Rhys Fawr ap Maredudd (''fl.'' 1485–1510) was a Welsh nobleman chiefly known for his valour at the

Battle of Bosworth Field The Battle of Bosworth or Bosworth Field was the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the houses of Lancaster and York that extended across England in the latter half of the 15th century. Fought on 22 Augu ...

in 1485, where he fought on the side of Henry VII. After Henry's landing at

Milford Haven Milford Haven ( cy, Aberdaugleddau, meaning "mouth of the two Rivers Cleddau") is both a town and a community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, an estuary forming a natural harbour that has ...

in early August 1485, his army was bolstered by contingents from across Wales. One of these contingents was that of Rhys, who had travelled from north Wales to meet Henry, probably near

Welshpool Welshpool ( cy, Y Trallwng) is a market town and community in Powys, Wales, historically in the county of Montgomeryshire. The town is from the Wales–England border and low-lying on the River Severn; its Welsh language name ''Y Trallwng'' m ...

; certainly, Rhys had joined him by the time Henry captured

Shrewsbury Shrewsbury ( , also ) is a market town, civil parish, and the county town of Shropshire, England, on the River Severn, north-west of London; at the 2021 census, it had a population of 76,782. The town's name can be pronounced as either 'Sh ...

in mid-August. On 22 August, Rhys and his men participated in the battle at Bosworth. At the height of the fighting, Henry's standard bearer, Sir William Brandon, was killed; according to later testimony, Rhys picked up the standard, hoisting it high until the conclusion of the battle. He lived at Plas Iolyn, near

Ysbyty Ifan Ysbyty Ifan (often formerly anglicised as Yspytty Ifan) is a small, historic village and community in the Conwy County Borough of Wales. The population in 2011 was 196 in 76 households (29 household spaces had no usual residents), over 79% of t ...

in north Wales, and his effigy, along with that of his wife, Lowri, can be seen in the parish church of

Denbighshire Denbighshire ( ; cy, Sir Ddinbych; ) is a county in the north-east of Wales. Its borders differ from the historic county of the same name. This part of Wales contains the country's oldest known evidence of habitation – Pontnewydd (Bontnewy ...

. His son, Robert ap Rhys, was chaplain to

Cardinal Wolsey Thomas Wolsey ( – 29 November 1530) was an English statesman and Catholic bishop. When Henry VIII became King of England in 1509, Wolsey became the king's almoner. Wolsey's affairs prospered and by 1514 he had become the controlling figur ...

and his grandson,

Ellis Price Ellis Price or Prys (by 1514-8 October 1594) was a Welsh administrator and MP. He was a younger son of Robert ap Rhys of Plas Iolyn near Ysbyty Ifan, the chaplain to Cardinal Wolsey. His grandfather Rhys Fawr ap Maredudd had fought (and thoug ...

, was MP for

Merioneth , HQ= Dolgellau , Government= Merionethshire County Council (1889-1974) , Origin= , Status= , Start= 1284 , End= , Code= MER , CodeName= ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhys Fawr ap Maredudd Welsh soldiers House of Tudor 15th-century Welsh military personnel 16th-century Welsh military personnel 15th-century births 1510 deaths Year of birth missing 15th-century soldiers 16th-century soldiers