Post-Roman Celtic Kingdoms

Kings of the Bretons (Vannetais / Britanni / Brittany)

Although the principalities of Bro Erech, Cornouaille, Domnonia, Leon and Poher, are mentioned often in Brittany, whenever the Bretons had dealings outside their borders only one King of the Bretons is mentioned. It seems highly likely that these many principalities were the equivalent of the mainland British sub-kingdoms, ruled over by a single monarch in much the same way as the High Kings of Britain ruled.

The colony's first king, Conan Meriadog, ruled Brittany as the Kingdom of Vannetais, maintaining the local Gaul tribal name. The usual Celtic practice of dividing territory between sons created the smaller principalities out of Vannetais during the course of the fifth and sixth centuries. The old name of Vannetais appears to have fallen out of use after its last remnant was renamed Bro Erech, and the high kings of the colony simply termed themselves Kings of the Bretons, or Brittany.

After circa 600, the kings of Domnonia appear to have gained precedence over the others, always likely as this was Armorica's strongest principality. From Iudicael onwards, the kings of Domnonia were also the Kings of the Bretons for as long as Brittany was fully independent.

The pedigree of the kings in the seventh and eighth centuries is not certain, but Jean-Michel Pognat has put forward a believable construction, which to an extent is used here (in plum). Although Brittany extended as far as Blois until 491, the land holdings outside its traditional borders are vaguely described, and may not even have been part of Brittany's accepted territory.

c.340 - c.387

Conan Meriadog / Conanus

First King of Vannetais & Prince of Dumnonia. d.421?

383 - 388

Magnus Maximus, High King of Britannia, is credited by Geoffrey of Monmouth with setting up Octavius' rebellious nephew, Conan Meriadoc, as High King of Armorica. By 388, as a result of Maximus' defeat, a large number of his surviving troops appear to settle in Armorica.

c.387? - c.400?

Erbin

Son. His half brother Gadion (?Gradlon) ruled Dumnonia.

c.400? - 434

Gradlon Mawr (the Great)

Son. Known by the monk, Wrdisten.

406 - 411

Constantine

High King of Britain. Constantine III of Rome.

410 - ?

Ivomadus

Probably part of Constantine's army. Occupied Blois.

418

Although still nominally within the Roman empire, Armorica is in a persistent state of revolt and is almost fully independent of Rome.

434 - 446

Salomon I

Son of Gradlon Mawr.

Gwidol ap Gradlon

Son of Gradlon Mawr. Became Prince of Domnonia.

c.440

Taking advantage of the political turmoil in Britain, a revolt of the Saxon foederati ravages the island. Migrations of Britons to Gaul take place, especially to British-controlled Armorica, due to the social instability caused by this devastating event.

446 - 464

Aldrien ap Selyfan

Son. Elder brother of Constantine III, former High King.

451

The almost-fully independent Armoricans send units of troops to fight alongside Rome in order to halt the advance of the Huns at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains.

c.464 - c.468

Budig I

Son.

? - 469

Riothamus

Fought the Visigoth King Euric (Jordanes).

469

The Visigoths have to fight a combined imperial army consisting of Romans, troops from Soissons under Comes Paulus, Burgundian foederati, and joint federate Armorican Britons under Riothamus. During the campaign, Rothamus occupies and then loses Bourges, and the Britanni survivors of the battle vanish from history when the campaign fails. Soissons and Armorica are cut off from Rome.

c.470

Maxenri * (Méliau) ap Budig I

He & his brother supposedly fled Aircol of Dyfed's court c.480.

c.472

Rhiwod ap Budig

c.472 - 478

Erich ap Aldrien

478 - 544

Budig II (alias Emyr Llydaw) ap Erich

511

On the death of Clovis, king of the Franks, the kingdom is divided between his four sons. The Frankish kingdoms of Orleans and Paris are formed on Brittany's eastern border.

544?

Hoel I Mawr

Son.

544? - ?

Daniel Unua

Prince of Cornouaille. Grandson of Budig I.

c.560 - 577

Tewdr Mawr (the Great)

King of Brittany & Penwith (northwest Cornubian cantref).

577 - 635?

Alain I

Grandson of Budig II. Son Gradlon was prince of Cornouaille.

? - 612?

Hoel III

Son.

? - c.658?

Salomon II

Son.

c.630

Iudicael

Judicaël, King of Domnonia.

? - 690

Alain II Hir (the Tall) / Urbien

Son.

One of Alain's sons is Budic. Budic's son, Miliau, becomes patron saint of a town in the east of the former principality of Leon which later bears his name - Guimiliau. Miliau himself is beheaded in 792 on the orders of his brother.

c.700

Urbon

Son.

c.730

Judon

Son.

c.760

Custantin

Son.

c.790

Argant

Son.

795 - 826

Frodaldus

Joined by co-rulers?

bef 815 - 818

Morvan / Murman

Not a member of the ruling family.

818 - 826

Wiomarch

Son of Argant.

826 - 837

Lowenen

Son. Father of Roiantdreh, who adopted Salomon.

837 - 851

Nominoe

Son of Erispoe (Elder). Obscure ruler.

851 - 857

Erispoe (Younger)

Son. Obscure ruler.

857 - 874

Salomon

Adopted by Roiantdreh to ensure continuity of the House.

874 - 888

Brittany is overrun by Vikings.

888 - 907

Alain I the Great

Numbering doesn't seem to account for two earlier Alains.

907 - 922

Brittany is again overrun by Vikings.

922 - 923

Raoul

923 - 936

Brittany is overrun by the Viking-descended Normans.

936 - 952

Alain II

936

By this time, France had finally suppressed a weakened Brittany, and the kings assume the title of Duke of Brittany, although they maintain much of their independence until 1532.

952 - 958

Drogo

958 - 970

Brittany is partially ruled by the Counts of Rennes.

970 - 992

Conan I the Crooked

992 - 1008

Geoffrey / Godfrey I

1008 - 1040

Alain III

1040 - 1056

Eudes / Odo I

1056 - 1066

Conan II

1066 - 1084

Hoel IV / Houel / Huuel

Prince of Cornouaille.

1084 - 1112

Alain IV Fergant

Son.

1112 - 1148

Conan III the Fat

Son.

1148 - 1156

Bertha

1148 - 1156

Eudes II

1148 - 1156

Hoel V

1156 - 1171

Conan IV

1166

Henry II of England controls the duchy.

1171 - 1187

Constance

m Prince Arthur, son of Henry II of England. d.1201.

1181 - 1186

Geoffrey II

1187 - 1203

Arthur I

Murdered by his uncle, John of England.

1203 - 1221

Alice

Dau of Constance.

1213 - 1250

Peter I

m Alice.

1221 - 1286

John I the Red

1286 - 1305

John II

1305 - 1312

Arthur II

1312 - 1341

Charles of Blois

1341 - 1364

War of the Breton Succession.

1364 - 1399

John IV

1399 - 1442

John V

1442 - 1450

Francis I

1450 - 1457

Peter II

1457 - 1458

Arthur III

1458 - 1488

Francis II

Died in a riding accident.

1488 - 1514

Anne

Dau.

1491

Anne, the last duchess of Brittany, is forced into an arranged marriage with Charles VIII of France, following his invasion of the duchy to prevent her marrying the Habsburg HRE, Maximilian I.

1499

Now widowed, Anne marries King Louis XII of France.

1514 - 1524

Claude / Claudia

Dau. Nominally in control.

1532

Claudia marries Francis II of France and the Union Treaty of Vannes is signed, permanently uniting the duchy to France.