Chanao I or Canao, son of king

Waroch I Waroch I ( br, Gwereg; modern french: Guérech; ) was an early ruler of the Bro Wened (Vannetais) in southern Brittany. It is unclear whether he or his grandson Waroch II is the namesake of the region. Life Waroch controlled the hinterland of th ...

, was king of Vannetais in 550–560. Chanao claimed power over the whole south of Breton

Armorica Armorica or Aremorica (Gaulish: ; br, Arvorig, ) is the name given in ancient times to the part of Gaul between the Seine and the Loire that includes the Brittany Peninsula, extending inland to an indeterminate point and down the Atlantic Coast ...

and used political assassination to achieve his ends.

Biography

Chanao was the brother of Macliau,

bishop of Vannes The Roman Catholic Diocese of Vannes (Latin: ''Dioecesis Venetensis''; French: ''Diocèse de Vannes'') is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. Erected in the 5th century, the Episcopal see is Vannes Cathedral in ...

. He killed three of his brothers to ensure complete control of the throne. Macliau, the last survivor, was the prisoner of his brother, who wanted to kill him as well. Felix,

bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

Nantes Nantes (, , ; Gallo: or ; ) is a city in Loire-Atlantique on the Loire, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the sixth largest in France, with a population of 314,138 in Nantes proper and a metropolitan area of nearly 1 million inhabita ...

, was able to release him on the condition that he swear allegiance. Chanao, learning that his brother wanted to break his oath, pursued him again. Macliau, powerless, fled to

Conomor Conomor ( ), also known as Conomerus or Conomor the Cursed, was an early medieval ruler of Brittany. His name, which has the Welsh cognate Cynfawr, means "Great Dog", but could also indicate "Sea Dog" in early Brythonic. Conomor was notorious for ...

, another regional count. 6th-century Breton people Armorica {{europe-royal-stub