King Henry responded by preparing another invasion, and Rhys submitted without resistance.

In 1195 two other sons, Rhys Gryg and Maredudd, seized Llanymddyfri and Dinefwr, and Rhys responded by imprisoning them.

This was in retaliation for a raid led by the Welsh rulers Gruffydd ap Rhydderch, Rhys ap Rhydderch, and Gruffydd ap Llywelyn.

According to a 2008 television programme, presented by Griff Rhys Jones, “ the flame has only been extinguished once, by a drunken Mexican football supporter on the night that France beat Brazil here in Paris ,” most likely referring to the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final.

Hirwaun moor, 4 miles to the north west of Aberdare, was according to tradition the scene of a battle at which Rhys ap Tewdwr, prince of Dyfed, was defeated by the allied forces of the Norman Robert Fitzhamon and Iestyn ap Gwrgant, the last Welsh prince of Glamorgan.

* 2008: The Edge of Love starring Matthew Rhys as the poet, directed by John Maybury, written by Sharman Macdonald, and drawing on David N. Thomas ' book Dylan Thomas: A Farm, Two Mansions and a Bungalow.

The American composers Rhys Chatham and Glenn Branca have written " symphonic " works for large ensembles of electric guitars, in some cases numbering up to 100 players, and the instrument is a core member of the Bang on a Can All-Stars ( played by Mark Stewart ).

It has been claimed, by commentators citing the 1920s folklorist Gwenith Gwynn ( a. k. a. W. Rhys Jones ), that " broom-stick weddings " were first known in Wales, originating either among the Welsh people themselves or among Romani living in Wales.

This was followed briefly by Smith and Goody ( with Bob Goody ) and then the comedy sketch series Alas Smith and Jones, co-starring Griff Rhys Jones, its title being a pun on the name of the American TV series Alias Smith and Jones.

* The 2011 film Anonymous, directed by Roland Emmerich and based on a screenplay by John Orloff, stars Rhys Ifans and Vanessa Redgrave.

In the 2003 remake starring Patrick Stewart and Glenn Close, he is played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

The account reads, " Richard ’ s horse was trapped in the marsh where he was slain by one of Rhys Thomas ’ men, a commoner named Wyllyam Gardynyr.

Rhys's grandfather, Rhys ap Tewdwr, was king of Deheubarth, and was killed at Brecon in 1093 by Bernard de Neufmarche.

Rhys's father, Gruffydd ap Rhys, was eventually able to become ruler of a small portion, and more territory was won back by Rhys's older brothers after Gruffydd's death.

Rhys made an alliance with Owain Gwynedd and after the failure of another invasion of Wales by Henry in 1165 was able to win back most of his lands.

Rhys ap Tewdwr was killed in Brycheiniog, and most of his kingdom was taken over by Norman lords.

A revolt spread through south Wales in 1136, and Gruffydd ap Rhys, aided by his two eldest sons, Anarawd and Cadell, defeated the Normans in a battle near Loughor, killing over five hundred.

In 1143, when Rhys was eleven, Anarawd was murdered by the bodyguard of Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd, brother of Owain Gwynedd, king of Gwynedd.

Rhys appears in the annals for the first time in 1146, fighting alongside his brothers Cadell and Maredudd in the capture by assault of Llansteffan Castle.

Maredudd and Rhys were able to drive Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd from Ceredigion by 1153.

Rhys made plans to resist, but was persuaded by his council to meet the king to discuss peace terms.

The king was absent in France in 1159, and Rhys took the opportunity to attack Dyfed and then to lay siege to Carmarthen, which was saved by a relief force led by Earl Reginald of Cornwall.

In 2004, it featured in the BBC TV series Restoration ( presented by Griff Rhys Jones, Ptolemy Dean and Marianne Suhr, producer-director Paul Coueslant )-with the aim of gaining support for a programme of work to restore the building and open it to the public.

The host of all 3 series is Griff Rhys Jones, whilst investigating each building in the heats are the show's resident " ruin detectives ", Marianne Suhr and Ptolemy Dean.

Highlights of the programme include: Sky Arts Ignition Series, in partnership with Tate Liverpool, will present a major public commission by acclaimed US artist, Doug Aitken, which will be installed on Albert Dock in a temporary structure designed by David Adjaye ; American superstar Rhys Chatham, renowned for his large-scale performance works will present a concert as part of the opening weekend ; one of Argentina's most established and internationally renowned artists, Jorge Macchi, presents a commission in which an object is wedged precariously in a public location ; Israeli artist, Oded Hirsch will present a work which will burst through the floor of the Liverpool ONE shopping centre ; and Liverpool ’ s famous Cunard building being opened to the public for the first time to provide an unusual exhibition venue.

During the 12th century Cistercian monks used the area as a seaport to import " Bath Stone " from Bristol which they used for the building of Strata Florida Abbey on land granted to them by The Lord Rhys.

The same year Rhys is recorded as an independent commander for the first time, leading an army to capture the Norman castle of St Clears.

An appeal to the king produced no response, and Rhys resorted to arms, first capturing Clifford's castle at Llandovery then seizing Ceredigion.

In 1162, Rhys again attempted to recover some of his lost lands, and captured Llandovery castle.

Rhys first appealed to the king to intercede, then when this failed invaded Ceredigion and recaptured all of it apart from the town and castle of Cardigan.

Shortly afterwards Rhys captured Cilgerran castle.

The earliest surviving part of the present castle may have been built by Rhys or by his son, Rhys Gryg.

Rhys built a number of stone castles, starting with Cardigan castle, which was the earliest recorded native-built stone castle in Wales.

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.

Wiston and the castle were overrun in 1147 by Hywel Sais, son of the Lord Rhys.

The date of the first Eisteddfod is a matter of much debate among scholars, but boards for the judging of poetry definitely existed in Wales from at least as early as the twelfth century, and it is likely that the ancient Celtic bards had formalized ways of judging poetry as well. The first Eisteddfod can be traced back to 1176, under the auspices of Lord Rhys, at his castle in Cardigan.

In 1316 Llywelyn Bren, believed to be the son of Gruffyd ap Rhys and therefore great-grandson of Ifor Bach, led an insurrection, laying siege to the castle.

At this seeming betrayal, Rhys and Owain, Reginald's Welsh nephews who were Princes of Deheubarth, were incensed and took Builth, except the castle.

As a result the previous overlord Rhys ap Gruffydd returned and sacked the castle before winning the battle of Radnor against Roger Mortimer and Hugh de Say.

Through the marriage of Prince Rhys ' daughter, the castle passed to Sir Guy de Brian, who had been Lord High Admiral of England.

In the 17th century the castle's lord, Sir Roland Rhys, a former pirate captain, is alleged to have kept a Barbary Ape, most likely a mandrill, inside the castle.

For many years there was an erroneous story that in 1196 the castle was besieged by the Welsh under Prince Rhys ap Gruffydd, a Prince of the Welsh Kingdom of Deheubarth.

The castle was razed by Gruffydd ap Rhys but probably rebuilt, as it is known to have been destroyed again by Owain Gwynedd in 1136.

While Rhys was away from home, his wife Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd raised an army and attacked the Norman castle of Kidwelly but was defeated and killed.

: In that year, about the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen, Maelgwn ap Rhys, for fear and hatred of his brother Gruffydd, sold to the English for little profit the key and keeping of all Wales, the castle of Aber Teifi

In 1231 the castle was again captured for Llywelyn by Rhys Gryg and his allies.

However, the Lord Rhys recaptured the castle.

The first masonry castle was probably built by the Lord Rhys, who died in 1197, and it remained a possession of the Deheubarth dynasty for the next 50 years.