RHYD Y GROES

On this day, 1039 Gruffydd ap Llywelyn defeated a Mercian army at Rhyd y Groes near Welshpool.

Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (c. 1007–1063 or 1064) was the son of Llywelyn ap Seisyll, King of Gwynedd and Deheubarth, who claimed decendency from Hywel Dda. He is known as "the only Welsh king ever to rule over the entire territory of Wales". 
According to an early story Gruffydd had been a lazy youth, but one New Year's Eve, he was watching a cook boiling pieces of beef in a cauldron. The cook was complaining that there was one piece of meat which kept coming to the top of the cauldron, however often it was thrust down and Gruffydd took this as applying to himself, and thus began his rise to power.

1023 On the death of Grufydd's father, Iago ab Idwal ap Meurig became ruler of Gwynedd.

1039 King Iago was killed and Gruffydd, who had already conquered Powys regained the rule of Gwynedd. Soon after gaining power, he totally defeated a Mercian army at Rhyd y Groes near Welshpool.

1041 Gruffydd defeated Hywel of Dyfed at the Battle of Pencader

1044 Hywel returned with a Danish fleet to try to reclaim his kingdom, but Gruffydd defeated and killed him.

1047 Gruffydd ap Rhydderch of Gwent expelled Gruffydd ap Llywelyn from Deheubarth after the nobles of Ystrad Tywi attacked and killed 140 of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn's household guard.

1052 Gruffydd ap Llywelyn was active on the Welsh border, he attacked Herefordshire and defeated a mixed force of Normans and English near Leominster.

1055 Gruffydd ap Llywelyn killed Gruffydd ap Rhydderch and recaptured Deheubarth. He then allied himself with Aelgar of Mercia, who had been deprived of his earldom of East Anglia by Harold Godwinson and they marched on Hereford, defeating the force of the Earl of Hereford, Ralph the Timid and sacked the city, destroying its castle. Gruffydd was also able to seize Morgannwg and Gwent, along with extensive territories along the border with England.

1056 He won another victory over an English army near Glasbury and claimed sovereignty over the whole of Wales - a claim which was recognised by the English. Historian John Davies tells us that Gruffydd was "the only Welsh king ever to rule over the entire territory of Wales... and for about seven brief years, Wales was one, under one ruler, a feat with neither precedent nor successor."
1062 Harold Godwinson obtained Edward the Confessor's approval for a surprise attack on Gruffydd's court at Rhuddlan, Grufydd was nearly captured but escaped out to sea.

1063 Harold's brother Tostig led an army into north Wales while Harold led a fleet to meet up with him. Gruffydd was forced to take refuge in Snowdonia, and according to the Ulster Chronicle he was killed by Cynan ap Iago, son of Iago ab Idwal whom Gruffydd had killed in 1039. Gruffydd's head and the figurehead of his ship were sent to Harold.

Following Gruffydd's death, Harold married his widow Ealdgyth and his realm was divided back into the traditional kingdoms, so that when Harold was defeated and killed at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, so that when the Normans reached the borders of Wales, their task was made more difficult, because they were confronted by the traditional kingdoms rather than a single kingdom.

ST PETROC

Today is the feast day of Saint Petroc. 

Saint Petroc  Died c.564, was the son of King Glywys of Glywising and on his father's death, the people of Glywysing called for Pedroc to take on the crown of one the country's sub-kingdoms, however, Petroc wished to pursue a religious life and left, with several followers, to study in Ireland.

Some years later, Petroc  returned to Britain, landing on the shores of the River Camel in Cornwall and founded the monasteries at Padstow and Bodmin, he also travelled widely through Devon, but, after thirty years he decided to go on a pilgrimage to Rome by way of Brittany and on his return he travelled extensively in Wales, spending time at  Ynys Enlli (Bardsey) and founding churches at St. Petroc (Dyfed), Ferwig (nr Cardigan) and Llanbedrog (Lleyn).  Back in Cornwall, he lived as a hermit in St. Petroc's cell, on one occasion protecting a hunted deer, hence he is often depicted with a stag.  The legendary tales surrounding Petroc are exceptionally vivid and imaginative describing travels to India, taming of wolves and killing mighty serpents.  He is one of the patron saints of Cornwall.  

BORN THIS DAY - GWYNDAF EVANS

Born this day 1959 in Dolgellau

Gwyndaf Evans, rally driver, who won the British Rally Championship in 1996. 

JULIE GARDNER

Born this day 1969 in Neath

Julie Gardner, television producer.She was an executive producer on the 2005 revival of Doctor Who and its spin-off shows Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

JUBILEE CONCERT

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert was held on this day 2012 on the mall outside Buckingham Palace.

Rob Brydon was one of the presenters and Welsh or Welsh connected performers included, Sir Tom Jones, Dame Shirley Bassey, Robbie Williams (Welsh grandparents, one from the Bala area the other from Flintshire), Kylie Minogue (Mother is Welsh) and Madness ( Suggs has a Welsh Mother)