Maredudd ap Gruffydd (1131–1155) was a prince of the kingdom of
Deheubarth
Deheubarth (; lit. "Right-hand Part", thus "the South") was a regional name for the realms of south Wales, particularly as opposed to Gwynedd (Latin: ''Venedotia''). It is now used as a shorthand for the various realms united under the House of ...
in
Southwest Wales.
Maredudd was the fifth of six sons of
Gruffydd ap Rhys
Gruffydd ap Rhys (c. 1090 – 1137) was Prince of Deheubarth, in Wales. His sister was the Princess Nest ferch Rhys. He was the father of Rhys ap Gruffydd, known as 'The Lord Rhys', who was one of the most successful rulers of Deheubarth duri ...
, and the third of four by
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd () (''Gwenllian, daughter of Gruffydd''; 1100 – 1136) was Princess consort of Deheubarth in Wales, and married to Gruffydd ap Rhys, Prince of Deheubarth. Gwenllian was the daughter of Gruffudd ap Cynan (1055–1137), ...
;
[Cadw, Welsh Government (Crown Copyright), 2013. Heroes and Heroines of Wales: Gwenllian] he also had two older half-brothers,
Anarawd and
Cadell, by Gruffydd's first wife. He was only five years old when his mother and brothers Morgan and Maelgwyn were killed at Cydweli. His father died the following year. At the age of 16 he is recorded helping his half-brother Cadell, now
King of Deheubarth
Deheubarth (; lit. "Right-hand Part", thus "the South") was a regional name for the Welsh kingdoms, realms of south Wales, particularly as opposed to kingdom of Gwynedd, Gwynedd (Latin: ''Venedotia''). It is now used as a shorthand for the vario ...
, to expel the Normans from
Ceredigion
Ceredigion ( , , ) is a county in the west of Wales, corresponding to the historic county of Cardiganshire. During the second half of the first millennium Ceredigion was a minor kingdom. It has been administered as a county since 1282. Cere ...
. He then successfully defended
Carmarthen
Carmarthen (, RP: ; cy, Caerfyrddin , "Merlin's fort" or "Sea-town fort") is the county town of Carmarthenshire and a community in Wales, lying on the River Towy. north of its estuary in Carmarthen Bay. The population was 14,185 in 2011, ...
castle against a Norman assault, hurling down the scaling ladders.
In 1151 he took a prominent part in winning back the northern part of Ceredigion from
Gwynedd
Gwynedd (; ) is a county and preserved county (latter with differing boundaries; includes the Isle of Anglesey) in the north-west of Wales. It shares borders with Powys, Conwy County Borough, Denbighshire, Anglesey over the Menai Strait, and C ...
. The same year Cadell was attacked by a force of Normans while out hunting and left for dead. He survived, but was so badly injured that the effective rule of Deheubarth fell on Maredudd. In 1153 Cadell left on a pilgrimage to
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
, leaving Maredudd as King of Deheubarth.
Maredudd died two years later in 1155, leaving the throne of Deheubarth to his younger brother
Rhys
Rhys or Rhŷs is a popular Welsh given name (usually male) that is famous in Welsh history and is also used as a surname. It originates from Deheubarth, an old region of South West Wales, with famous kings such as Rhys ap Tewdwr.
It is pronounced ...
, later known as ''The Lord Rhys''.
References
*
John Edward Lloyd
Sir John Edward Lloyd (5 May 1861 – 20 June 1947) was a Welsh historian, He was the author of the first serious history of the country's formative years, ''A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest'' (1911).
Ano ...
(1911) ''A history of Wales from the earliest times to the Edwardian conquest'' (Longmams, Green & Co.)#]
*https://biography.wales/article/s-MARE-APG-1130
1131 births
1155 deaths
House of Dinefwr
Monarchs of Deheubarth
12th-century Welsh monarchs
Welsh princes
British people of Scandinavian descent
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