Rhys Gryg facts for kids
Rhys Gryg (pronounced 'Rees Grig'), whose full name was Rhys ap Rhys, was a Welsh prince. People also called him "Rhys the Hoarse" or "Rhys the Younger." He was an important ruler in a part of Wales known as Deheubarth. He lived a life full of family disagreements and battles for power.
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Who Was Rhys Gryg?
Rhys Gryg was a prince from Wales. He was born into a powerful family. His father was the famous "Lord Rhys" (Rhys ap Gruffydd). His mother was Gwenllian, from the Kingdom of Powys. Rhys Gryg was the fourth son of his parents.
Family Troubles
Rhys Gryg married a woman named Mathilde. Her father was a powerful English lord. This connection linked Rhys to important English families.
Rhys Gryg's father, the Lord Rhys, had many sons. As he grew older, his sons started fighting among themselves. This caused a big family feud. Rhys Gryg first teamed up with his brother Gruffydd. They fought against another brother, Maelgwn.
Later, in 1195, Rhys Gryg joined another brother, Maredudd. Together, they planned against their own father. They even captured Dinefwr Castle. But their father fought back. He captured both Rhys Gryg and Maredudd. He then put them in prison.
Fighting for Power
Rhys Gryg's father died in 1197. His ally, Gruffydd, died a few years later in 1201. By 1204, his brother Maelgwn controlled most of Deheubarth.
In 1204, Rhys Gryg made a new alliance. He joined forces with Gruffydd's sons, Rhys and Owain. They managed to push Maelgwn out of a region called Ystrad Tywi. This land was then split between them. Rhys Gryg received a large area called Cantref Mawr.
Changing Sides
By 1211, Rhys Gryg had a disagreement with his nephews. His nephews supported Llywelyn the Great, a very powerful Welsh prince. Rhys Gryg then sided with King John of England. With English help, he attacked and captured Llandovery Castle from his nephews.
King John later made Llywelyn give up some lands. After this, Rhys Gryg joined Maelgwn again. They worked together to take more land from Rhys Gryg's nephews.
However, when King John built a castle at Aberystwyth, Rhys Gryg and Maelgwn changed sides once more. They attacked the new castle and burned it down. In 1212, Rhys Gryg also attacked and burned the town of Swansea.
Defeat and Capture
The sons of Gruffydd ap Rhys (Rhys and Owain) had made peace with King John. They were now on the English side. In 1213, an English army was sent to take Rhys Gryg's lands. These lands were to be given to his nephews.
Rhys Gryg was defeated in a battle near Llandeilo. He had to run away to Ceredigion. There, he sought protection from his brother Maelgwn. Later that year, the English captured Rhys Gryg. They put him in prison in Carmarthen.
Release and New Alliances
In 1215, the sons of Gruffydd ap Rhys turned against King John. They made an alliance with their uncle Maelgwn. The English released Rhys Gryg. They hoped he would start a civil war among the Welsh.
But Rhys Gryg did not do that. Instead, he joined forces with Llywelyn the Great. Rhys, Maelgwn, and Gruffydd's sons all worked with Llywelyn. In December 1215, they attacked and captured many castles in South Wales.
At a meeting held by Llywelyn in 1216, lands were divided. Rhys Gryg was given Cantref Mawr, Cantref Bychan, and other areas.
Later Life and Death
Rhys Gryg continued to support Llywelyn the Great. In a war in 1231, he joined his nephew, Maelgwn the Younger. They burned the town of Cardigan. Then, they captured Cardigan Castle for Llywelyn.
In 1234, Rhys Gryg and Maelgwn Fychan attacked Carmarthen again. During this attack, Rhys Gryg was badly wounded. He died shortly after at Llandeilo Fawr.
Rhys Gryg was buried in St Davids Cathedral. His son, Maredudd, took over his lands. Rhys Gryg also had another son named Rhys Mechyll.
