Nest ferch Rhys

Nest ferch Rhys ( † after 1136 ), known as Helen of Wales, German: Nest, daughter of Rhys, was a well known for their beauty Welsh princess of Deheubarth. She was the daughter of Prince Rhys ap Tewdwr (or Rhys ap Tudor Mawr ) and ferch Gwladus Rhiwallon; Thus, she served on the House Gwynedd.

After the death of her father in 1093 Deheubarth was conquered by the Normans under King Henry I, who made himself their protector - Nest bore him Henry FitzRoy, who died in 1156, and two other sons, about whom nothing is known.

Around 1095 Henry decided to marry her to one of his knights, Gerald, Castellan of Windsor, whom he appointed to the constable of Pembroke.

Nest and Gerald had five children:

Christmas 1109 was attended by her cousin, Owain ap Cadwgan, son of Bleddyn ap Cadwgan, Prince of Powys, Nest and Gerald. Owain was impressed by Nests beauty so that he Cenarth Bychan the castle (probably Cilgerran Castle, perhaps Carew Castle) attack with fifteen of his companions and the nest and their children kidnapped. The children were later sent back to Gerald. This abduction and the subsequent military conflict it owes its nickname " Helen of Wales".

Nest bore Owain two sons, Llywelyn and Einion, before she was returned to her husband. After Gerald's death, Nest became the lover of Stephen, constable of Cardigan Castle said, by whom she had another son, Robert Fitzstephen, who died in 1182.