Editing Rhys ap Gruffydd (section)

===Welsh uprising (1164–1170)===

In 1164 all the Welsh princes united in an uprising. Warren suggests that when Rhys and Owain were obliged to do homage to Henry in 1163 they were forced to accept a status of dependent vassalage instead of their previous client status, and that this led to the revolt.<ref>Warren p. 163.</ref> Rhys had other reasons for rebellion, for he had returned to Deheubarth from England to find that the neighbouring Norman lords were threatening Cantref Mawr. His nephew, [[Einion ab Anarawd]], who was the captain of his bodyguard, had been murdered at the instigation of [[Roger de Clare, 3rd Earl of Hertford|Roger de Clare, Earl of Hertford]]. The murderer had been given the protection of the Clares in Ceredigion.<ref>Turvey pp. 46–47.</ref> Rhys first appealed to the king to intercede; when this failed, he invaded Ceredigion and recaptured all of it apart from the town and castle of Cardigan. The Welsh revolt led to another invasion of Wales by King Henry in 1165. Henry attacked Gwynedd first, but instead of following the usual invasion route along the north coast he attacked from the south, following a route over the [[Berwyn range|Berwyn hills]]. He was met by the united forces of the Welsh princes, led by Owain Gwynedd and including Rhys. According to ''[[Brut y Tywysogion]]'':<ref>''Brut y Tywysogion'' pp. 100–101.</ref>

{{Blockquote|...&nbsp;[King Henry] gathered an innumerable host of the selected warriors of England and Normandy and Flanders and Gascony and Anjou...{{nbsp}}and against him came Owain and Cadwaladr the sons of Gruffydd with all the host of Gwynedd, and Rhys ap Gruffydd with all the host of Deheubarth and Iorwerth the Red son of Maredudd and the sons of Madog ap Maredudd with all the host of Powys.<ref>''Brut y Tywysogion'' pp. 100–101.</ref>}}

Torrential rain forced Henry's army to retreat in disorder without fighting a major battle, and Henry vented his spleen on the hostages, having Rhys's son Maredudd blinded. Rhys's other son, Hywel, was not among the victims. Rhys returned to Deheubarth where he captured and burned [[Cardigan Castle]]. He allowed the garrison to depart, but held the castellan, [[Robert Fitz-Stephen]], as a prisoner. Shortly afterwards Rhys captured Cilgerran castle.<ref>Turvey pp. 48–49.</ref>

In 1167 he joined Owain Gwynedd in an attack on [[Owain Cyfeiliog]] of southern [[Kingdom of Powys|Powys]], and spent three weeks helping Owain besiege the Norman castle of [[Rhuddlan Castle|Rhuddlan]].<ref>Moore p. 103.</ref> In 1168 he attacked the Normans at [[Builth]], destroying its castle. Rhys benefited from the Norman invasion of [[Ireland]] in 1169 and 1170, which was largely led by the [[Cambro-Norman]] lords of south Wales. In 1167 the King of [[Leinster]], [[Diarmait Mac Murchada]], who had been driven out of his kingdom, had asked Rhys to release Robert Fitz-Stephen from captivity to take part in an expedition to Ireland. Rhys did not oblige at the time, but released him the following year and in 1169 Fitz-Stephen led the vanguard of a Norman army which landed in [[County Wexford|Wexford]]. The leader of the Norman forces, [[Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke]], known as "Strongbow", followed in 1170. According to Warren, "they were prompted to go by a growing suspicion that King Henry did not intend to renew his offensive against the Welsh, but was instead seeking an accommodation with the Welsh leaders".<ref>Warren p. 114.</ref> The departure of the Norman lords enabled Rhys to strengthen his position, and the death of Owain Gwynedd in late 1170 left him as the acknowledged leader of the Welsh princes.{{sfn|Lloyd|1911|p=536}}