He was originally from Wales and is therefore symbolic of the relationship between Britain and Brittany. Born around 305AD, he was the nephew of Octavius the Old, the King of an area comprising what is now north eastern Wales and Merseyside. As Octavius only had a daughter, Helen, he was expected to leave his throne to Conan.

Thinks didn't turn out that way.

Far away in the hills of Umbria, a minor member of the imperial family, a certain Magnus Maximus, was taking a nap after an exhausting day's hunting. He dreamt about what he would describe as the most beautiful woman in the empire.

On awakening, he ordered his people to find this mysterious woman.

They searched far and wide over many years before they chanced upon Octavius's daughter Helen. Their marriage, and hence Magnus's accession to the throne, was a given.

Conan was considerably put out by these events.

So much so, that he organised a rebellion against Magnus. In due course Conan was defeated. Magnus was, however, magnanimous in victory. He not only spared Conan his life, but took him under his wing.

Together they travelled far and wide and Conan helped Magnus take over of the western Roman empire. For killing the previous ruler, Conan was given control over Armorica (the Roman name for Brittany.) His men settled in Brittany but, after so much bloodshed, the women were few in number. In order to rectify this, Conan asked his uncle's old ally, Donaut of Dumnonia (Cornwall) to send over some Cornish women. This he duly did and Conan married Donaut's daughter Ursula. Thus the people of Armorica and Cornwall were forever united. The land was re-named Brittany as a reflection of the origins of its King and Queen. After some years Ursula died and Conan took as his new wife Dareca of Ireland. Her brother was thought to be St Patrick.