Rhain Dremrudd

Rhain Dremrudd (Rhain the Red-⁠faced) was king of Brycheiniog, in Wales, in the sixth century. His nickname means either red-⁠faced or red-⁠eyed. He has not been canonized by the Church: our source says only that some honoured him as a saint. He has no day of commemoration.

Rhain was the son of Cynog, the eldest son of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog, or the son of Brychan himself. He succeeded Brychan after his death. He defeated the neighbouring kingdoms of Buellt and Gwerthrynion and made their rulers his vassals. He is possibly the same man as Rhain, ruler of Rheinwg, father of Gwenaseth, the mother of Saint Asaph (died 596), according to the Genealogy of the Saints. He is variously called Rhain of Rheinwg, Rhain the Generous, Rhain Dremrudd.

He is mentioned in the sources as Rhain son of Brychan, who ruled after his father. In a manuscript in the library of Jesus College he is the son of Brychan and the father of Rhigeneu. According to the Life of Saint Cadoc, Rhain invaded Gwynllwg when Cadoc the Wise ruled there. The men of Gwynllwg rose up against him, defeated him and captured him, but, fearing to kill him because he was the uncle of Cadoc, their lord, they did him no harm. Cadoc came and rescued Rhain from captivity, and Rhain made an agreement with him, whose witnesses are given in the Life. He is said to have been buried at Llandyfalog or Llanfaelog. There are three places called Llandyfalog, two in Brycheiniog and one near Ystradfellte. Rhain was buried at Llandyfalog Fach.