Branwen’s Family Tree

About Branwen →

Family

• Lir(parent),Penarddun(parent),Brân the Blessed(sibling),Manannán mac Lir(sibling)— Marriage

  Llŷr and Penarddun are the parents of Brân the Blessed, Branwen, and Manannán mac Lir — the royal family of the Island of the Mighty whose fates unfold across the Second and Third Branches of the Mabinogi.

• Matholwch(spouse),Gwern(child)— Marriage

  Branwen was given in marriage to Matholwch, King of Ireland, to seal peace between the islands, and she bore him a son, Gwern, who was made king of Ireland only to be murdered by Efnysien, igniting the war that destroyed both nations.

Associated with

• Brân the Blessed

  Branwen sent a starling across the sea with a letter tied to its wing, telling Brân the Blessed of her degradation. The giant-king waded the Irish Sea, his body serving as a bridge for his army, and invaded Ireland to rescue Branwen.