Rhys ap Tewdwr (997 – 1093) was a Prince of Deheubarth in West Wales and member of the Dinefwr dynasty, a branch descended from Rhodri the Great.
He was born in present-day Carmarthenshire and died at Penrhys (Rhondda)
Lineage
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 1075 or 1078.
He was a grandson of Cadell ab Einion ab Owain ab Hywel Dda.
Early rule
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 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.
Norman homage
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 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 Deheubarth, 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 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.
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 Penrhys Rhondda by the Norman. He was engaged in the Battle of Hirwaun with the Normans at Hirwaun Common near (Aberdare). Upon defeat
he fled the battle site through forestry and up over the mountain to Penrhys where he was eventually caught and beheaded.
Marriage and issue
He was married to Gwladys verch Rhiwallon daughter of Rhiwallon ap
Cynfyn of the Mathrafal dynasty of Powys, by whom he had two sons, Gruffydd and Hywel ap Rhys, and a daughter Nest.
Gruffydd inherited some of Deheubarth, but Rhys' death led to the Normans taking over much
of the kingdom, with Gruffydd ruling only a much smaller area.
Rhys's daughter, Nest verch Rhys, was a legendary beauty, sometimes known as the
"Helen of Wales", as her abduction from her husband's castle at Cenarth Bychan started a civil war.
Owen Tudor and James A. Garfield were among
those who claimed descent from Rhys ap Tewdwr.
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