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Duke of Brittany
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Image:BlasonBRETAGNE.PNG thumb|right|Coat of Arms of the Dukes of Brittany (from 1312)
The '''Duke of Brittany''' (
French language French: ''Duc de Bretagne'') governed
Brittany, a region with strong traditions of independence, including a language and a distinctive culture.
Duchy of Brittany
Incorporation of Brittany into the
Carolingian empire ensured that the political and social institutions were similar to those prevaling elsewhere in western
Francia. Until the 10th century, Brittany was severely affected by Viking attacks and ducal authority was weak. Dynastic disputes caused the political fragmentation of the duchy into counties and authority suffered even further from the pressures of resisting claims by both the
Duke of Normandy dukes of Normandy and the
Count of Anjou counts of Anjou. This process of fragmentation was halted and reversed from the mid-eleventh century, when intermarriage resulted in the ducal title vesting in a single individual, Duke Alain IV Fergent.
Alain's long and stable reign included expansion of Breton holdings by King
William I of England conferring upon him the honour of
Richmond, North Yorkshire Richmond, after the
Norman Conquest of
England. His son Conan III also saw progress in the revival of central authority. A succession dispute following Conan's death undid the duke's achievements and allowed
Henry II of England, to claim overlordship. Between 1158 and 1166, Henry II annexed Brittany to his continental holdings, marrying his third son, Geoffrey, to Constance, heiress of the duchy. The
Angevin Empire in Brittany came to an end in 1203, after King
John of England murdered his nephew, Arthur, the son of Geoffrey and Constance.
The marriage of the infant Alice to Capetian cadet Peter of Dreux in 1213, began the new House of Dreux. This allowed Brittany a measure of autonomy again, although continuously giving lip service to Capetian sovereignty. After the
Breton War of Succession, Brittany still had links with the English Crown through the
Earl of Richmond Earldom of Richmond, until the
Wars of the Roses forced
Richmondshire to become partisan with the
House of Lancaster under the
Tudor dynasty.
Duke of Richmond Richmond became a dukedom in its own right, as the former Breton rulers would '''not''' be able to regain the honour that brought King
Henry VII of England to the
throne. A disoriented and shut out Brittany became royally subsumed into France, during a tapering reign of the Montfort house. The present holder of Richmond owes the honorific title
Duke of Aubigny (after
Seigneur d'Aubigny in
Berry_(province)), in descent from Breton
Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth.
Kings and Dukes of Brittany
Kings of the Bretons
*
Nominoe, Duke of Brittany Nominoe (r.
841–
851), as a ''
missus dominicus'' of the
Holy Roman Emperor Emperor Louis the Pious, a count of
Vannes (Gwened) and a duke (''dux'') of Brittany
*
Erispoe, Duke of Brittany Erispoe (r.851–
857), as a duke, then a king of Brittany
*
Saloman, Duke of Brittany Saloman (or ''Salaün'') (r.857–
874), as a duke, then a king of Brittany
*
Pasquitan, Duke of Brittany Pasquitan of Vannes (or ''Paskweten'') (r.874–
877), ruling Brittany with Gurvand
*
Gurvand, Duke of Brittany Gurvand of Rennes (r.874–877), ruling Brittany with Pasquitan
*
Judicael, Duke of Brittany Judicael of Rennes (r.877–
888), successor of Gurvand, ruled Brittany with Alan the Great
*
Alan I, Duke of Brittany Alan the Great (reigned from
877 to
888 with Judicaël, alone as a duke, then as a king up to
907)
The succession was interrupted by the
Normans Norman occupation (
907–
937)
House of Nantes/Naoned
*
Alan II, Duke of Brittany Alan II Wrybeard (reigned as a duke from 937 to 952)
*
Drogo of Brittany Drogo, son (reigned from 952 to 958)
*
Hoel I of Brittany Hoel I, brother (reigned from 960–981 as a duke, but controlled only the county of Nantes/Naoned)
*
Guerech, brother (reigned from 981–988 as a duke, but controlled only the county of Nantes/Naoned)
House of Rennes/Roazhon
*
Conan I, Duke of Brittany Conan I of Rennes (r.958–
992) earl of Rennes/Roazhon, then ruling all Brittany (if not Nantes/Naoned) as a duke (990–992)
*
Geoffrey I, Duke of Brittany Geoffrey I (r.992–
1008)
*
Alan III, Duke of Brittany Alan III (r.1008–
1040)
*
Conan II, Duke of Brittany Conan II (r.1040–
1066)
House of Cornouaille/Kernev
*
Hoel II, Duke of Brittany Hoel II of Cornouaille/Hoel Huuel (r.1066–
1084), married Hawisa, daughter of Alan III
*
Alan IV, Duke of Brittany Alan IV Fergant (r.1084–
1112)
*
Conan III, Duke of Brittany Conan III the Fat (r.1112–
1148)
*
Eudes, Viscount of Porhoet Eon I of Porhoet (r.1148–
1156), married Bertha, daughter of Conan III
*
Conan IV, Duke of Brittany Conan IV the Younger, son of Bertha and Alan of Richmond. (r.1156–1168), deposed, †1171
House of Anjou
*
Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany Geoffrey Plantagenet (r.1166–
1186), married Constance, daughter of Conan IV
*
Constance, Duchess of Brittany Constance, daughter of Conan IV, (r.1186–1201)
*
Arthur I, Duke of Brittany Arthur I Plantagenet (r.1196–
1203)
*
Guy, Duke of Brittany Guy of Thouars (r.1203–1206)
*
Alix, Duchess of Brittany Alix of Thouars, daughter of Constance and Guy of Thouars, (r.1206–1221)
House of Dreux
*
Peter I, Duke of Brittany Peter I Mauclerc of Dreux (r.
1213–
1237) ''in right of his wife Alix and as regent of his son''
*
John I, Duke of Brittany John I, the Red (r.1237–
1286)
*
John II, Duke of Brittany John II (r.1286–
1305)
*
Arthur II, Duke of Brittany Arthur II (r.1305–
1316)
*
John III, Duke of Brittany John III, the Good (r.1312–
1341)
;Breton War of Succession (1341–1364)
*
Charles, Duke of Brittany Charles of Blois and
Joanna of Penthièvre (r.1341–
1364)
**''vs. Dukes John IV and John V''
House of Montfort
The cadet branch of the House of Dreux
*
John IV, Duke of Brittany John of Montfort (r.1341–
1345)
*
John V, Duke of Brittany John IV, the Conqueror (r.1364–
1399)
*
John VI, Duke of Brittany John V (r.1399–
1442)
*
Francis I, Duke of Brittany Francis I (r.1442–
1450)
*
Peter II, Duke of Brittany Peter II (r.1450–
1457)
*
Arthur III, Duke of Brittany Arthur III (r.1457–
1458)
*
Francis II, Duke of Brittany Francis II (r.1458–
1488)
*
Anne, Duchess of Brittany Anne of Brittany (r.1488–
1514)
*
Claudia of France (r.1514–
1524)
*
François (III), dauphin of France (r.1524–
1532), son of
Francis I of France and
Claudia of France
See also
*
Brittany
*
Dukes of Brittany family tree
External link
-
Genealogy of the Dukes of Brittany
Category:History of Brittany
Category:Dukes of Brittany
Category:French noble titles Bretagne, duc de
br:Roll Rouaned ha Duged Breizh
da:Herskere i Bretagne
de:Herrscherliste Bretagne
fr:Liste des ducs de Bretagne
kw:Dugeth Vreten Vyghan
nl:Lijst van hertogen van Bretagne
pt:Ducado da Bretanha
zh:布列塔尼公爵
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