Branwen
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In Welsh mythology, Branwen was a daughter of Llyr and Penarddun and has been interpreted as a goddess of love and beauty.
According to one branch of the Mabinogi (the four stories central to the Mabinogion collection of tales), Branwen, sister of Bran the giant king of Britain, was courted by an Irish king named Matholwch. Efnisien, a half-brother of Bran, angry at not being consulted about the marriage, mutilated Matholwch's horses when he found out about it. Matholwch was irate until Bran gave him compensation, including a cauldron which restored the dead to life.
Once back in Ireland Branwen was treated cruelly by her husband Matholwch as punishment for Efnisien's mutilation of the horses (though not before she gave birth to an heir, Gwern). She sent a message to her brother by a sparrow and Bran brought an invasion force from Wales to Ireland to rescue her. Some swineherds saw Bran wading the sea and reported to Matholwch who retreated beyond a river and destroyed the bridges. However, Bran laid himself down over the river to serve as a bridge for his men. Matholwch, fearing war, tried to conciliate Bran and built a house big enough for him to fit into in order to do him honour. Matholwch agreed to give the kingdom to Gwern, his son by Branwen, to pacify Bran. The Irish lords didn't like the idea, so they hid themselves in flour bags tied to the pillars of the huge newly built house to attack the Welsh. Efnisien, checking out the house prior to the arrival of Bran and his men, guessed what was happening and killed the hidden men by squeezing their heads. At the feast subsequent feast to celebrate Gwern's investiture as king of Ireland, Efnisien threw his nephew Gwern into the fire in order to break the peace settlement.
In the ensuing war, Efnisien threw himself in the cauldron earlier given to Matholwch in order to break it and allow the Welsh to defeat the Irish. Only seven men plus Branwen survived. Branwen died on their return to Aber Alaw of a broken heart. Bran too was killed but his chopped off head stayed alive for 87 more years (spent in magical feasting with the seven survivors) and then was buried in England. Legend said that as long as the head was there, no invasion would come over the sea to Britain.nl:Branwen sv:Branwen