# Matholwch

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Matholwch
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Matholwch.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matholwch
> Source revision: 1346297819
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Character in the Second Branch of the Mabinogi

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Matholwch" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

**Matholwch**, King of [Ireland](/source/Ireland), is a character in the [Second Branch](/source/Four_Branches_of_the_Mabinogi) of the *[Mabinogi](/source/Mabinogi)*, the tale of [Branwen](/source/Branwen) ferch [Llŷr](/source/Ll%C5%B7r).[1]

The story opens with [Bendigeidfran](/source/Bendigeidfran) (Bran the Blessed), [giant](/source/Giants_(Welsh_folklore)) and king of [Britain](/source/Great_Britain), sitting on a rock by the sea at [Harlech](/source/Harlech) and seeing the vessels of Matholwch approaching. Matholwch has come to ask for the hand of Bendigeidfran's sister [Branwen](/source/Branwen) in marriage. Bendigeidfran agrees to this, and a feast is held to celebrate the betrothal. While the feast is going on, [Efnisien](/source/Efnisien), a half-brother of Branwen and Bendigeidfran, arrives and asks why there were celebrations. On being told, he is furious that his half-sister has been given in marriage without his consent and vents his spleen by mutilating Matholwch's horses. Matholwch is deeply offended but is conciliated by Bran who gives him *[Pair Dadeni](/source/Pair_Dadeni)*, a magical cauldron known as the cauldron of rebirth, which can bring the dead to life.[2]

Once they are married, Matholwch treats Branwen cruelly and she is forced to work in the kitchens. Branwen tames a [starling](/source/Starling) and gives it a message to carry across the Irish Sea to Bran, who sets out for Ireland to rescue her. When Matholwch sees the giant, he asks for peace and builds a house big enough for him. Matholwch agrees to give the kingdom to [Gwern](/source/Gwern), his son by Branwen. The Irish lords do not like the idea, so they hide themselves in flour bags to attack the Welsh. Efnisien guesses what is happening and kills them by squeezing their heads inside the sacks, then throws Gwern into the fire.

In the ensuing war, all the Irish are killed save for five pregnant women who repopulate the island, while only seven of the Welsh survive to return home with Branwen, taking with them the severed head of Bendigeidfran. On landing in Wales at [Aber Alaw](/source/Aber_Alaw) Branwen dies of grief that so much destruction has been caused on her account.

## See also

- [Mal mac Rochride](/source/Mal_mac_Rochride)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Matholwch", *A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology*](https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100140167)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Cotterell, Arthur (1996). *The encyclopedia of mythology : Classical, Celtic, Norse*. New York. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8317-7324-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8317-7324-3). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [35093422](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/35093422).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

v t e Celtic mythology series Welsh mythology Texts and tales Four Branches of the Mabinogi Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed Branwen ferch Llŷr Manawydan fab Llŷr Math fab Mathonwy Arthurian Culhwch and Olwen Preiddeu Annwfn Pa gur Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain Geraint and Enid Peredur son of Efrawg The Dream of Rhonabwy Geraint son of Erbin Other Book of Taliesin Cad Goddeu Welsh Triads The Dream of Macsen Wledig Englynion y Beddau Giant tales Lludd and Llefelys Characters Afaon fab Taliesin Amaethon Arawn Arianrhod Arthur Afallach Beli Mawr Bleiddwn Blodeuwedd Bedwyr Bendigeidfran Branwen Cai Caradog ap Bran Caswallawn Ceridwen Cigfa Creiddylad Culhwch Cyhyraeth Cyledr Wyllt Cymidei Cymeinfoll Cynon Dôn Drudwas Dylan ail Don Dywel fab Erbin Edern ap Nudd Efnysien Elen Elffin ap Gwyddno Eliwlod Eufydd Euroswydd Geraint Gilfaethwy Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr Goewin Gofannon Goreu fab Custennin Gronw Pebr Gwawl Gwern Gwrhyr Gwyddno Garanhir Gwydion Gwyn ap Nudd Gwythyr Gwalchmei Hafgan Hafren Hefeydd Hueil mab Caw Hychddwn Hyddwn Iddog ap Mynio Idris Llefelys Lleu Llŷr Lludd Llwyd Mabon Madoc ap Uthyr Macsen Wledig Mallt-y-Nos Manawydan Math Matholwch Menw Modron Morfydd Morfran Myrddin Nisien Olwen Penarddun Penpingion Peredur Pryderi Pwyll Rhiannon Saint Cyllin Saint Eigen Sanddef Seithenyn Taliesin Tegid Foel Teyrnon Ysbaddaden Animals and creatures Adar Llwch Gwin Adar Rhiannon Aderyn y Corff Afanc Brenin Llwyd Cath Palug Cavall (Cafall, Cabal) Ceffyl Dŵr Cewri Coblyn Coraniaid Cŵn Annwn Cyhyraeth Dreigiau Red White Gwragedd Annwn Gwyllgi Gwyllion Llamhigyn y Dŵr Morgens Plentyn Newid Pwca Twrch Trwyth Tylwyth Teg Locations Annwn Cornwall (Celliwig) Caer Sidi Cantre'r Gwaelod Dyfed (Arberth, Gwales) Gwynedd (Aberffraw, Arfon, Ardudwy, Caer Dathyl) Ireland London (Ludgate) Items Cross of Neith Excalibur (Caledfwlch) Cauldron of rebirth Llech Ronw Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain Others Awen

This article relating to a Celtic myth or legend is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

- [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Celt-myth-stub)
- [t](/source/Template_talk%3ACelt-myth-stub)
- [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Celt-myth-stub)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Matholwch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matholwch) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matholwch?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.