Greetings,
To explain to those who aren't familiar with the names Rhodri Mawr, Hywel
Dda, Lord Rhys and Lewlleyn Fawr, I strongly suggest you locate _Wales:
Her Origins Struggles and Later History Institutions and Manners_ by
Gilbert Stone, Frederick A. Stokes Company Publisher, NY. This source
contains bios of many important ancestors of ours. I only have a few pages
of this source and would love to buy the book, if it is ever in print.
Rhodri Mawr (also seen in English as Roderick the Great) m. Angharad v.
Meurig ap Dyfnwallon whose brother ruled over Seisyllwg. Through Rodri's
grandmother and wife, he claied nearly all of Wlaes as his kingdom. he
obtained the kingodm of Gwynedd on the death of Merfyn Frych in 844; Powys
became his on the death of Cyngen who died while on pilgrimage to Rome in
855; Seisyllwg, the kindom made from the combining of Ceredigion and Ystrad
Tywi became Rhodri's a bit later. Gwgon was the brother of Angharad
(Rhodri's wife) and Gwygon ruled over Ceredigion until 872 when he was
drowned. Rhodri didn't rule Dyfed or Gwent and a few minor parts.
Rhodri had six sons and we desc. from three: Anarawd, Cadell and Merfyn.
Anarawd ruled Anglesey and Gwynedd; Cadell obtained his share largely in
South Wales and Merfyn took an unknown part of Wales. (Welsh law was that
the land was divided among the sons upon the father's death)
I have given you a webpage for a short bio on Howel Dda
The Lord Rhys, Yr Arglwydd Rhys or Rhys of Deheubarth or Rhys ap Gruffydd.
He was considered brave and daring. He was b. ca 1132 and as early as 1146
when only a boy he ahd assisted Cadell, his brother in the capture of
castles at Dinweileir, Caermarthen and Llanstephen. In 1147 he joined the
attck on Wiston Castle. While Cadell (brother of Rhys) was on pilgramiage
to Rome, Rhys and his other brother Maredud captured more of Wales.
Maredudd died in 1155 and Rhys was now the ruler of Dyfed, Ceredigion and
Ystrad Tywi, evn though important parts of those areas were still held by
the marcher lords. Rhys attacked the Marchers in 1158, fighting the
English king at that time. He submitted to promises that weren't kept by
the English who he captured the castle of Llandovery which was then in the
hands of the Cliffords and burnt the castle in Ceredigion owned by the
Clares. In 1159 he destroyed more castles in Dyfed and laid seige to
Caermarthen Castle. This seige was unsuccessful, however.
In 1163 Rhys King Henry II led an army into South Wales to reduce Rhys to
obedience. (A prophecy attributed to Merlin said a freckled man who
crossed the Ford of Pencarn would bring diaster to their land) King
Henry's horse was frightened and refused to cross where it was ususally
corssed and ended up crossing the old ford which had been in disuse at the
time) Rhys saw this as a dark omen and due to his isolated position,
submitted to Henry. To show that his homage to Henry was little more than
lip service, he burned and destoryed more castles in Dyfed. and then
gathered a group at Corwen (THIS town is near Fron Goch) and with joining
forces with Owain they fought to resist Henry's men. By 1170 Owain died
and Rhys took over. After more fighting, Rhys and Henry found a way to get
along...somewhat.
Rhys was a patron of bardism and music. In 1176 he held a grand festival
at his castle of Aberteifi. He held a competition between bards and poets
and another between the harpers, fiddlers, pipers, etc. He gave the
victors vast gifts. The men of the south won for music and the men of the
north for poetry.
Rhys is buried in Strat Florida
Llywelyn Fawr
Lywelyn fell in and out of favor with King John, but ended up marrying his
natural dau, Joan. From John he recieved the castle and maor of Ellesmere
when he married Joan. Periodically when John was fighting the Irish, etc.,
Lywelyn would fight the English strongholds in Wales, but at times he was
on friednly terms with John. from 1209 through the early part of 1210 they
exchcanged gifts and letters. John led Llwelyn to believe he was a friend.
Llwelyn had made enemies of Gwenwynwyn int he east and of Maelgwn int eh
south of wases and the Earl of chester inthe northeast. John allied
himself with Llwelyn's enemies. Llwelyn realized this and retreated to the
middle of Wales. John attacked during a time there was no harvest for
which he could feed his men. John returned with a better plan and in the
process destroyed Bangor when the bishop refused to meet an excommunicated
king. Llywelyn saw that resistance was useless and submitted. Joan was
sent to the king to make peace in which Llywelyn had to pay with a lot of
cattle and ownership of the midland district. He was no longer a prince
but a "petty cheiftain in the north."
In 1212 Llywelyn tried to fight again. John was becoming weak and the
Welsh were too strong for the Marcher lords as the Welsh combined forces.
As all ended, Llywelyn was skilled at leading the Welsh and the shift in
his time changed from battle to negotiation. Wales and England found peace
with each other for a time through agreements rather than war.
Things changed in 1228. The Welsh didin't like the transfer of teh castle
of Montgomery from the Crown to Hubert de Burgh and saw it as a hostile
act. Then peace was created, but another problem arose in 1231. Llywelyn
again turned to war and successfully captured many castles, expecially in
south Wales. Llywelyn was excommunitcated (for the second time, at least)
In 1237 Joan died and Llywelyn build a monastery for bare-footed monks
called llavaes in Mona. Llywelyn's coffin is in Llanrwst church.
Enough,
Emily