Deheubarth

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Deheubarth was a medieval kingdom or principality in south-west Wales .

Medieval Kingdoms in Wales
Cantrefi by Deheubarth (circa 1160)

history

Deheubarth was formed in 950 by Hywel Dda ("Hywel the Good") from the Seisyllwg and Dyfed territories , which were in his possession. His residence and that of his successors was Dinefwr Castle .

Deheubarth existed until the Norman conquest of Wales , but constant power struggles meant that it was only temporarily independent. It was annexed in 1018 by Llywelyn ap Seisyll of Gwynedd , in 1023 by Rhydderch ap Iestyn of Morgannwg . Llywelyn ap Sisyll's son Gruffydd ap Llywelyn also annexed Deheubarth and became ruler of almost all of Wales. However, after his death, the old dynasty returned to power.

Rhys ap Tewdwr ruled from 1078 to 1093 and was able to successfully fend off several attempts to depose and thereby also to increase the power of Deheubarth considerably. In the end, however, he was powerless against the Normans : he was killed in unexplained circumstances in 1093, and his son Gruffydd ap Rhys had to put up with a severely diminished legacy, while the rest of the rest were transformed into Norman lordships.

During the general Welsh revolt against the Normans in 1136, Gruffydd formed an alliance with the Kingdom of Gwynedd . Together with Owain Gwynedd and Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd von Gwynedd, he defeated the Normans at the Battle of Crug Mawr near Cardigan in Ceredigion . As a result, Ceredigion was liberated from Norman rule, but was now ruled by Gwynedd as part of Deheubarth. Gryffydd died in mysterious circumstances the following year.

The rule in Deheubarth now fell to Gryffydd's sons, four of whom, Anarawd , Cadell , Maredudd and Rhys ap Gruffydd, ruled alternately and without arguments. Their collaboration resurrected their grandfather's principality and brought back Ceredigion from Gwynedd. The youngest of the brothers Rhys ap Gruffydd ( The Lord Rhys ) ruled from 1155 to 1197 and after Owain Gwynedd's death made Deheubarth the strongest power in Wales.

After his death in 1197 Deheubarth was divided between his sons and could no longer rival Gwynedd. The Deheubarth Princes of the early 13th century then became dependent on Llywelyn the Great of Gwynedd.

See also

Web links

Commons : Deheubarth  - collection of images, videos and audio files