Gruffydd ap Rhys († 1201)

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Gruffydd ap Rhys (* around 1160 ; † July 25, 1201 ) was a Prince of Deheubarth . He was the eldest son of Lord Rhys and his wife Gwenlian, daughter of Madog ap Maredudd of Powys. His brief reign was marked by conflicts with his brothers, which were the prelude to the destructive family feuds that ultimately led to the English conquest of Deheubarth and the end of the rule of the House of Dinefwr .

He married in 1189 Matilda de Braose (* 1172; † December 29, 1210), a daughter of William de Braose, 4th Baron of Bramber . With her he had two sons, Rhys Ieuanc and Owain . While their father was still alive, Gruffydd and his brother Maelgwn were deeply divided over their father's successor, with Gruffydd initially supported by his younger brother Rhys Gryg . After his father had to take his brother Maelgwn prisoner in 1189, Gruffydd delivered him without his father's knowledge to his father-in-law William de Braose, who kept him in custody until 1192. In 1191 he and his father conquered Nevern Castle , a castle belonging to his brother-in-law William FitzMartin . In 1192 he and his father besieged Swansea Castle in vain . His brother Maelgwn was able to seize Nevern Castle shortly afterwards, where he briefly imprisoned her father in 1194. Lord Rhys was soon released, however, and Maelgwn was exiled until her father died.

Lord Rhys died in 1197. He had designated Gruffydd as his chief heir, and Gruffydd had his lands confirmed by the King of England. With the Bishop of St David's , Peter de Leia , he obtained a lifting of the excommunication of his father, so that he could be buried in the cathedral of St David's . Soon, however, he was again involved in fighting with Maelgwn, who with the help of Gwenwynwyn of Powys captured Aberystwyth Castle and seized Ceredigions. Gruffydd was captured by his brother in the fighting and extradited to Gwenwynwyn. This delivered him to King Richard , who imprisoned him in Corfe Castle . He was released, however, when Gwenwynwyn broke his alliance with the English king and Gruffydd assured the surrender of the castle of Cardigan, which his father had captured . After his brother Maredudd, who had inherited Cantred Bychan in Ystrad Tywi, was murdered in July 1201, Gruffydd took over his lands, but he himself fell ill shortly afterwards and died. He and his wife were buried in Strata Florida Abbey. His two sons continued the fight against Maelgwn.

literature

Web links

  • Thomas Jones Pierce: Gruffydd ap Rhys (d.1201) , Welsh Biography Online, National Library of Wales [1] , accessed June 25, 2014