Editing Rhys ap Gruffydd (section)

===Death and aftermath (1197)===
[[File:StDavidsCathedral.jpg|thumb|upright|Rhys was buried in St Davids Cathedral, where an effigy said to be of him, but carved over 100 years later, can still be seen.<ref name=turvey111/>]]
Rhys died on 28 April 1197,<ref>Pryce (2004).</ref> unexpectedly, and was buried in [[St Davids Cathedral]]. The chronicler of ''[[Brut y Tywysogion]]'' records for 1197:<ref>''Brut y Tywysogion'' p. 138.</ref>

{{quote|...&nbsp;there was a great pestilence throughout the island of Britain...{{nbsp}}and that tempest killed innumerable people and many of the nobility and many princes, and spared none. That year, four days before May Day, died Rhys ap Gruffydd, Prince of Deheubarth and unconquered head of all Wales.<ref>''Brut y Tywysogion'' p. 138.</ref>}}

Rhys died excommunicate, having quarreled with the [[Bishop of St Davids]], [[Peter de Leia]], over the theft of some of the bishop's horses some years previously. Before he could be buried in the cathedral, the bishop had his corpse [[scourge]]d in posthumous penance.<ref>Turvey p. 110.</ref>

Rhys had nominated his eldest legitimate son, Gruffydd ap Rhys, as his successor, and soon after his father's death Gruffydd met the Justiciar, Archbishop [[Hubert Walter]], on the border and was confirmed as heir. Maelgwn, the eldest son but illegitimate, refused to accept this and was given military assistance by [[Gwenwynwyn ab Owain]] of Powys. Maelgwn took the town and castle of [[Aberystwyth]] and captured Gruffydd, whom he handed over to the custody of Gwenwynwyn. Gwenwynwyn later handed him over to the king, who imprisoned him at [[Corfe Castle]].{{sfn|Lloyd|1911|pp=584–585}}