap Rhys, Prince of Deheubarth]]
[[Category:House of Dinefwr|Gruffydd]]
[[Category:Monarchs of Deheubarth]]
[[Category:12th-century Welsh monarchs]]
[[Category:People from Llandeilo]]