The Austrasian Nobles Force Dagobert I to Install Sigebert III (c. 633 CE)

By 633 CE, King Dagobert I, despite being the most powerful Merovingian ruler of his time, is compelled by the Austrasian nobility to place his three-year-old son, Sigebert III, on the throne of Austrasia. This marks a significant concession to the aristocracy, as Dagobert effectively cedes direct royal power in Austrasia, creating a sub-kingdom ruled by a child under noble influence.

1. The Rise of Aristocratic Power in Austrasia

• The Austrasian nobility had long sought greater autonomy from the central Frankish monarchy, resisting Neustrian domination.
• Facing internal pressure, Dagobert I is forced to install his infant son, Sigebert III, as a figurehead king, allowing the nobles to govern Austrasia in his name.
• This event accelerates the decline of Merovingian royal authority, paving the way for the increasing power of the Mayors of the Palace, who will later surpass the kings in real influence.

Judicael of Domnonée Submits to Dagobert I but Insults Him (635–636 CE)

Around 635–636 CE, Judicael, High King of Domnonée in northern Brittany, travels to King Dagobert I's palace in Clichy to pledge allegiance to the Frankish crown. Under threat of invasion, he submits to Frankish lordship and arrives bearing gifts, yet insults Dagobert by refusing to dine at the royal table, highlighting the tense relationship between the Franks and the Bretons.

1. Domnonée: A Breton Kingdom with British Roots

• Domnonée was founded in the fourth century by Romano-British migrants from Dumnonia (modern Devon and Cornwall), who fled Anglo-Saxon incursions.
• By the early seventh century, Domnonée had become a strong Breton kingdom, resisting Frankish expansion into Brittany.
• Judicael, as its high king, sought to preserve Breton autonomy despite increasing Frankish pressure.

2. The Meeting at Clichy: A Forced Submission

• Facing the threat of a Frankish invasion, Judicael reluctantly agrees to meet Dagobert I at his palace in Clichy, northwest of Paris.
• He arrives with diplomatic gifts, signifying his formal submission to Frankish overlordship.
• This meeting demonstrates Frankish dominance over Brittany, at least nominally, reinforcing the kingdom’s tributary status.

3. The Insult: Judicael Refuses to Dine with Dagobert

• Despite his submission, Judicael offends Dagobert by refusing to eat at the royal table, an act seen as a direct insult to the Frankish king.
• This gesture of defiance may have been an attempt to assert Breton independence, signaling that while he acknowledged Frankish supremacy, he would not fully integrate into the Frankish court culture.
• Dagobert, though angered, does not immediately retaliate, likely calculating that military intervention in Brittany would be costly and ineffective.

4. The Aftermath and Breton Autonomy

• Though Judicael pledges fealty to Dagobert, his actions suggest that Brittany remains largely autonomous, despite Frankish claims of overlordship.
• The Bretons continue to resist full Frankish integration, maintaining their distinct cultural and political identity well into the medieval period.
• Later, Brittany will again challenge Frankish rule, with the struggle for control over the peninsula persisting into the Carolingian era.

Conclusion: A Diplomatic Victory with Lingering Tensions

Judicael’s visit to Clichy (635–636 CE) represents a temporary submission of Domnonée to Frankish rule, but his refusal to dine with Dagobert I signals continued Breton resistance to foreign domination. This episode exemplifies the complex relationship between the Franks and the Bretons, where military threats secured political pledges, but cultural and regional autonomy remained intact.

The Political Structure of Brittany and Its Relationship with the Franks (6th–7th Century CE)

Throughout the sixth and seventh centuries, the Bretons were divided into several minor kingdoms (regna), of which the best known—according to Gregory of Tours—were:

• Domnonée (Domnonia) – Likely the chief kingdom, originating from Dumnonian migrants from Britain.
• Cornouaille – Centered in western Brittany, corresponding to modern Cornouaille.
• Gwened (Vannes/Venetis) – A key coastal power, often in conflict with the Franks.

While initially acknowledging Frankish overlordship under Clovis I and Childebert I, the Bretons made multiple attempts to resist Frankish rule, particularly during the reign of Chilperic I, who subdued Waroch II and reasserted Frankish dominance over eastern Brittany.

By the seventh century, under Guntram and Dagobert I, Brittany remained a Frankish tributary-vassal state, though it retained de facto autonomy under its local kings.

1. Domnonée’s Rise as the Chief Breton Kingdom

• By the early seventh century, Domnonée appears to have consolidated power over neighboring Breton territories, including Broweroch.
• The rulers of Domnonée likely continued as High Kings of the Bretons, giving them a dominant political status in the region.
• Domnonian kings are now listed as “Kings of the Bretons”, reinforcing their supremacy over the other minor kingdoms.

2. King Judicael: The High King of the Bretons (c. 610–640 CE)

• According to the Chronicle of Fredegar, the reigning King of the Bretons at this time was Judicael, son of Hoel III (580–612 CE).
• It is highly probable that he was the same Judicael known from Breton tradition, who ruled Domnonée and expanded his authority over Brittany.
• This would mean that Domnonée had effectively absorbed Broweroch, and Judicael had become the High King of Brittany.

3. Judicael’s Dealings with Dagobert I and Eligius

• Judicael’s increased power likely explains why he was involved in diplomatic interactions with King Dagobert I and Saint Eligius, a Frankish court official.
• His meeting with Dagobert at Clichy (635–636 CE) suggests that he was recognized as the principal ruler of the Bretons, pledging nominal submission to the Frankish crown while retaining internal autonomy.

4. The Lasting Impact of Domnonian Supremacy

• Domnonée’s dominance over Brittany during this period set a precedent for later Breton rule, where the title “King of the Bretons” would continue to be used.
• Though Brittany remained a tributary to the Franks, it resisted full integration, maintaining a distinct identity and political independence.
• The struggle between Breton autonomy and Frankish overlordship would continue for centuries, shaping the future of medieval Brittany.

Conclusion: The Unification of Brittany Under Domnonée

The evidence suggests that by the seventh century, Domnonée had effectively become the chief Breton state, with Judicael serving as High King of the Bretons. His dealings with Dagobert I and Saint Eligius reflect Brittany’s continued vassalage to the Franks, but also its strong regional identity and resistance to direct Frankish control. This period marks an important phase of consolidation for the Breton kingdoms, setting the stage for their ongoing struggle for independence in the medieval era.

Gwynedd and much of Wales is in the grasp of famine.

Would-be king Cadwaladr Fendigaid flees to Brittany.

Civil war continues in his kingdom.