Henry II captured Dinefwr, the ancient royal centre of Deheubarth and ancestral seat of the dynasty, in 1163 and took the Lord Rhys prisoner. This was the low point of Lord Rhys's career. However Henry's 1165 campaign into north Wales failed catastrophically and Henry was forced to release Rhys. The Lord Rhys then went on to become Henry's principal Welsh ally, eventually appointed Justiciar of south Wales. The loss and recovery of Dinefwr shaped Lord Rhys's subsequent career.
Henry II: c. 2,000–3,500 troops. Lord Rhys garrison: c. 200–400 defenders.
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