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Bres was a mythical High King of Ireland and king of the Tuatha Dé Danann. His father Elatha, was a Fomorian. His mother Ériu (who later gave her name to Éire, the name of Ireland), was a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann. His wife was Brigid. He was beautiful to behold, but harsh of personality. He was given the epithet "the Beautiful" his beauty came from his mother side of the family, the formorians were all ugly except Bres.  

Bres became High King because his predecessor Nuada, lost his arm in the Battle of Magh Tuiredh. As High Kings had to have "perfect bodies" that is, nothing missing), Bres was elected king, in an attempt to reconcile the Tuatha Dé Danann and Fomorians. He was unpopular as a king because he preferred his Fomorian relatives and made his subjects work for them. He neglected the laws of hospitality.

When Nuada's hand was replaced, Bres was exiled and went to his father for assistance. Elatha refused to help his son recover the throne so Bres went elsewhere, to Balor, another of the Fomorians. With military assistance, Bres led the Fomorians against the Tuatha Dé Danann in the Second Battle of Magh Tuiredh. He was defeated but his life was spared by Lugh, who told him to teach the Tuatha Dé Danann agriculture. The name Bres also is similar to Ceres the Roman Goddess of Agriculture an also the fact that Ceres was about agriculture as well its possible these two deities were the same being.

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