Rhys Mechyll (died 1244) was a Welsh prince, Lord of Dinefwr, of the House of Dinefwr and Kingdom of Deheubarth in southern Wales from 1234 to 1244. He was a son of prince

Rhys Gryg Rhys Gryg ('Rhys the Hoarse') (died 1234), real name Rhys ap Rhys, also known as Rhys Fychan ('Rhys the Younger') was a Welsh prince who ruled part of the Kingdom of Deheubarth. Lineage Rhys was the fourth son of Rhys ap Gruffydd (The Lord R ...

(died 1234) ("Rhys the Hoarse"), son of prince Rhys ap Gruffydd (1132–1197),Walker, 1990, p. 98 "The Lord Rhys", ruler of the kingdom of Deheubarth.

Marriage

He married Matilda de Braose (died 1248) who betrayed the dynasty's chief castle of Carreg Cennen to the Anglo-Normans in 1248, against the interests of her son Rhys. A Welsh chronicle, the ''Brut y Tywysogyon'', records under the year 1248: ''"Rhys Fychan ap Rhys Mechyll regained the castle of Carreg Cennen, which his mother had treacherously placed in the power of the French, out of enmity for her son."''

Progeny

He had four sons and a daughter, Gwenllian, who married Gilbert Talbot (died 1274), the grandfather of

Gilbert Talbot, 1st Baron Talbot Gilbert Talbot, 1st Baron Talbot (1276/77–1346) was an English nobleman. He was the first of his line to hold the title of Baron Talbot, and the lineal ancestor of the Earls of Shrewsbury. Family Talbot was the son of Richard Talbot, the fe ...

(died 1345/46),, who claimed the ancient armorials of the House of Deheubarth, assumed as arms of alliance to a great princess in place of his own paternal arms. The assumption about Gwenllian, however, was unfounded as Rhys Mechyll, Lord of Dinefwr, also had male heirsSiddons M P: 'The Development of Welsh Heraldry', Vol. 1, p. 289, NLW 1991. who acceded to the arms of the House of Deheubarth.

Notes

* Walker, David.
Medieval Wales
', Cambridge University Press, 1990, p. 98.

References

Monarchs of Deheubarth 1244 deaths Year of birth unknown 13th-century Welsh monarchs {{UK-royal-stub