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House of Dinefwr facts for kids

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House of Dinefwr
Country:
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Wales
Parent House: House of Gwynedd
Titles: *King of the Britons,
Founder: Cadell ap Rhodri, Prince of Seisyllwg
Founding Year: 854
Cadet Branches: *House of Mathrafal

The Royal House of Dinefwr was an important family from Wales. It was a younger branch of the Royal House of Gwynedd. This family was founded by King Cadell ap Rhodri around 854 AD. He was the son of Rhodri the Great, a powerful Welsh ruler.

The Dinefwr family's history goes back to Cunedda Wledig. He was a warlord in Roman Britain who founded the Kingdom of Gwynedd in the 5th century. As Celtic Britons, the House of Dinefwr ruled Wales before the Norman conquest. They fought against their neighbors, including other Celts, Anglo-Saxons, and Vikings. Later, they struggled against the Normans.

Many members of this family were very important in Welsh history. For example, Hywel Dda created the Welsh law code. He also earned the important title of King of the Britons. Another key figure was Lord Rhys, a Prince of Wales. He rebelled against Richard the Lionheart and became one of the most powerful Welsh leaders of the Middle Ages.

History of the Dinefwr Family

After Rhodri the Great died, his eldest son, Anarawd ap Rhodri, took over the Kingdom of Gwynedd. However, Rhodri's second son, Cadell ap Rhodri, looked beyond Gwynedd's borders. By the late 9th century, he took control of the Early Medieval Kingdom of Dyfed. He made Dinefwr Castle his main stronghold. Cadell ap Rhodri's family became known as Dinefwr because they ruled from this castle.

Hywel Dda and Welsh Law

Under King Hywel Dda, the Dinefwr family united Dyfed and Seisyllwg. This created the Kingdom of Deheubarth in the early 10th century. During his rule, Hywel Dda had to accept the authority of the King of the Anglo-Saxons, Edward the Elder. He then supported Edward's successor, King Æthelstan, the first King of England. Æthelstan even invaded Scotland with Hywel's help.

Hywel Dda's greatest achievement was creating the Laws of Hywel Dda. He brought together expert lawyers and priests from all over Wales. They worked under his leadership to write down these important laws.

Challenges and Changes

The Dinefwr family ruled in Deheubarth until the Plantagenet kings of England conquered them in the 13th century. The Dinefwrs often competed with the House of Aberffraw for power in Wales. This rivalry lasted through the 10th, 11th, and 12th centuries. The Kingdom of Powys was sometimes ruled by one family, sometimes by the other.

Eventually, a branch of the House of Dinefwr settled in Powys in the mid-11th century. They became known as the House of Mathrafal, named after Mathrafal Castle. This family produced the last native Welsh Prince of Wales before England took over Wales.

Powerful Leaders and Royal Connections

In the 12th century, Lord Rhys's father, Prince Gruffydd ap Rhys, fought the Normans. This happened during a civil war in England and Normandy called the Anarchy. This war was about who should be king of England: Stephen of Blois or Empress Matilda. Both were descendants of William the Conqueror.

Lord Rhys became one of the most successful Welsh leaders of the Middle Ages. He fought against King Henry Plantagenet and his son, Richard the Lionheart. Lord Rhys attacked Norman lands and captured many castles. Through his daughter Gwenllian, Lord Rhys became an ancestor of the House of Tudor, House of Stuart, and even the current House of Windsor.

Other important Dinefwr members include Sir Rhys ap Gruffydd and Sir Rhys ap Thomas. Sir Rhys ap Gruffydd became very powerful in the 14th century. He supported Hugh Despenser the Elder and Hugh Despenser the Younger, who were important royal officials. Sir Rhys became the richest and most influential Welsh nobleman of his time. He was involved in the removal of King Edward II from power. He then joined the new King, Edward of Windsor, and fought alongside him and Edward the Black Prince at the Battle of Crecy.

One of Rhys ap Gruffydd's descendants, Sir Rhys ap Thomas, played a key role in the War of the Roses. He was a commander at the Battle of Bosworth Field. He fought alongside the future Tudor King, Henry Tudor. After this victory, he received lands and important positions. These included Privy Councillor, Chamberlain, and Governor of all Wales. He also supported King Henry VIII. He joined Henry VIII and Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, of the House of Habsburg, at the Battle of the Spurs in France. He was also one of the Garter Knights who went with the King in 1520 to meet Francis I of France at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. He spent his later years at Carew Castle in Wales.

Dinefwr Castle and Later Generations

The main home of the Dinefwr family was Dinefwr Castle. Lord Rhys first built it. In the 16th century, King Henry VIII took the castle. The owner at the time, Rhys ap Gruffydd (rebel), was accused of plotting with King James V of Scotland to replace Henry VIII. Rhys was powerful and had married well. His wife, Catherine Howard, was a cousin of Queen Anne Boleyn. Queen Mary Tudor later returned their ancestral home. A new house, now called Newton House, was built in Dinefwr Park. The descendants of Lord Rhys changed their name from Rhys to Rice.

William Talbot, 1st Earl Talbot, became the first Baron Dynevor. This was an English version of the name Dinefwr. He was an important advisor to King George III. He married the daughter of Adam de Cardonnel, who was a secretary to John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. This branch of the family continued the line of Sir Rhys ap Thomas.

Another notable member was Walter Rice, 7th Baron Dynevor. His son, David Reginald Rhys, married Anne Wellesley. She was a member of the Spanish nobility. She was also the great-great-granddaughter of the 1st Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.

Because Spanish law allowed women to inherit titles, Anne became Duchess after her brother died. This made her husband, David Rhys, a Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo and a Grandee of Spain. He also became heir to their estates in Andalusia. The Wellesley family later worked with the couple to get the title and estates back.

The most recent Barons Dynevor are Richard Rhys, 9th Baron Dynevor (born 1935) and Hugo Rhys, 10th Baron Dynevor (born 1966).

Important Members of the Dinefwr Family

Before the Norman Conquest

After the Norman Conquest

After the English Conquest of Wales

Castles of the Dinefwr Family

The Dinefwr family attacked and captured many castles over the centuries. Some of these include:

Images for kids

Sources

  • Castles of Wales by John Davis, 6 apr 2022 - 252 pages
  • The Royal Families in Europe V by Lars Ulwencreutz - 742 pages
  • Gruffydd ap Nicholas and the rise of the House of Dinefwr, National Library of Wales, journal, page 256
  • The Longhunters: A Report on the History and Family of William Blevins Sr. of Virginia by Leslie W. Blevins Jr. apr 2012 · Xlibris Corporation, - 210 pages
  • Cardiganshire County History Volume 2: Medieval and Early Modern Cardiganshire (The Cardiganshire County History) by Geraint H. Jenkins, - 921 pages
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