Domnonée is the modern French form of Domnonia or Dumnonia (

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

for "

Devon Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...

"; ), a historic kingdom in northern Armorica ( Brittany) founded by British immigrants from Dumnonia ( Sub-Roman

) fleeing the Saxon invasions of Britain in the early Middle Ages. Headed by the same ruling family, it was variously separated from or united with its motherland, and its Latin name was used for both indiscriminately. The mainland territory of Domnonée included Trégor, Dol-de-Bretagne through to Goélo, and Penthièvre.

History

At the time of the Roman conquest of Gaul, the rough area of later Domnonée was held by the pagan Curiosolite Gauls. Domnonée is said to have been founded in the 4th century by Christian Briton immigrants; it greatly expanded in the wake of subsequent waves of refugees from the Saxon invasions of Britain. Domnonée retained close political links between the Celtic territories in Great Britain (

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

, Cornwall,

), and the newly created Brittany. Many kings, princes, clerics and other leaders came over from Great Britain. The sea was a unifying rather than divisive factor. In the traditions relating to the settlement of Brittany by the Bretons there are several kingdoms of this kind.Nora Kershaw Chadwick, ''Celtic Kingdoms'' A number of legends and lives of Breton saints contain references to the close political ties between religious communities in Wales and Brittany. The close proximity resulted in possessions on both sides of the Channel by some religious orders. For example, the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Beauport, before Henry VIII, had parishes on the coast of Goélo and in Devon. It has been suggested that the British and Breton branches were unified for a period. Conomor, who was killed fighting Clotaire I, king of the Franks, is referred to in stories from both Great Britain and Brittany. He would have been a British military leader who was guarding the

English Channel The English Channel, also known as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Southern England from northern France. It links to the southern part of the North Sea by the Strait of Dover at its northeastern end. It is the busi ...

from attacks by pirates, perhaps in alliance with Childebert I, son of Clovis I. In 1034, the term was used to designate the ''comté'' of Penthièvre said to be the preserve of Eudes, second son of Geoffrey I, Duke of Brittany. The name disappeared shortly after.

History of the Principality of Dumnonia or Domnonée

Situated to the north east of Brittany, the earliest princes are mentioned in several Lives of the Saints. The three Armorican principalities were all subservient to the King of Brittany. Until the reign of Jonas, the rulers of Domnonia were titled princes. After that, they supply the Kings of the Bretons, and Domnonia itself was elevated as a result.

List of rulers

*St. Fracan *Riwal I. *Conan *?–513: Conothec *513–520: Riwal II, brother of Saint Pompeia of Langoat *520–530: Deroch *530–535: Riathen *535–540: Jonas *540: St. Judual *540-554: Conomor, regent and usurper *554–580: St. Judual (again) *580–605: St. Judhael *605–610: Judicaël († 652) *610–615: Haeloch *615–640: Judicael (again; † 652)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Domnonee Medieval Brittany States and territories established in the 4th century States and territories disestablished in the 1030s Dumnonia Geography of Brittany History of Devon Barbarian kingdoms Armorica