Victoria Harman: Sir Rhys ap Thomas

Rhys ap Thomas

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Born in 1449
Inherited the wealth of the Dinefwr estates, bought Carew Castle from Sir Nicholas De Carew's grandson Edmund in 1480
During the War of the Roses, Henry Tudor had to flee Tenby and returned to Carew Castle
Rhys ap Thomas swore to Richard III and prevented Henry from gaining power
When Henry Tudor came to Pembrokeshire in 1495, Rhys went to Bosworth with a large Welsh army
Fought in the Battle of Bosworth on 22 August 1485, King Richard III was killed and Rhys was rewarded for support of Tudors
The Tudor Coat of Arms is displayed above the entrance to the Great Hall in Carew Castle because Thomas chose Henry's side, they are displayed thus:

(Prince Arthur, Henry's eldest son)(Henry VII)(Catherine of Aragon, Arthur's bride)

This shows the Tudor Dynasty and the marriage of Arthur to Catherine in late 1501, creating the Anglo-Spanish Alliance, Arthur died in 1502 at Ludlow Castle, Tudor's second son (Henry) then married Catherine
A possible error is seen in Henry VII's Coat of Arms in that the arms reversed the dragon (representing Henry's tie to Cadwalader, the last native ruler of Britain) and the greyhound (representing the House of Lancaster)
Knighted and appointed Governor of Wales by Henry Tudor
Added the 3 story porch and windows of the Great Hall
Organized Great Tournament at Carew Castle in April 1507 to celebrate, lasted 5 days, 600 nobles came for jousting, hunting, and a banquet
Fought in Henry VIII's invasion of France in 1513
Died in Febrary 1525 of natural causes