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Bro Erech (Broerec)
Situated nearest the
Frankish border, Bro Erech (or Broërec) was the
surviving portion of the Vannetais kingdom, once
Cornouaille and
Domnonia
had become separate principalities in their own right. This shrunken Vannetais
continued to bear that name until it was re-titled Bro Erech, the name deriving
from Waroch (as Bro-Waroch), and is first mentioned in the Lives of the Saints.
It is also mentioned by Gregory of Tours, who locates many of the events of his
lifetime near Vannes, presumably an important site in Vannetais
and named after the former (submerged) Vaneti tribe of the area.
All three Armorican principalities were apparently the
equivalent of sub-kingdoms, under the authority of the king of Brittany.
(St Brieuc in modern Brittany may be a survival of the Bro Erech name.) |
c.490 |
The powerful Caradog Freichfras is king of
Gwent in mid-south
Wales,
inheriting the throne through his father, Honorius Ynyr Gwent. Following
his accession he sails across the Channel to found the kingdom of Bro Erech which forms the
heartland of Vannetais and
serves as its largest kingdom.
|
c.490 - c.520/40? |
Caradog Freichfras |
King of
Gwent. Founded the kingdom. |
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The Kinoc of Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the King's of Britain
is probably identifiable with a Kinoc who succeeds St Padarn or Paternus, a
bishop of the British Church in
Wales in the mid-fifth century. Padarn is recalled to
Brittany by 'Prince
Caradoc' (seemingly Caradog Freichfras), to become bishop of Vannes, and
Kinoc replaces him in his position in Wales. |
c.550 - c.570 |
Canao / Chanao |
Killed 3 brothers to secure
kingdom. Macliau saved by St Felix. |
|
560 |
The
Frankish
duke, Chramn of
Aquitaine has several times risen in rebellion against his
father, Chlothar I, but during his final rebellion he has to flee to
Brittany and the court of
Canao. His father pursues him, defeats the combined forces of Chramn and
Canao, and Chramn is strangled and placed in a cottage which is then burned
down. |
c.570 - 577 |
Macliau |
Brthr. Conomor
Domnonia's friend. Killed by Tewdwr
Cornouaille. |
577 |
Jacob |
Son of Macliau. Not crowned.
Killed by Tewdwr of Cornouaille. |
577 - after 594 |
Waroch |
Second son of Macliau. |
bef 594 - c.635? |
Canao II |
Son. |
c.635 |
Upon the death of Gregory of
Tours in 594, no more information on Bro Erech is available. It seems likely that the
principality was merged with Domnonia under Judicaël,
whose great grandmother seems to have been Triphine daughter of Waroch. Bro Erech would
have been Judicaël's inheritance after the death of Canao II. |
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