Gradlon

Gradlon was the king of Brittany. Gradlon was the son of Conan Meriadoc and his second wife, who was known as St. Darerca. It is quite possible that Gradlon was a historical figure who lived in the late 4th century or early 5th century AD, and later writers romanticised him in the legend which included the flooding of Ker-Is or Ys.

Gradlon ruled his kingdom from Cornouaille, a region that is now part of the department of Finistère. Cornouaille was sometimes confused with Cornwall, of southwestern England. (I have noticed that a few people think that Gradlon was the king of Cornwall, which is a mistake.)

Gradlon fell in love with a sorceress named Malgven. Malgven died giving birth to Dahut. Either as commemoration of his wife or his love for his daughter, he built a coastal city, which he named Ys (Kêr-Is in Breton). Ys was said to be the most magnificent city in the world, with a lovely palace and massive cathedrals. Since the city was built below sea level, it was protected by a tall dike. Gradlon had the gold key to the floodgates that prevented the city from being flooded. The gold key was on his chain which was around his neck.

Gradlon befriended the priest Guénolé, and converted to the new religion. Since the king was besotted with his daughter Dahut, he allowed her freedom to follow the pagan religion of her deceased mother Malgven, which angered Guénolé.

In the earlier version of the legend, Dahut stole the key when she and her lover were drunk from wine and revelry. But in the later version, her red lover was the Devil himself. Her lover seduced her and encouraged her to steal her father's key. And it was her lover that opened the gate that flooded the city.

Guénolé cried to the king that that he must escape. His horse Morvarc'h would have easily carried him to safety, but Gradlon saw his daughter fleeing, calling him to save her. Gradlon took his daughter and tried to escape the rising water, but Morvarc'h could not carry them both. At Guénolé's urging, Gradlon reluctantly flung his daughter into the raging water. Only then did Gradlon reach safety on the hill outside of his ruined city.

Gradlon's heart almost broke, because he let his daughter drown.

Gradlon moved his capital to Quimper, where a statue of him was erected between two towers of the cathedral.

In another version, Gradlon was as sinful as his daughter, leading them into nightly debauchery, where the king drowned with his daughter and his people.

See the City of Ys in the Armorican Connections.