Nest, born in c.1085, was the daughter of Rhys ap Twdwr King of Deheubarth (Dyfed) with his wife Gwladys. The 11^th Century was a time of insecurity and unrest in West Wales and this is reflected in Princess Nest’s turbulent life.

In 1092, while still a child, Nest’s father was killed in battle with the Normans. Her brothers, Hywel and Gruffudd were too young to secure the throne, and so the eldest was sent to Ireland for protection. As a girl, Nest was neither eligible heir to the throne or offered any security and so had to remain in Wales. Her education was also limited to what was deemed ‘appropriate’ for a lady, thought to include embroidery and how to conduct herself according to her status.

It is possible that she was imprisoned at some point during this period, and went on to become Royal Ward to William II (son of William the conqueror). This was much less a refuge and more of an opportunity for the king to closely observe Nest. Furthermore, she gave birth to the illegitimate grandson of Henry (the King’s son and later Henry I) while in his supposed ‘care’.

In 1100, when Henry did become king, he arranged a political marriage for Nest (with Gerald de Windsor who ruled Pembrokeshire on behalf of the King). Her freedom was further compromised for the security of the English throne, yet she was living in relative safety at Pembroke Castle and in a stronger position against personal threat.

During this more settled period, Nest had four children; Maurice, David and Angharad. The family lived at both Pembroke and Carew castles and Gerald built a new castle at Cenarth Bychan, (Cilgerran).  Nest also welcomed her brother Gruffudd ap Rhys back to Wales and provided him with the means to set up home in Carmarthenshire and plan Welsh ascent back to the throne.

In 1109, Nest was kidnapped from Cilgerran Castle by Owain ap Cadwgan, the son of the ruler of Powys. He was apparently spellbound by her and Gerald escaped through the privy and along a tunnel to avoid confrontation. As the castle burned, Nest and her children were captured and taken to Powys, where legend states that the pair began a relationship. However, it is much more likely that Nest’s kidnap was a political manoeuvre to undermine Norman rule.

Nest was eventually forced to return to Gerald de Windsor after he attacked Ceredigion and Owain fled to Ireland. Her safety again grew precarious as her disloyalty to Gerald was coupled with knowledge of her brothers’ plot to overthrow the monarchy. She nevertheless arranged an escape route for him after he attacked Norman and Flemish settlements and arranged for Gwenllian of Gwynedd (her sister-in-law) to escape to Pembroke Castle.

Nest’s life was continually embroiled in the conflict and greed of the men who surrounded her. Henry I (father of her first child) persuaded Welshman Owain ap Cadwgan to switch allegiance and attack Gruffydd ap Rhys (Nest’s brother); while Nest’s husband, Gerald, was also attempting to slay him. However, Nest never prioritised her own safety or status above those the causes she believed in. Instead, she used whatever advantages she had to benefit her family and allies. After Gerald died, she married twice again; firstly to the sheriff of Pembroke and later, the constable of Cardigan Castle.

 In total, Nest bore 17 children, all of whom are significant in the history of Wales. Some joined the Norman armies, others remained loyal to Wales and many became prominent in Ireland. Her daughter, Angharad, was the mother of Giraldus Cambrensis. While her life is synonymous with the history of her country, it is not known how or when she died and where she is buried.

Nest, a aned tua 1085, oedd merch Rhys ap Tewdwr Brenin y Deheubarth (Dyfed) a’i wraig Gwladys. Roedd yr unfed ganrif ar ddeg yn gyfnod o ansicrwydd a therfysgllyd yng Ngorllewin Cymru ac amlygir hyn ym mywyd cythryblus y Dywysoges Nest.

Yn 1092, a Nest yn dal yn blentyn, cafodd ei thad ei ladd mewn brwydr gyda’r Normaniaid. Roedd ei brodyr, Hywel a Gruffudd yn rhy ifanc i etifeddu’r orsedd, ac felly anfonwyd yr hynaf i Iwerddon i’w gadw’n ddiogel. Fel merch, nid oedd Nest yn gymwys i etifeddu’r orsedd ac nid oedd ei diogelwch mewn perygl ac felly bu’n rhaid iddi aros yng Nghymru. Roedd ei haddysg hefyd wedi’i gyfyngu i’r hyn a ystyrid yn ‘briodol’ i ferch fonheddig, oedd yn cynnwys brodwaith a sut i ymddwyn yn ôl ei statws. 

Mae’n bosibl iddi gael ei charcharu rywbryd yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, a daeth yn Ward Frenhinol i William II (mab William y gorchfygwr). Roedd hyn yn fwy o gyfle i’r brenin feithrin perthynas â Nest na lloches. Ganed mab iddynt, sef ŵyr anghyfreithlon Harri (mab y Brenin a Harri I yn ddiweddarach) tra yn ei ‘ofal’. 

Yn 1100, pan ddaeth Harri yn frenin, trefnodd briodas wleidyddol i Nest (gyda Gerald de Windsor oedd yn rheoli Sir Benfro ar ran y Brenin). Roedd ei rhyddid mewn mwy o berygl er diogelu gorsedd Lloegr, ac eto roedd yn byw mewn diogelwch cymharol yng Nghastell Penfro ac mewn sefyllfa gryfach yn erbyn bygythiad personol.

Yn ystod y cyfnod mwy sefydlog hwn, cafodd Nest bedwar o blant; Maurice, David ac Angharad. Roedd y teulu’n byw yng nghastell Penfro a chastell Caeriw ac fe adeiladodd Gerald gastell newydd yng Nghenarth Bychan (Cilgerran). Hefyd roedd Nest wedi croesawu ei brawd Gruffudd ap Rhys yn ôl i Gymru gan roi’r modd iddo ymgartrefu yn Sir Gaerfyrddin a chynllwynio i gael Cymro yn ôl ar yr orsedd. 

Yn 1109, cafodd Nest ei herwgipio o Gastell Cilgerran gan Owain ap Cadwgan, mab rheolwr Powys. Mae’n debyg ei fod wedi’i gyfareddu ganddi, a llwyddodd Gerald i ddianc drwy’r geudy ac ar hyd twnnel i osgoi gwrthdaro. Wrth i’r castell losgi, cafodd Nest a’i phlant eu cipio a’u cludo i Bowys, ac yn ôl y chwedl roedd Nest ac Owain wedi dechrau perthynas. Fodd bynnag, mae’n llawer mwy tebygol bod herwgipio Nest yn weithred wleidyddol i danseilio rheolaeth y Normaniaid. 

Yn y pen draw gorfodwyd Nest i fynd yn ôl at Gerald de Windsor ar ôl iddo ymosod ar Geredigion ac Owain yn ffoi i Iwerddon. Roedd ei diogelwch yn y fantol unwaith yn rhagor oherwydd ei diffyg ffyddlondeb i Gerald a bod ei brodyr yn cynllwynio i ddymchwel y frenhiniaeth. Serch hynny, trefnodd lwybr dianc i Owain ar ôl iddo ymosod ar aneddiadau Normanaidd a Ffleminaidd a threfnu i Gwenllian Gwynedd (ei chwaer-yng-nghyfraith) ddianc i Gastell Penfro.

Roedd bywyd Nest yn rhan annatod o derfysg a thrachwant y dynion o’i hamgylch. Llwyddodd Harri I (tad ei phlentyn cyntaf) i berswadio’r Cymro Owain ap Cadwgan i newid ei deyrngarwch ac ymosod ar Gruffydd ap Rhys (brawd Nest); tra bod gŵr Nest, Gerald, hefyd yn ceisio ei ladd. Fodd bynnag, ni wnaeth Nest erioed roi ei diogelwch na’i statws ei hun uwchlaw’r achosion yr oedd hi’n credu ynddynt. Yn hytrach, roedd yn defnyddio pa fanteision bynnag oedd ganddi er budd ei theulu a’i chynghreiriaid. Ar ôl i Gerald farw, priododd ddwywaith eto; yn gyntaf â siryf Penfro ac yn ddiweddarach, â chwnstabl Castell Aberteifi.

Yn gyfan gwbl, roedd Nest wedi geni 17 o blant, a phob un ohonynt yn arwyddocaol yn hanes Cymru. Ymunodd rhai â lluoedd y Normaniaid, parhaodd eraill yn ffyddlon i Gymru, a daeth nifer ohonynt yn amlwg yn Iwerddon. Ei merch, Angharad, oedd mam Gerallt Gymro. Er bod ei bywyd yn gyfystyr â hanes ei gwlad, ni wyddys sut na phryd y bu farw na lle y cafodd ei chladdu.