Gruffydd ap Rhydderch

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Gruffydd ap Rhydderch (died 1055) was a king of Gwent and part of the kingdom of Morgannwg in south Wales and later king of Deheubarth.

Gruffydd was the son of Rhydderch ab Iestyn who had been able to take over the kingdom of Deheubarth from 1023 to 1033. Already king of part of Morgannwg, Gruffydd became involved with Deheubarth when that kingdom was taken over from Hywel ab Edwin by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, already king of Gwynedd, in 1044. Gruffydd ap Rhydderch was however able to expel him in 1045 and became king of Deheubarth himself. He was said to be a powerful king who stoutly resisted raids by the Danes and attacks by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. In 1055 however Gruffydd ap Llywelyn killed him in battle and recaptured Deheubarth.

In 1049 he is reported raiding up the River Severn in alliance with an Irish Viking Fleet.^[1]

His son Caradog ap Gruffydd also attempted to emulate his father and grandfather by gaining control of Deheubarth, but was killed at the Battle of Mynydd Carn.

[edit] References

John Edward Lloyd (1911) A history of Wales from the earliest times to the Edwardian conquest (Longmans, Green & Co.)

1. ^ Barlow, Frank (2002). The Godwins. Pearson Education Ltd, 39. ISBN 0582423813. 

Regnal titles
Preceded by Hywel ab Edwin	King of Deheubarth 1045–1055	Succeeded by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn