European Kingdoms

Breton March (Duces Cenomannici) / Nantes (Merovingian Franks)

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The north-western corner of today's France was known during the Roman period as Armorica. The tribe of the Veneti had been the most powerful of Armorica's tribes, and that name gradually changed during the Roman occupation to be applied to the territory itself as Vannetais.

This was how Armorica was initially known to Britons who began migrating there in the fourth century AD, during a period in which British town life appears to have declined. Traditional certainly maintains that the British colony in Armorica was founded before the expedition of Constantine III in 407.

The fortunes of Nantes fluctuated somewhat following its initial occupation by Britons in the fifth century. To the east, in Gaul, the waning power of the Western Roman empire and the fluctuating fortunes of the Visigoths were replaced by a new threat in the form of the Franks.

They had a new, ambitious king in the form of Clovis. Rather than cooperate with his Roman neighbours in Soissons he conquered them, along with any other Frankish kings who opposed him. He quickly created a single Frankish kingdom which he was able to hand on to his sons.

Nantes was subsumed for a time within Clovis' creation of a 'Breton March' or borderland, which was designed to keep the Bretons contained within Armorica and prevent any further eastwards expansion. A series of military commanders were appointed to control the march and maintain its border, although information on them can often be sketchy, limited often to the mention of a specific campaign and little more.

Principal author(s): Page created: Page last updated:

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by Geoffrey Tobin and Edward Dawson, from Brittany: Many Kingdoms or One?, Jean-Michel Pognat, from Province and Empire: Brittany and the Carolingians, Julia M H Smith, part of The Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought series (1992), from The Ethnology of Germany Part 3: The Migration of the Saxons, Henry H Howorth (Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol 7, 1878), from The History of the Franks, Volume II, Gregory of Tours (O M Dalton, Trans, 1967), from The History of Normandy and of England, Francis Palgrave (1864), from Les Ancêtres de Charlemagne, Christian Settipani (Paris, 1989), from Addendum to the Ancestors of Charlemagne, Christian Settipani (Paris, 1990), from Vita Karoli Magni (Life of Charles the Great), Einhard, from Atlas historique mondial, Georges Duby (Larousse, 1978), and from Genealogy of the Kings of France, Claude Wenzler (Editions Ouest-France, Rennes, 2008), and from External Links: The Works of Julius Caesar: Gallic Wars, and PopulationData.net, and Le Mans Roman Walls (Spotting History).)

c.486 - 509?

A Frankish 'Minor King', Rignomer, gains Le Mans from the fall of Soissons. The city of Le Mans is the former Civitas Cenomanorum, capital of the Gaulish Aulerci Cenomani people.

It still retains most of its Roman city walls (in fact even today the walls form one of the most intact Roman city walls still in existence). The name Le Mans is a Frankish Latin corruption of the original Roman Latin name, first appearing as Celmans ('cel'- being the early Frankish form of the modern 'le').

The Frankish kingdom expanded rapidly between AD 481-511, as demonstrated by this map (click or tap on map to view full sized)

Given the location, Rignomer clearly commands the defence of Frankish territories against incursions from the neighbouring Bretons.

As far as the Bretons themselves are concerned, after mentions of Riothamus over twenty years before, the only other historically confirmed fact for early Romano-British Brittany of the fifth century is that the town of Blois is captured in 491 by the Frankish King Clovis, probably the eastern limits of territory occupied by the Britons within Gaul (Chronicles of Anjou).

Clovis also captures the city of Nantes which he uses as a headquarters for a 'Breton March', designed to contain the Bretons to its west. Vannetais now largely assumes the more traditional borders of Brittany.

Although not documented, Rignomer may be the first commander under the authority of Clovis. His location at Le Mans would form the seat of most future commanders of the march so this idea seems logical. However, Rignomer is seen as a rival by Clovis. As such he is swiftly dispatched at some point by 509, shortly after his two brothers.

Le Mans cannot have been a Frankish kingdom until after 486 and the fall of Soissons, placing the murders of the three brothers between these two dates (486-509). Their territories are annexed by Clovis.

The baptism of Clovis in Reims in 496 made him the only barbarian Christian king and won him increased support from his former Roman subjects in Gaul. This romantic recreation of the event was by François-Louis Dejuinne (1786-1844), completed in 1837

c.486 - 509?

Minor King of the Franks. Commanded the Breton March?

c.491 - 511

King of the Franks. Created the Breton March.

511

On the death of Clovis, the kingdom is divided between his four sons, each ruling Austrasia, Orleans, Paris, and Soissons. Chlothar, king of Soissons is nominally the senior king of the Franks (Chlothar is also credited with establishing the basis of early Frankish monarchy in Gaul).

Three other Frankish regions, Bordeaux, Aquitaine and Auvergne lie to the south of Orleans. Bordeaux is held by the king of Paris, while Auvergne is part of the territory of Austrasia. Who holds Aquitaine is not known, but it seems likely that it is Frankish vassals who are contesting with the Visigoths to secure the region. The commander of the Breton March is entirely unknown at this time.

? - 593

King of Burgundy. Count of the Breton March?

587 - 590

Gunthchramn of Burgundy compels Waroch of Bro Erech to renew his oath in writing and demands a thousand solidi in compensation for raiding Nantes. The city clearly remains a Frankish possession, still part of the Breton March, although why it is Gunthchramn of distant Burgundy who is doing the demanding is unclear.

The founder of the Merovingian Frankish kingdom was Clovis, who followed an aggressive policy of conquest to build up the kingdom over much of modern France (click or tap on map to view full sized)

The possibility exists that he may be fulfilling the role of military governor of the Breton March. That compensation has not been paid by 588, even though Waroch has promised it both to Gunthchramn and Chlothar II of the Franks.

In 589 or 590, Gunthchramn sends an expedition against Waroch under the command of Beppolem and Ebrachain. Ebrachain is an enemy of Fredegund, queen consort to the late King Chilperic, and it is she who sends the Saxons of Bayeux to aid Waroch.

Beppolem fights Waroch alone for three days before dying, at which point Waroch attempts to flee to the Channel Islands. Ebrachain destroys his ships and forces him to accept renewed peace, the renewal of his oath, and surrendering a nephew as a hostage. Despite all of this, the Bretons retain their spirit of independence and refuse to be cowed by the powerful Franks.

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 is united with Domnonia under Judicaël, whose great-grandmother seems to have been Triphine, daughter of Waroch. Bro Erech is likely to be Judicaël's inheritance after the death of Canao II.

Vannetais was created during the late fourth century AD, enjoying a peak of expansion and power up until 491 (click or tap on map to view full sized)

However, Bro Erech's land seems to be divided at some point, and for a time may not even be under Brittany's control. The Frankish 'Breton March' at Nantes has been designed to contain the Bretons, with Rennes and Vannes included in this borderland. It is only with Brittany's resurgence in the ninth century that these areas are regained fully by the Bretons.

c.700

At this stage a little more recorded history emerges for the region around Nantes. Chrotgar is duke of Le Mans, the former minor kingdom of Rignomer (see AD 486, above). Given this fact, it is quite likely that he is also the commander of the Frankish defences against potential attacks by the Bretons to the immediate west.

He is also the son or grandson of Chrodbert (Robert, sometimes shown as Chrodbert II to distinguish him from his uncle or grandfather of the same name), chancellor to Chlothar III of Neustria and possibly the ancestor of the later Robertians who rule West Francia from AD 888 as the counts of Paris (the later Capetian dynasty).

A medieval map of the city of Paris in the tenth century AD under the rule of Hugh Capet, although by this time Paris had declined from its two periods of greatness under the Romans and the Merovingians, although this map clearly shows the importance of the island at the city's heart

fl 710s

Son of Chrodbert, chancellor of Neustria. Duke of Le Mans.

fl 723

Son. Dux Cenomannici.

fl 723

In 723, Charivius, son of Chrotgar, duke of Le Mans, seizes the revenues of the diocese of Le Mans and, upon the death of Bishop Herlemund, takes control of the see, appointing his own son as bishop.

Charivius is also the first-known dux Cenomannici (duke of the Cenomani, formerly a division of the Aulerci confederation of tribes in north-western Gaul), clearly with a broader remit than that of the dukes of Le Mans to hold the Breton March. This new role may be a reflection of the growing power of the Carolingian mayor of the palace, Charles Martel.

748 - 749

Son of Mayor of the Palace Charles Martel. Dux Cenomannici.

748 - 749

Grifo, the son of Charles Martel, the late Carolingian mayor of the palace, by his second wife now escapes from imprisonment in a monastery, a punishment organised by his half-brother, Pepin III the Short.

Grifo receives support from his maternal great-uncle, Duke Odilo of Bavaria, which seems to see him commanding the Breton March for around a year. Upon Odilo's death late in 748, Grifo briefly seizes command of the Bavarians before being ousted by Pepin. His fight continues until he is killed in battle in 753.

Nantes was founded at the head of the River Loire estuary, at the confluence of the Erdre and the Sèvre, although rapid development from the twentieth century onwards has greatly changed it from the medieval town it once was

751

With the blessing of Pope Zachary, Pepin III, the Carolingian mayor of the palace deposes King Childeric and the Merovingian royal house and takes control of the empire (Childeric is sent to a monastery and dies in 755).

Pepin is crowned at Soissons in 752 and Saint-Denis in 754, and thereafter benefits from the legitimacy acquired by the creator of the Frankish kingdom, Clovis I. Neustria, Austrasia, and Burgundy are merged permanently within the empire, and the former two names eventually fade from common usage.

? - 778

Nephew of Charlemagne. Military governor of 'Breton March'.

778

Charlemagne campaigns against the Umayyad Arabs in Iberia. Tradition asserts that Charlemagne grants the Andorran people a charter in return for their help in fighting the Moors of the Islamic empire, possibly following this campaign.

However, while the Frankish army is returning northwards, Charlemagne's rearguard is cut off and attacked by rebellious Basques at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass. The commander of the Frankish forces is Roland, military governor of the Breton March (referred to by Einhard as Brittannici limitis praefectus (prefect of the borders of Brittany)).

He and his men stand their ground, falling in such valiant fashion that the example is later incorporated into the knightly code of chivalry (Roland is immortalised in The Song of Roland).

The Song of Roland (La Chanson de Roland) was an eleventh century poem by an anonymous author which covered the events of the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778, shown here in an illustration from a fourteenth century manuscript

Roland's position as military governor is a separate level of command from that of the duces Cenomannici. In this position Roland is replaced by one Guy of Nantes, from a relatively obscure Austrasian noble family. During his tenure, the post switches from a purely military one along the march to that of overseeing the administration of a county. He is able to pass on his new title, count of Nantes, to his son.

c.799 - 814

An Austrasian. First count of Nantes and the Breton March.

790 - 811

Son of Charlemagne of the Franks. Dux Cenomannici. Died.

c.800

Despite the claims of the Frankish Duke Wido (presumably Guido of Nantes) on his expedition through Brittany around the year 800, Brittany is still not a Frankish subject, remaining unconquered by the Carolingians. This is despite the mighty Charlemagne having created a vast European kingdom following his conquest of several hard-fighting German states and tribes.

Charles 'the Younger', king of West Francia under Charlemagne following the latter's assumption of the role of emperor, and dux Cenomannici and commander of the Breton March, may be the instigator behind Wido's expedition. It is known that Charles defeats two attempted Breton rebellions during his time in this post.

806 - 814

By the Act of Thionville in 806, Charlemagne announces the division of the vast Frankish empire between his three sons. By 814, Pepin in Italy has already predeceased his father (810), as has Charles 'the Younger', dux Cenomannici of the Breton March and also king of West Francia under Charlemagne following the latter's assumption of the role of emperor (suffering a stroke in 811), so Louis 'the Pious' is crowned Frankish emperor at Aix-la-Chapelle.

Under Charlemagne's leadership, the Franks greatly expanded their borders eastwards, engulfing tribal states, the Bavarian state and its satellite, Khorushka, and much of northern Italy, with the Avars now an eastern neighbour (click or tap on map to view full sized)

811 - 817

Son of Louis 'the Pious' (Franks). King of East Francia (840).

817 - 831

Brother. Dux Cenomannici. King of Francia Media (818).

818

King Louis 'the Pious' (Louis-le-Pieux), of the Frankish empire, sends Abbot Witchar to negotiate with King Morvan of Brittany, which fails. Louis assembles an army in the spring of 818 at Vannes, within the 'Breton March'. With Lambert of Nantes in support, he launches a series of attacks against various Breton fortresses and, after Morvan is killed in battle, resistance collapses. The Chronicle of Moissac records Louis returning with a 'triumph of victory', although the Bretons revolt again in 822 under Wiomarch.

824

From the seventh century onwards the Franks try to force the Bretons to submit to their power. The Bretons steadfastly refused to bend under the yoke and become the vassals of their powerful neighbours. Instead they regularly overcome attempts at domination by the Franks.

Charlemagne unified all the Frankish states under one ruler and created an empire which stretched deep into modern Germany, something the Romans had never managed - but this vast domain was too big to endure long as a single entity after his death

In order to put a stop to these rebellions, Louis 'the Pious' now appoints Nominoë as the first duke of Brittany and chief of the Vannetais (824). However, placing Nominoë as first duke of Brittany in 824 appears to contradict the entries for Wiomarch and Lowenen until 837. Even more importantly here, Wiomarch is killed by Lambert of Nantes.

831 - 838

Brother. Dux Cenomannici. King of Aquitaine (814-838). Died.

838 - 851

Brother. Dux Cenomannici. Later Charles II of West Francia.

843

Fighting in support of Charles 'the Bald' during the Frankish succession crisis of 840-843 is Lambert II, presumed heir of the county of Nantes, who feels somewhat aggrieved when Count Renaud of Herbauges is appointed count of Nantes instead of him. Lambert sides with Nominoë of Brittany, Renaud is killed trying to attack them, and Lambert gains his county as a Breton ally.

845

With the accession of Charles 'the Bald' (Charles-le-Chauve) to the throne of West Francia, Duke Nominoë of Vannes has been acting entirely independently as the rightful king of the Bretons. Charles sends an army to quell this upstart but it is defeated at Ballon, near Redon (845).

This map shows the division of the Carolingian empire between Charlemagne's three surviving grandsons according to the Treaty of Verdun in AD 843 (click or tap on map to view full sized)

The ambitious Nominoë, count of Vannes, does not settle for only one victory. Instead he boldly goes on to conquer Rennes and Nantes (with the help and support of Lambert of Nantes), as well as the provinces of Maine and Anjou, both at the heart of the Breton March.

851/3 - 856

Dux & missus dominicus. Rebelled. Count of Nantes (861).

851/3

Robert 'the Strong' is father to Odo who, in 888, is offered the throne of West Francia by the great lords. The ousted king, Charles 'the Fat', takes refuge in the monastery of Reichenau in Alemannia (Swabia) where he dies the following year. Robert later returns as the count of Nantes (in 861) and is also the ancestor of Hugh 'the Great', count of Paris, and his own son, Hugh Capet, founder of the Capetian dynasty of French kings.

856 - 858

Son of Charles 'the Bald'. Ruled West Francia & Aquitaine.

856 - 858

By now the position of dux Cenomannici has evolved from a frontier post to one of retaining and maintaining a more settled division of counties within the aegis of the Frankish empire. The twelve counties of the march and a court at Le Mans are given to Louis 'the Stammerer' by his father, making him the last of the duces Cenomannici.

A medieval map of the city of Paris in the tenth century AD, under the rule of Hugh Capet, descendant of Robert 'the Strong', dux & missus dominicus

However, the county of Maine (Le Man) has already existed since 832, created by Louis 'the Pious', and from the 860s this seems to fulfil most of the surviving duties in regard to a reorganised Breton March which is now one of the two marches of Neustria (from 861).

Robert 'the Strong' returns to act as the first margrave for the new march while the county, governed by a separate line, survives as a recognisable title until the seventeenth century when the title is inherited by the king of France himself, although by that time it has long since ceased to have any concerns about hostile Bretons who for now remain dominant in Nantes.