General Notes

Name Prefix:<NPFX> King of Dumnonia & Brittany
The House of Meriadoc.

Conan Meriadoc, King of Dumnonia & Brittany

(Welsh, Cynan/Latin, Conanus/English, Conan)

Conan was the son of Octavius the Old's brother, Gerontius, (or Octavius himself according to the "Dream of Macsen Wledig") and had
expected to inherit his uncle's kingdom. Originally, he was considerably put out by the rise to power of his cousin's husband, Magnus
Maximus, and he organised a rebellion against him, aided by Picts & Scots. However, being defeated, Conan became great friends with
his rival and travelled with Maximus to the continent to help him become Emperor of the West. He was given Brittany as a reward for
killing the previous holder of the title. His new Kingdom, was well settled by his men-at-arms, however they lacked wives. Therefore, in
order to populate the area, he sent to his uncle's old ally, King Donaut of Dumnonia for numerous Cornish ladies. Conan proposed to
cement the alliance of their two peoples by marrying Donaut's daughter, Ursula. Though Dunaut was delighted at the match, Ursula had
her heart set on a life devoted only to God. She agreed to the marriage, on the condition that she first be allowed to go on a pilgrimage
throughout Europe. Conan appears to have joined her in Rome, where the two must have been married, probably by Pope Cyriacus
himself. He apparently did not travel to Cologne where Ursula died. In later years, he inherited Dumnonia from his father-in-law. Brittany
& Dumnonia were united for only a short time, for, as his second wife, Conan married St.Patrick's sister, Dareca of Ireland, and he left
one each of his Kingdoms to the sons of his two marriages. He probably died about 395.