Welsh people and events that should be remembered PART 1

 

Welsh people like you and me that should be remembered part 1

Wales has a history to match any nation, but most people have little knowledge of this, and those who think they do are often misinformed.

This means fascinating people like Gruffudd below get little recognition from the people of Wales, and to me that's such a shame.

I'm doing posts that summarise events in the lives of people who I believe, if they were of different nationalities, would be household names.

Btw

What a tv show or documentary these would make! :)

Gruffydd ap Rhys 1090 – 1137

Son of rhys ap Twdwr and  Brother of nest .

husband of Gruffudd Cynans daughter Gwenllian .

parents of the lord rhys

Gruffydd was born in Llandeilo. 

Exile in Ireland

Following the death of his father, Rhys ap Tewdwr in 1093, Deheubarth was taken over by the Normans, and Gruffydd spent much of his early years in exile in Ireland. His sister nest was taken to the court of the king of England where she had relations with the future Henry the 2nd (more on that in nests post, his brother Hywel was taken into captivity) 

Returned to Wales.

In 1115 Gruffydd returned to Wales. 

   "But at last, wearied by an exceedingly long exile, he returned to his patrimony.  And he remained for about two years, sometimes with Gerald steward of Pembroke Castle, his brother in law (for his sister Nest was married off to English noble,), and other times with his kinsmen, sometimes openly, sometimes unacknowledged from place to place.

Historian John E. Lloyd adds "The figure of the forlorn scion of an ancient race of kings, stripped of wealth and power and wandering from this to that hospitable roof-tree, touched the imagination of the men of South Wales, and Henry was warned that the homeless lad was beginning to be dangerous to his authority."

Accused by King Henry I of England

He was accused by King Henry I of England of treson and building an army .

Sent messengers to Gruffudd ap Cynan

Before waiting for Henry to react, we are told that Gruffudd sent messengers to his distant kinsman Gruffudd ap Cynan asking for shelter. (Gruffudd was in exile 4 times before winning his crown, he was helped by the father of Gruffudd Rhys .)

So off to Anglesey

They were assured that he would receive him gladly, so off to Anglesey journeyed Gruffudd ap Rhys, "with his brother Hywel and others along with them" and were kindly received by Gruffudd ap Cynan.  

Castrated brother

Hywel had apparently recently "escaped from prison in a maimed state"; other versions of the chronicles suggest Hywel had been released from prison after being castrated and may have been living quietly with relatives.

Gruffudd ap Cynan summoned

It is not known how many months the small entourage of Gruffudd ap Rhys remained with the Lord of Anglesey, but we are told that Henry I summoned Gruffudd ap Cynan to come for a royal appearance at court.  

Henry wanted gruffudd ap RHYS killed

The king, promised great rewards if Gruffudd ap Cynan would either kill Gruffudd ap Rhys or deliver him as a prisioner to the king.

Sanctuary saves the day

Gruffudd ap Cynan planned to murder Gruffydd and attempted to capture him; he was tipped off by Gruffudd's daughter and sought sanctuary at a church you can still see today.

Married gruffudds daughter

He eventually escaped with Gruffudd's daughter Gwenllian, whom he eventually married.

Life in South wales

They now lived in Gruffudd's native Deheubarth, sometimes at court and other times in the wild, fighting a guerrilla war against the Normans.

Rebelion broke out in Wales again

After the Welsh won a victory killing 500 near Swansea Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare, the Norman lord of Ceredigion, (had been away from his lordship in the early part of the year). Returning to the borders of Wales in April to address the rebellion, he ignored warnings of the danger and pressed on towards Ceredigion with a small force. He had not gone far when he was ambushed and killed by the men of Iorwerth ab Owain, grandson of Caradog ap Gruffydd of Gwent.

Opportunity 

Gruffydd saw an opportunity so went north to see if Gwenllians father Gruffudd ap cynan would support him in war , 

wife raised army

The same time the normans were attacking his kingdom, his wife, Gwenllian, raised an army. 

Maurice of London KILLS WIFE

Maurice of London defeated her and captured and beheaded her and two of her sons.

WELSH RESPOND

In 1136 he joined Owain Gwynedd and Cadwaladr, the sons of Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd, in a rebellion against Norman rule.

In revenge for his wife's execution, Gruffydd attacked the English and the Fleming residents of South Wales, causing great destruction of property, crops, and livestock. 

Crug Mawr

Gruffydd himself, with Owain and Cadwaladr, gained a crushing victory over the Normans at Crug Mawr near Cardigan

3000 Normans were killed and driven out of South Wales.

festival that lasted for 40 days

In celebration of driving the English and the Flemings from South Wales, Gruffydd hosted a grand festival that lasted for 40 days

Died

In 1136 or early 1137  Gruffydd died in uncertain circumstances. Florence of Worcester claimed that Gruffydd was murdered by his second wife.

He was succeeded by his son, Anarawd. Of his other sons, Cadell, Maredydd, and Rhys (later known as The Lord Rhys) all ruled Deheubarth