Lord of South Wales Gruffydd ap Rhys

Family/Spouse: Gwenllian II verch Gruffydd. Gwenllian was born about 1090 in Caernarvonshire, Wales. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Lord of South Wales Rhys ap Gruffydd was born about 1129 in Dynevor Castle, Llandilo, Carmarthshire, Wales; died after 24 Apr 1197.

Notes:

THE NORMANS OVER-RUN WALES

By 1081 the native dynasties had reasserted their integrity with Gruffuddap Cynan and Rhys ap Tewdwr emerging to the fore. However it was apparent that the fragmented Wales bequeathed by the defeat of 1063 was ill placed to resist the Norman power. That challenge assumed the form of both piecemeal advance by the Marcher lords as well as the concerted power of William the Conqueror.

Initially Wales suffered the brunt of attack by both. Indicating his commitment to exercise overlordship William I in 1081 led an expedition into South West Wales - in all probability accepting the submission of Rhys ap Tewdwr of Deheubarth in return for an annual payment of L40. Gruffudd ap Cynan was not as fortunate. He was captured by the forces of the Earl of Chester and imprisoned for at least twelve years. During this period individual Marcher lords were also conquering territory along the Welsh border.

Rhys ap Tewdwr survived in power until 1093 but his death created a power vacuum into which both Welsh contenders and Norman Marcher lords - with centralized aid and direction - rushed. As a consequence Wales was effectively over-run. It appeared that the Norman conquest of England of 1066 was being followed by the Norman conquest of Wales of 1093.

"1093 ...Rhys ap Tewdwr, king of Deheubarth, was slain by the French who were inhabiting Brycheiniog. And then fell the kingdom of the Britons..... And then, two months after that, .... the French came to Dyfed and Ceredigion, which they have held to this day, and they fortified them with castles ; and they seized all the land of the Britons ...."

Brut y Tywysogion 1093 (Hergest version.)

Rhys married Gwladus verch Rhiwallon. Gwladus (daughter of Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn) was born about 1041 in Powys, Wales. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her marriage to Walter Fitz Other is indicated in 2 WFT's. However it is not backed by Burke's Peerage. Additionally her daughter is documented (by WFT and Burke's) to be the wife of Walter's son Gerald FitzWalter which would not have been allowed if Nesta were her child by Walter.

Tewdwr married Gwenllian. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Cadell married Elinor verch Gwerystan. Elinor (daughter of Gwerystan ap Gwaithfoed and Nest verch Cadell) was born about 1007 in Powys, Wales. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Cynfyn married Angharad verch Maredydd in 1023. Angharad (daughter of Maredydd ap Owain) was born about 982 in Deheubarth, Wales. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]