Bran the Blessed
|
|
Bran the Blessed (aka Bendigeidfran) was a character in Welsh mythology, a son of Llyr and Penarddun, who appears in the Mabinogion. He was king of Britain and a giant. The name "Bran" translates as "raven" in Brythonic Celtic.
His sister, Branwen, was courted by an Irish king named Matholwch, who gave Bran horses to curry favor. Efnisien, a half-brother of Branwen and Bran, mutilated the horses; Matholwch was irate until Bran gave him a cauldron which restored the dead to life.
His sister, Branwen, was treated cruelly by her husband, Matholwch. Bran sailed from Wales to Ireland to rescue her with his brother, Manawydan. When Matholwch saw the giant, he asked for peace and built a house big enough for him. Matholwch agreed to let Bran live with them and give the kingdom to Gwern, his son by Branwen. The Irish lords didn't like the idea, so they hid themselves in flour bags to attack the Welsh. Efnisien guessed what was happening and threw them into the fire, along with Gwern.
In the ensuing war, Efnisien and Bran died. Efnisien threw himself in the cauldron earlier given to Matholwch, which broke; he stayed dead. Branwen went to Aber Alaw and died there. Bran's head, still alive, was buried in England. Legend said that as long as the head was there, Britain (identified in those days as being the union of England and Wales) would live on. This legend was allegedly known in the time of King Arthur, who desired to be the only protector of Britain, and therefore had the head of Bran dug-up. However, when terrible events occured throughout the country, Arthur wisely had the head replaced, in the mound on which now sits the Tower of London. The legend of the ravens at the Tower relates to consequences of removing Bran's head from it's resting place.sv:Bran