GRUFFYDD ap RHYS
(
c.
1090
-
1137
),
prince of Deheubarth
;
son of
Rhys ap Tewdwr
(q.v.)
and
Gwladus
, daughter of
Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn
. When the old
South Wales
monarchy disintegrated on the fall of
Rhys ap Tewdwr
in
1093
,
Gruffydd
, the infant heir, was taken to
Ireland
where he was given asylum during childhood and early manhood. When he returned in
1113
, the patriotic support of his younger countrymen was made useless by the cautious conduct of elements as yet indisposed to resist the
Norman
monarchy, including
Gruffudd ap Cynan
(q.v.)
who was prepared to hand his young kinsman over to
Henry
I
when in
1115
he sought sanctuary in
Gwynedd
. The failure of the resistance movement which reached its climax in the open rebellion of
1116
was inevitable.
Gruffydd ap Rhys
nevertheless reached an accommodation with
Henry
and was given land in the commote of
Caeo
. Apart from a brief intermission in
1127
, involving a second exile in
Ireland
, he appears to have lived a quiet existence there until after
Henry
's death. There also no doubt were b.
Maredudd
and
Rhys
, his sons by
Gwenllian
, daughter of
Gruffudd ap Cynan
,
Anarawd
and
Cadell
being evidently children of an earlier union. In the general revolt which spread throughout
Wales
when
Henry
d., he took a prominent part, being present at the decisive
battle of Crug Mawr
in
1136
. In the following year he d., predeceased by the redoubtable
Gwenllian
(q.v.)
. It fell to the lot of his youngest son,
Rhys
(
1132
-
1197
) (q.v.)
, to rebuild the family fortunes.
Author:
Professor Thomas Jones Pierce, M.A., F.S.A., (1905-1964),
Aberystwyth
