Capture of Vannes and Waroch’s war against Chilperic

In 578, a year after Macliau’s death, Waroch seized Vannes (episcopal seat) and imposed his rule over Bro Waroch. Chilperic I raised an army (Touraine, Poitou, Bessin, Maine, Anjou, etc.) that camped along the Vilaine. The Saxons of the Bessin were beaten by the Bretons at Pléchâtel (near the Roman bridge of Port-Neuf). Waroch then negotiated peace: recognition of the conquest of Vannes in return for an annual tribute, guaranteed by his son as hostage — then denounced the treaty via Bishop Eunius, who was deposed and imprisoned. Unlike an earlier version of this entry (Frankish victory c. 560), the sources (Gregory via the Waroch article) indicate a defeat of Frankish troops and Waroch’s hold on Vannes. The dating “c. 560” does not fit: Waroch is attested as chief only from 577.

After 476, western Armorica largely escaped Merovingian rule. Franco-Breton relations were rather peaceful until the mid-sixth century; the first attested conflict dates to 558 (Chlothar I against his son Chramn allied to Breton count Chanao/Chonober). Macliau, Waroch’s father, was bishop of Vannes then territorial chief until 577, when he died with Jacob facing Theuderic; Waroch secured part of the territory. Vannes, as episcopal city, was then a rather Frankish/Gallo-Roman enclave in a Breton rural space (Charles-Edwards). Waroch’s wars were facilitated by Merovingian faides. André Chèdeville also cites Waroch’s expansionism and possible demographic pressure from Breton defeats across the Channel. Fredegund and Neustria/Austrasia conflicts frame later decades (579 Rennes, 587 Nantes, 590 Guntram, 593–594).

Gregory describes the Frankish camp along the Vilaine and the Saxons’ defeat at Pléchâtel, not a detailed order of battle before Vannes. No ancient source supports reconstructing an open-field clash with Frankish equipment superiority — an earlier wording not evidenced. The sequel is diplomatic: negotiations, tribute, hostage, then rupture via Eunius. Later campaigns (579, 587, 590) show raids, vintage plunder, crossing the Vilaine to the Oust (590), temporary submission to Ebrachar, then Canao’s attack on the Frankish rearguard on the return.

Waroch kept Vannes and Bro Waroch (lasting Broërec toponym). The promised tribute was not lastingly respected. In 579, advance to Corps-Nuds; in 587, plunder of Nantes vineyards despite a thousand solidi promised to Guntram and Chlothar II; in 590, defeat by Guntram then attack on the Frankish rearguard; in 593–594, further raids and a Franco-Breton battle with heavy losses on both sides (Fredegar). This entry must not be read as a founding Frankish victory around 560.