Rhys ap Rhydderch was the brother of Gruffydd ap Rhydderch,[1] king of Deheubarth from 1044 to 1055.[2] Both were the sons of Rhydderch ab Iestyn, who had been able to take over the Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth from 1023 to 1033.[2]
By 1045, he and his brother had secured control of Morgannwg, and the native chronicles mention that in 1045 the two brothers performed some treacherous action against Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, the king of Gwynedd and Powys. The exact nature of this treachery is not specified, however. Although both Gruffydd ap Llywelyn and the brothers were rivals to rule Deheubarth, in the end, the two brothers became the rulers of the disputed territory. In 1049, Gruffydd ap Rhydderch joined with an Irish and Viking raiding party that raided England. Probably, Rhys was with his brother on this raid into England. The raid was opposed by Ealdred, the Bishop of Worcester, but the English forces were betrayed by Welsh soldiers serving with the English army, and the Welsh and Viking raiders defeated Ealdred's defenders.[1]
King Edward the Confessor of England ordered the killing of Rhys in reprisal for his raiding of England, the decision being made at the royal court held at Christmas, 1052.[3] Rhys was killed, according to the D version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, because he "did harmful things". The chronicle of Florence of Worcester recorded a bit more information, stating that Rhys was killed at "Bulendun", which may be Bullen's Bank near Clyro in Radnorshire.[4]
After his death, Rhys' head was brought to King Edward on 5 January 1053.[3] This left his brother as the only ruler in Deheubarth, but this did not last long, as around 1055, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn attacked the south and killed Gruffydd ap Rhydderch. This left Gruffydd ap Llywelyn as the sole ruler of Wales, the first Welshman to be so.[1]
^ abcMaund Welsh Kings pp. 88–90
^ abFryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 52
^ abBarlow Edward the Confessor p. 126
^Breeze "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for 1053" Radnorshire Society Transactions pp. 168–169
RhysapRhydderch was the brother of Gruffydd apRhydderch, king of Deheubarth from 1044 to 1055. Both were the sons of Rhydderch ab Iestyn, who had been...
killed in battle against Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. Caradog apRhydderch (died 1035), killed by the "Saxons". RhysapRhydderch (died 5 January 1053), put to death...
be named for Rhys, as he was beheaded at the site by Norman forces. The village was originally named, Pen-Rhysap Tewdwr (English: Rhysap Tewdwr's Head)...
south Welsh prince RhysapRhydderch in reprisal for a raid on England, and Rhys's head was delivered to him. In 1055, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn established...
Sweyn Godwinson was called in to help Gruffydd's brother Rhys against Gruffydd apRhydderch in 1045 to keep hold of Deheubarth. Gruffydd raided Leominster...
apRhydderch was said to be a powerful king who stoutly resisted raids by the Danes and attacks by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. However in 1055 Gruffydd ap Llywelyn...
Nest ferch Rhys (c. 1085 – c. 1136) was the daughter of Rhysap Tewdwr, last King of Deheubarth in Wales, by his wife, Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn of...
Llywelyn ap Seisyll of Gwynedd in 1018; by Rhydderch ab Iestyn of Morgannwg in 1023; by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn of Gwynedd in 1041 and 1043. In 1075, Rhys ab Owain...
Venedotian Code and an elegy by Taliesin says that he waged a war against Rhydderch Hael of Alt Clut and the kings of Gododdin or Manaw Gododdin. The small...
unsuccessful punitive raid against the Welsh leaders Gruffydd apRhydderch, RhysapRhydderch and Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. Bao Zheng (Lord Bao), a Chinese government...
Gwilym ap Gruffudd ap Robin of Cochwillan, with whom he had four sons – John Wyn ap Maredudd, who succeeded him, Rhys Wyn, William Wyn and Rhydderch – and...
unsuccessful punitive raid against Welsh leaders Gruffydd apRhydderch, RhysapRhydderch and Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. Exeter Book of poetic riddles completed....
the Old) (785–c. 825) with Brochfael apRhysRhysap Arthfael, (c. 830–c. 840) Hywel apRhys, (c. 840–886) Owain ap Hywel (886–c. 930) Gruffydd ab Owain...
the Old) (785–c. 825) with Brochfael apRhysRhysap Arthfael, (c. 830–c. 840) Hywel apRhys, (c. 840–886) Owain ap Hywel (886–c. 930) Gruffydd ab Owain...
(complete list) – Rhys ab Owain, King (c.990–c.1000) Iestyn ab Owain, King (c.990–c.1015) Hywel ab Owain, King (c.990–c.1043) Rhydderchap Iestyn, King (c...
ab Owain. 1022 Llywelyn ap Seisyll defeats the Irish pretender Rhain at Abergwili. 1045 Gruffydd apRhydderch expels Gruffydd ap Llywelyn from Deheubarth...
of Wales. "Caradog ap Gruffydd apRhydderch (died 1081)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. "Maelgwn apRhys (c. 1170 – 1230),...
adversaries appear to have been Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio and either the princely brothers Peredur and Gwrgi or King Rhydderch Hael of Strathclyde. Gwenddoleu was...
King of Gwynedd and of Deheubarth Angharad ferch Rhysap Gruffydd (1132–1197) Angharad ferch Gruffydd II ap Madog, Lord of Dinas Bran Angharad of Brittany...
said to have gone mad after the Battle of Arfderydd (Arthuret) at which Rhydderch Hael of Strathclyde defeated the Brythonic king Gwenddoleu. According...
unsuccessful punitive raid against the Welsh leaders Gruffydd apRhydderch, RhysapRhydderch and Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. Bao Zheng (Lord Bao), a Chinese government...
Likewise, in some cases the "ap" coalesced into the name in some form, as in Broderick (ab Rhydderch), Price (apRhys) and Upjohn (ap John). Similarly, last...
ap Owain (986–999) Llywelyn ap Seisyll (999–1023), son of Anghered by her first husband. Anghered was the daughter of Maredudd ab Owain. Rhydderchap...
Gruffydd ap Madog Fychan Gruffydd II ap Madog, Lord of Dinas Bran Gruffydd Maelor Gruffudd ap Nicolas Gruffydd Robert, Welsh priest Gruffydd apRhydderch Gruffydd...
of the British Kingdom of Alt Clut. Either he or his father, Dyfnwal apRhydderch, King of Alt Clut, may have reigned when the Britons are recorded to...
1227 and 1231. Morgan ap Hywel was descended from Rhydderchap Iestyn, a ruler of most of southern Wales whose grandson Caradog ap Gruffydd was killed in...
Iago ap Beli (c. 540[citation needed] – c. 616) was King of Gwynedd (reigned c. 599 – c. 616). Little is known of him or his kingdom from this early era...
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