Rhodri ap Gruffudd facts for kids

Rhodri ap Gruffudd (also known as Prince Rhodri or Roderick Fitz Griffin) lived from about 1230 to 1315. He was a son of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn Fawr. Rhodri was the younger brother of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, who became the Prince of Wales and ruled Gwynedd. He was also the brother of Owain Goch ap Gruffydd and likely Dafydd ap Gruffydd.

Who Was Rhodri ap Gruffudd?

Rhodri was born in the early 1230s. His father, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, was the oldest son of Llywelyn the Great. Rhodri's mother was Senena ferch Caradog. Not much is known about Rhodri's very early years.

Early Life and Family

When Rhodri's grandfather, Llywelyn the Great, died in 1240, his uncle Dafydd ap Llywelyn took the throne. Dafydd was Rhodri's father's younger half-brother. Immediately, Dafydd put Rhodri's father in prison. This meant Gruffydd could not become ruler.

In 1241, Rhodri's father was released from prison. This happened because of an agreement with King Henry III of England. However, Gruffydd was then taken to London as a hostage. He died in 1244 while trying to escape from the Tower of London.

Also in 1241, Rhodri and his brother Dafydd ap Gruffydd were sent to King Henry as hostages. This was a way to ensure peace. But Dafydd ap Llywelyn, their uncle, started a war against King Henry. He defeated Henry in 1245.

A Prince's Inheritance

In 1246, Rhodri's uncle Dafydd died without any sons to take his place. According to Welsh Law, the throne was then passed to the four sons of the now-dead Gruffydd. A big struggle for power began among the brothers.

By the 1250s, Rhodri's older brother Llywelyn had become the main ruler. He successfully kept his other brothers from sharing power. Rhodri seemed to stay out of these fights. By 1272, he agreed to sell his rights to the throne to Llywelyn.

It's thought that Rhodri might have become Llywelyn's "Penteulu." This was a special role in Welsh law. It meant he would no longer be in line to become ruler himself.

Life in England

By 1282, Rhodri had gained control of a large estate called Bidfield in Gloucestershire, England. He married a woman named Beatrice de Malpas. She came from a noble family in Cheshire. Through her, he gained more property there.

Some records suggest that after Beatrice died, Rhodri married another woman named Catherine. Around 1309, he also acquired the manor of Tatsfield in Surrey.

Rhodri died around 1315. After 1283, he was the only surviving brother of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. Because of this, many people might have seen him as the rightful heir to the throne of Gwynedd. This also meant he could have claimed the title of Prince of Wales.

Rhodri had at least one son, Thomas ap Rhodri, with Catherine. Thomas was the father of Owain Lawgoch. Rhodri also had a daughter named Katherine. She married into the De La Pole family.

The Tatsfield Manor Mystery

Professor Anthony Carr's research shows that the manor of Tatsfield in Surrey belonged to Rhodri ap Gruffudd and his family in the 1300s. It's possible that Rhodri’s son, Thomas ap Rhodri, and his grandson, Owain ap Thomas (Owain Lawgoch), were born in Tatsfield.

Owain Lawgoch: A Grandson's Story

Owain Lawgoch later became a famous leader of soldiers for France. He fought against the English in the 1360s and 1370s. The English Crown saw him as a threat to the peace in Wales. This was because he declared himself Prince of Wales. He was sadly killed in 1378 under orders from the English Crown.

Old documents suggested that the Tatsfield manor house was torn down in 1801. However, investigations showed something different. Thomas had borrowed money to build a new house in the 1320s. This house and its buildings were carefully taken apart at the end of the 1300s. This was likely done by order of the English Crown. It was similar to how King Edward I removed Welsh royal homes in Wales.