A Visit to Bretoña

 

The movement of Celtic Britons to Northern Spain

Approximate Timeline

55 B.C.-Caesar attempted to invade Britain but had to withdraw

54 B.C.-Successful invasion of Britain, but withdrew

43 A.D.-Roman invasion of Southwest Britain

63 A.D.- Joseph of Arimathia is said to have visited Britain to convert its inhabitants

75-77 A.D.-Roman conquest complete

312 A.D.- Christianity official religion of Britain and the Roman Empire

410 A.D.-Last Romans leave

596 A.D.-Gregorian Mission 

664 A.D.- Synod of Whitby. Roman Church preferred over the Celtic in Britain.

According to Gildas (1) the Saxon war-bands were invited in by Vortigern in 446 A.D. to counteract the threat of invasion from the north by the Picts. Having gained a foothold they invited in their brethren, and embarked on a genocide of the original Celtic inhabitants. Those who could fled overseas. Some to Brittany, others as we shall see, to the northwest of the Spanish peninsula.

By at least 572 A.D. there was a “Diocese of the Britons” with the centre at Britoña (now Bretoña) near Mondoñedo in Galicia in north-west Spain.

BISHOPS OF BRITOÑA (Including Bishops of Laniobra, most likely its alternative name) Known bishops of the Ecclesia Brittaniensis include: (2)

• Mailoc, (Second Council of Braga, 572)
• Ermaricus (589)
• Metopius, (Fourth Council of Toledo 633)
• Sonna, (Seventh Council of Toledo 646)
• Sosani (Eighth Council of Toledo, 653 Possibly the same as Sonna)
• Bela, (Third Council of Braga 675)
• Brandila (683)
• Suniaguissius (693)
• Vitulacius? (681?)
• Theodesindus (873)

By at least 572 A.D. there was a “Diocese of the Britons”. This ancient British Celtic diocese of Britoña is thought to have been based in a small settlement in the province of Galicia in north-west of Spain. This followed the tradition of the Celtic church which avoided the administrative city centres and established their bishoprics in small rural communities.

 Britoña - now the small village of Bretoña - lies a few kilometers east of the present cathedral city of Mondoñedo.

 The modern village sign

I was able to visit the area earlier this year. Unfortunately there is little left of the ancient site most of the evidence being destroyed by later building and development. However, there are some remains even to a casual observer.

The settlement is based on an ancient small “castro” - a Celtic hillfort. Some of the circular banks remain, with the present minor road to the east of the church, running in the base of the “fossa”.
The only remaining trace of possible Celtic artwork that I found was the very weather-worn carved head on the lintel above the main door of the church. 

Viewed from the north, the church stands on the top of a banked hill - the remains of the defensive bank of the castro. 

  The remains of the banks run across the field. Church in centre background.

The minor road to the east of the church runs along the bottom of the "fossa", the ditch below the former defensive bank.

 

Looking north along the road. The corner of the church is on the extreme top left.

 Looking south along the road

Possible Celtic artwork on the lintel above the main door of the church. This stone has obviously been reused from a previous doorway as the carved lines do not match those at either side.

Carved head above main door of church

 The bank round the west side of the church is broken through in several places 

 The western bank

The church is off to the right

 

  Looking west from the church

The steep outer face of the bank on the west

A detailed contour map of the village would be of interest. This would show the relative steepness of the outer bank compared with the inner. A sketch of the continuous bank and ditch could then be made, reconstructing the bank and ditch as it was at the time of the Celtic church.

(1) Gildas – The Ruin of Britain and other documents., ed. Michael Winterbottom, London, 1978 
(2) Young – Britoña: Caminos Nuevos. p.40. Editorial Toxosoutos, Serie Keltia 2004