Conan Meriadoc | |
|---|---|
 Detail from the Saint Auta Altarpiece (Lisbon, 1522–25), depicting the marriage of Conan and Saint Ursula | |
| Born | 4th century |
| Known for | Legendary British Celt who was said to have founded Brittany |
| Spouse | Saint Ursula |
Conan Meriadoc (/ˈkoʊnən/; Welsh: Cynan Meiriadog; Breton: Konan Meriadeg) is a legendary British Celtic leader credited with founding Brittany. Versions of his story circulated in both Brittany and Great Britain from at least the early 12th century, and supplanted earlier legends of Brittany's foundation. His story is known in two major versions, which appear in the Welsh text known as The Dream of Macsen Wledig, and in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae. Both texts associate him with Magnus Maximus (Macsen Wledic, reigned 383–388), a Roman usurper against the Valentinianic dynasty who was widely regarded as having deprived Britain of its defences when he took its legions to claim the imperial throne. Conan's cousin or sister, Saint Elen, is said to have been Macsen Wledic's wife.