St. Judicael, King of Domnonée
(Died AD 652)
(Welsh: Ithel; Latin: Iudicallus; English: Juthael)

King Judicael survived the persecutions of the reign of his brother, King Haeloc of Domnonée, and was brought out of hiding in a monastery on the latter's death. He set up his palace in the Forest of Paimpont. It is recorded that:

"Terror of his name alone was sufficient to keep evil men from violence, for God, who watched over him without ceasing, had made him brave amd mighty in battle; it happened more than once that with the aid of the Almighty he was able to put whole troops of the enemy to flight by the strength of his sword-arm alone"

Judicael defeated the Franks twice in battle and, despite the Breton King's reputation, in AD 635, King Dagobert of the Franks, sent St. Eligius to demand his submission if he wanted to avoid full scale invasion. Judicael was a practical man, and quickly travelled to Dagobert's court in Paris to recognise him as his overlord. Thus a lasting peace was concluded between the two. He was a pious king who founded the Abbey of Paimpont and helped endow St. Meven's Abbey of St. John at Gael to where, upon his abdication, he retired.