The Lord Rhys

The Lord Rhys (in Welsh, "Yr Arglwydd Rhys") is the title given to Rhys ap Gruffydd (about 1132-1197), ruler of Deheubarth, by King Henry II of England. Rhys was one of the more successful and powerful Welsh princes, but even he was forced to acknowledge English supremacy, and did so by accepting the title of "Lord" rather than "Prince" or "King".

Rhys was the youngest son of Gruffydd ap Rhys, a prince of Deheubarth, and of Gwenllian, a sister of Owain Gwynedd. He was probably born in Ireland. Both parents died when he was around four years old, Gwenllian as a result of leading her husband's army into battle in his absence, Gruffydd himself on his return. Following the deaths of his elder brothers, Rhys inherited the land they had won back from the English in 1155, and proceeded to challenge the new king of England, Henry II. Having successfully held out against Henry for a year or two, Rhys was defeated and most of his territory was taken from him. This was the point at which he agreed to pay homage to Henry, and peace temporarily reigned.

In 1162, Rhys took advantage of Henry's absence in Normandy to attempt to recover some of his lost lands. This resulted once again in defeat, following which Rhys was taken to England as a prisoner. Once released, however, he went back to his old defiant ways. Henry, preoccupied with domestic problems, could not respond effectively, and Rhys, now calling himself "Prince of South Wales", eventually agreed to negotiate in 1171, and an alliance ensued. Following Henry's death in 1189, he found it difficult to maintain his position, and was obliged to enter into a protracted struggle against the Norman lord, William de Braose. He died peacefully, an old man at the peak of his power, in 1197.