Judicael of Domnonée

Son of King Judhael, he became king of Domnonée in northern Brittany after already spending years at the monastery of Saint-Jean-de-Gaël. His reign comes down to one episode that Fredegar tells in detail: Dagobert I, whose marches the Bretons had raided, demanded redress; Judicael came to Clichy in 636, acknowledged Frankish overlordship and obtained peace. Then, the agreement made, he refused to sit at the royal banquet — because he was fasting, or because he judged the court too dissolute, says the chronicle — and went to sup with the referendary Dado, the future St Ouen, who lived more soberly. The trait made his reputation. He abdicated soon after in his brother's favour and returned to the monastery, where he died around 658.