Guntram’s Failed Campaign Against Waroch II of Brittany (589–590 CE)

In 589 or 590 CE, King Guntram of Burgundy launches an expedition against Waroch II, ruler of Brittany's Veneti (Vanetais), to enforce Frankish authority. The campaign is marked by internal Frankish rivalries, Saxon intervention on behalf of the Bretons, and Waroch’s continued resistance—ultimately resulting in yet another inconclusive Frankish attempt to subdue Brittany.

1. Guntram’s Military Expedition: Internal Rivalries Weaken the Frankish Forces

• Guntram entrusts the campaign to two generals, Beppolem and Ebrachain, who are known to be personal enemies.
• This internal division weakens Frankish coordination, as Ebrachain does not fully support Beppolem in battle.
• Their mutual enmity complicates the campaign, as they are more focused on outmaneuvering each other than on defeating Waroch.

2. Fredegund’s Intervention: Saxons of Bayeux Support Waroch

• Fredegund, Queen Regent of Neustria, also an enemy of Ebrachain, sends Saxon auxiliaries from Bayeux to assist Waroch.
• This Neustrian-Breton alliance further weakens Guntram’s Burgundian campaign, showing how Frankish internal rivalries aid Brittany’s independence.

3. The Three-Day Battle and the Death of Beppolem

• Beppolem fights alone against the Bretons for three days, receiving no support from Ebrachain.
• After Beppolem’s death in battle, Waroch attempts to flee to the Channel Islands, likely seeking refuge.

4. Ebrachain’s Victory and Waroch’s Forced Submission

• Ebrachain, despite his rivalry with Beppolem, continues the campaign and destroys Waroch’s ships, cutting off his escape.
• Waroch is forced to submit, renew his oath of loyalty to the Franks, and surrender a nephew as a hostage.

5. Continued Breton Defiance: A Hollow Victory for the Franks

• Despite the peace agreement, Brittany continues to resist Frankish domination.
• Waroch and his successors maintain their independent course, refusing to fully integrate into the Frankish kingdom.
• The Franks’ repeated failures to subjugate Brittany reveal:
  • The effectiveness of Breton guerrilla tactics.
  • The impact of internal Frankish conflicts on military campaigns.
  • The inability of the Merovingians to fully impose control over the region.

Conclusion: Another Failed Frankish Attempt to Conquer Brittany

The 589–590 CE campaign against Waroch II ultimately achieves little for Guntram. While the Bretons momentarily submit, their independence remains intact, and Frankish influence remains nominal at best. The internal conflicts between Frankish nobles and Fredegund’s intervention further weaken the Frankish effort, allowing Brittany to continue resisting Frankish domination well into the medieval period.