Editing Rhys ap Gruffydd (section)

===Final campaigns (1189–1196)===
<!--[[File:Deheubarth1190.PNG|thumb|upright|By 1196 Rhys ruled almost all of Deheubarth, as well as controlling much of the remainder of south Wales through client princes; the remaining Norman-held areas in Deheubarth are shown in grey.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}]] SEE TALK, uncited and not easily citeable -->
[[Henry II of England|Henry II]] died in 1189 and was succeeded by [[Richard I of England|Richard I]]. Rhys considered that he was no longer bound by the agreement with King Henry and attacked the Norman lordships surrounding his territory. He ravaged [[Pembroke, Pembrokeshire|Pembroke]], [[Haverfordwest]] and [[Lordship of Gower|Gower]], and captured the castles of St. Clear's, [[Laugharne Castle|Laugharne]] and [[Llansteffan Castle|Llansteffan]].<ref>{{Cite DNB |wstitle= Rhys ap Gruffydd | volume= 48 |last= Lloyd |first= John Edward  |author-link= John Edward Lloyd |pages = 89-90 |short=1}}</ref> Richard's brother, Prince John (later [[John, King of England|King John]]), came to Wales in September and tried to make peace. He persuaded Rhys to raise the siege of [[Carmarthen]] and accompany him to [[Oxford]] to meet Richard. Rhys arrived at Oxford to discover that Richard was not prepared to travel there to meet him, and hostilities continued.<ref>Turvey p. 101.</ref>

In his later years Rhys had trouble keeping control of his sons, particularly [[Maelgwn ap Rhys|Maelgwn]] and [[Gruffydd ap Rhys II|Gruffydd]]. In 1189 Gruffydd persuaded Rhys to imprison Maelgwn, and he was given into Gruffydd's keeping at Dinefwr. Gruffydd handed him over to his father-in-law, [[William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber|William de Braose]]. Gruffydd is also said to have persuaded his father to annex the lordship of [[Cemais (Dyfed cantref)|Cemais]] and its chief castle of [[Nevern]], held by William [[FitzMartin]], in 1191. This action was criticised by [[Giraldus Cambrensis]], who describes Gruffydd as "a cunning and artful man". William FitzMartin was married to Rhys's daughter Angharad, and, according to Giraldus, Rhys "had solemnly sworn, by the most precious relics, that his indemnity and security should be faithfully maintained".<ref>Giraldus Cambrensis ''Itinerary'' p. 103.</ref> Rhys had also annexed the Norman lordships of Cydweli and Carnwyllion in 1190.<ref>Turvey p. 105.</ref> In 1192 Rhys secured Maelgwn's release, but by now Maelgwn and Gruffydd were bitter enemies. In 1194 Rhys was defeated in battle by Maelgwn and Hywel, who imprisoned him in [[Nevern]] castle, though Hywel later released his father without Maelgwn's consent. Giraldus suggests that Rhys's incarceration in Nevern castle was divine vengeance for the dispossession of William [[FitzMartin]].<ref>Giraldus Cambrensis ''Itinerary'' pp. 103–104.</ref> In 1195 two other sons, Rhys Gryg and Maredudd, seized Llanymddyfri and Dinefwr, and Rhys responded by imprisoning them.<ref>''Brut y Tywysogion'' pp. 135–136.</ref> Rhys launched his last campaign against the Normans in 1196. He captured a number of castles, including [[Carmarthen Castle|Carmarthen]], [[Colwyn Castle|Colwyn]], [[Radnor Castle|Radnor]] and [[Painscastle Castle|Painscastle]], and defeated an army led by [[Roger Mortimer of Wigmore|Roger de Mortimer]] and Hugh de Say near [[Radnorshire|Radnor]], with forty knights among the dead. This was Rhys' last battle.<ref>''Brut y Tywysogion'' pp. 136–137.</ref> William de Braose offered terms, and Painscastle was returned to him.{{sfn|Lloyd|1911|p=581}}