Rhys ap Gruffydd (1132–97) ruled the kingdom of Deheubarth in south
Wales and was one of the most successful and powerful Welsh princes. His
grandfather, Rhys ap Tewdwr, was king of Deheubarth, but most of
Deheubarth was taken over by the Normans after he was killed in 1093.
Rhys's father, Gruffydd ap Rhys, became ruler of a small portion, and
Rhys's brothers won back more territory. He became ruler of Deheubarth
in 1155, but was forced to submit to King Henry II of England in 1158.
Henry invaded in 1163 and took Rhys prisoner for a few weeks, leaving
him only a small part of his holdings. Rhys made an alliance with Owain
Gwynedd and after Henry's failed invasion of Wales in 1165 Rhys was able
to win back most of his lands. In 1171 he made peace with Henry, but
following Henry's death he revolted against Richard I and attacked the
Norman lordships surrounding his territory. In his later years Rhys had
trouble keeping control of his sons, particularly Maelgwn and Gruffydd,
who maintained a feud with each other. Rhys launched his last campaign
against the Normans in 1196 and captured a number of castles. The
following year he died unexpectedly and was buried in St David's
Cathedral.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhys_ap_Gruffydd>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1565:
Rio de Janeiro was founded by the Portuguese as São Sebastião
do Rio de Janeiro.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_de_Janeiro>
1781:
The Articles of Confederation, the first governing constitution
of the United States, was ratified, legally uniting what were originally
several independent states into a new sovereign federation.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articles_of_Confederation>
1811:
Muhammad Ali Pasha (pictured), Wāli of the Ottoman province of
Egypt, killed the leaders of the Mamluk Sultanate to seize power,
founding a dynasty that would last until 1952.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali_of_Egypt>
1896:
Ethiopia defeated Italy at the Battle of Adwa, ending the First
Italo-Ethiopian War.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Adwa>
1947:
The International Monetary Fund began its financial operations.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Monetary_Fund>
1962:
American Airlines Flight 1 crashed shortly after takeoff from
New York International (Idlewild) Airport, killing all 95 people aboard.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Airlines_Flight_1>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
fons honorum:
A person who, by virtue of sovereignty, holds the exclusive right to
create and confer legitimate titles of nobility and orders of chivalry.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fons_honorum>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
A =POPE= is someone who is not under the authority of the authorities.
--Principia Discordia
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Principia_Discordia>