Celtic Gods: The Cymric hero, Llacheu mab Arthur (Bright one, son of Arthur)

Llacheu mab Arthur
A Cymric Arthurian Hero: Bright one, son of Arthur

Llacheu mab Arthur is a Cymric (Welsh) hero known from the Welsh Triads and the Mabinogion of Breuddwyd Rhonabwy where he is both Arthur's son and one of the heroes of Arthur's court.



Synonyms:
Cym: Bright one, son of Arthur

Llacheu is alluded to in two of the Trioedd ynys Prydein as well as the Mabinogion of Breuddwyd Rhonabwy and the poems Pa Gur yw y Porthawr (What man is the Porter?) and Ymddiddan Rhwng Gwyddneu Garanhir a Gwyn fab Nudd (The Dialogue between Gwyddneu Garanhir and Gwyn son of Nudd) in the Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin.

Triad 4 of the Trioedd Ynys Prydein names Llacheu mab Arthur as one of the three 'Wealthy men of Britain' and in triad 91 he is named as one of the 'Three Fearless Men of the Island of Britain'. Llacheu also figures in the late Mabinogion tale of Breuddwyd Rhonabwy where he appears at the very end of the tale amongst the named ranks of Arthur's heroes (for a full translation of the tale see here). One of the few other mentions of Llacheu in the early texts comes in the Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin poem, Pa Gur yw y Porthawr (What man is the Porter?) where we have the line: Kei guin a llachev/digonint we kadev (Fair Kei and Llacheu/made great slaughter) and again in the Ymddiddan Rhwng Gwyddneu Garanhir a Gwyn fab Nudd where we have the lines: Mi a wum lle llas llacheu/mab Arthur uthir ig kerteu/ban ryreint brein ar crev (I have been where was slain Llacheu/son of Arthur, wonderous in crafts/when ravens croaked over blood).

Beyond these references Llacheu is only mentioned in the poetry of the gogynfeirdd (literally the later than early bards) where he is referred to by at least half a dozen of these poets. This strongly suggests that the traditions concerning Llacheu formed a significant part of the early Arthurian sagas. Most notably Llacheu's death in battle is often alluded to and suggests that this tale, though now lost to us, was of some renown in the early middle ages. Indeed, though most of the references to Llacheu are late (after Geoffrey of Monmouth) there are sufficient early references (most notably Triad 4) to strongly suggest that Llacheu was a native Arthurian character and indicates the we have lost tales concerning his life, exploits and demise.



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