Conan IV, Duke of Brittany

Conan IV, Duke of Brittany

• Son of Alan IV, 1st Earl of Cornwall and Richmond and Bertha, Duchess of Brittany
• Birth: circa 1138 , Bretagne (Brittany) France
• Death: February 20, 1171 (39-47) in Richmond Castle, Yorkshire, , England
• Place of Burial: Bégard, Côtes-d'Armor, Bretagne, France

CONAN de Penthièvre, son of ALAIN Earl of Richmond & his wife Berthe heiress of Brittany ([1138]-18 or 20 Feb 1171, bur Bégard Monastery). The Chronicæ Sancti Albini names "Conanus junior, comes Britanniæ, Alani comitis filius et Berta mater eius comitissa" when recording his death[272]. The Genealogia Comitum Richemundiæ records that "Conanus filius Alani" succeeded his father "in honorem Richemundiæ" and built "turrim magnam infra Castellum Richemundiæ"[273]. He invaded Brittany in 1156, captured Rennes, expelled his stepfather who was taken prisoner by Raoul de Fougères, and succeeded as CONAN IV "le Petit" Duke of Brittany. He seized the county of Nantes on the death in 1158 of Geoffroy Comte de Nantes, son of Henry II King of England. King Henry II deprived Duke Conan of the lordship of Richmond, but it was returned to him under the agreement reached in Sep 1158. "Conan dux Britannie comes Richmundie" confirmed the donation of Plubihan and Plougasnou to Saint-Georges de Rennes by charter to [1156/69], witnessed by "Margarita comitissa, Willelmo filio Hamon, Alano de Rohan, Constancia sorore comitis…"[274]. Duke Conan confiscated Tréguier and Guingamp from his uncle Comte Henri. He was forced to surrender Brittany to King Henry II in 1166, on the betrothal of his daughter to Henry's son, who was proclaimed Duke of Brittany in 1169. The Chronicæ Sancti Albini record that "Conanus junior, comes Britanniæ, Alani comitis filius et Berta mater eius comitissa" was dying in 1169 and that Henry II King of England subjugated Brittany and placed his son Geoffroy to rule there through "Guillelmi filii Hamonis"[275]. Robert of Torigny records the death in 1171 of "Conanus dux Britanniæ"[276]. The Chronicon Britannico Alter records the death in 1171 of "Conanus junior Dux Britanniæ"[277]. The necrology of Landévennec records the death “XII Kal Mar” of “Conanus dux Britanniæ 1171”[278]. The Chronicon Kemperlegiensis records the death "XX Feb" in 1171 of "Conanus Dux Britanniæ et Comes Richemundiæ"[279]. The Chronicon Ruyensis Cœnobii records the death in 1171 of "Conani Ducis Britanniæ, Alani et Berthæ filii"[280]. The Genealogia Comitum Richemundiæ records the death in Brittany in 1170 of "Conanus filius Alani" and his burial "Begare"[281].

Spouse

• Married: (1160) as her first husband, MARGARET of Scotland, daughter of HENRY of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon and Northumberland & his wife Ada de Warenne (1144/45]-1201, bur Sawtrey Abbey, Hunts). Her origin and first marriage are deduced from Benedict of Peterborough recording that "filia sororis regis Scotiæ Willelmi comitissa Brittaniæ" gave birth in 1186 to "filium…Arturum"[282]. Her birth date is estimated from the Rotuli de Dominabus of 1185 which records property “villam de Wissinton” held by “Margareta comitissa…xl annorum”, adding that “comes Britannie habet filiam suam” and that she has “i filium de Humfrido de Buun qui est infra etatem”[283]. The Chronicle of Melrose records the marriage in 1160 of "Malcolm king of Scotland…his sister Margaret to Conan duke of Brittany"[284]. The Genealogia Comitum Richemundiæ records that "Conanus filius Alani" married "Margaretam sororem Willielmi Regis Scotie"[285]. "Conan dux Britannie comes Richmundie" confirmed the donation of Plubihan and Plougasnou to Saint-Georges de Rennes by charter to [1156/69], witnessed by "Margarita comitissa, Willelmo filio Hamon, Alano de Rohan, Constancia sorore comitis…"[286]. She married secondly (before Easter 1175) Humphrey [IV] de Bohun Constable of England. A manuscript which narrates the descents of the founders of Lanthony Abbey records that “dominus Humfridus quartus de Bohun, comes Herefordiæ et constabularius Angliæ” married “Margaretam comitissam Britanniæ”[287]. The Annals of Burton record the death in 1201 of “Margareta mater…Constantiæ, soror Willelmi regis Scotiæ, mater Henrici de Boum comitis Herefordiæ”[288].

Duke Conan & his wife MARGARET of Scotland had one child:

• 1. CONSTANCE de Bretagne ([1161]-[Nantes] [3/5] Sep 1201, bur Bégard Monastery, transferred 24 Nov 1225 to Villeneuve-les-Nantes, Abbaye de Notre-Dame). The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines names "Constantiam comitis Conani filia" as wife of "Gaufridus dux Britannie comes Richemontis filius Henrici regis Anglie natu tertius", specifying that she married [thirdly] "Guido frater vicecomitem de Tuart"[289]. She is named by Matthew of Paris, who also gives her parentage, when he records her betrothal[290]. She succeeded her father in 1171 as CONSTANCE Dss de Bretagne. Robert of Torigny records the marriage in 1182 of "Gaufredus dux Britanniæ filius regis Henrici" and "filiam Conani comitis Britanniæ"[291]. The Annales Cestrienses record in 1188 that “Rannulphus comes Cestrie” was knighted “in die circumcisionis domini apud [Cadomum]” by King Henry II who also granted him “relictam [Galfridi filii sui]...comitissam Britannie filia Alani comitis Britannie...Constancia et toto comittatu de Richemund” whom he married “in die Sancte Werburge...III Non Feb apud ---“[292]. The Genealogia Comitum Richemundiæ records that "Constantia filia Conani" married secondly "Ranulphus Comes Cestriæ", stating that he divorced her because of her adultery and that the marriage was childless[293]. Living apart from her second husband, he captured her at Pontorson in 1196 and imprisoned her at his castle at Beuvron. She was liberated in Summer 1198, and repudiated her marriage. The Genealogia Comitum Richemundiæ records that "Constantia filia Conani" married thirdly "Guidoni de Thoarcio"[294]. The Annals of Burton record the death in 1201 of “Constantia mater Arthuri comitis Britanniæ”[295]. The Genealogia Comitum Richemundiæ records the death in 1201 of "Constantia filia Conani" and her burial "apud Begar"[296]. The Chronicon Britannicum records the death "III Non Sep" in 1201 of "Constantia Ducissa Britanniæ"[297]. Another Chronicon Britannicum records the death "pridie non Sep" in 1201 of "Constantia comitissa, Conani filia, mater Arturi"[298]. The Chronicon Ruyensis Cœnobii records the death in 1201 of "Constantia Comitissa apud Nannetum"[299]. m firstly (betrothed 1166, Jul 1181) GEOFFREY of England, son of HENRY II King of England & his wife Eléonore Dss d'Aquitaine (23 Sep 1158-Paris 19 Aug 1186, bur Notre dame Cathedral, Paris). Proclaimed GEOFFROY Duke of Brittany 1169 by his father Henry II King of England. He was trodden to death by a horse during a tournament in Paris. m secondly (3 Feb 1188, repudiated 1198) as his first wife, RANULF "de Blundeville" Earl of Chester, son of HUGH Earl of Chester & his wife Bertrade de Montfort (Oswestry, Powys [1170]-Wallingford 28 Oct 1232, bur 3 Nov 1232 Chester, Abbey of St Werburgh). m thirdly (Oct 1199) as his first wife, GUY de Thouars, son of GEOFFROY [IV] Vicomte de Thouars & his wife Aumou --- (-château de Chemillé 23 Apr 1213, bur 24 Nov 1225 Villeneuve-les-Nantes, Abbaye de Notre-Dame). The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines records that Philippe II King of France besieged "Albam Marnam castrum" in 1196 and captured "Guido frater Reymundi vicecomitis Thoarcensis", who later married "matrem Arturi iunioris Constantiam relicta…Gaufridi" and became "comes Britannie"[300]. After the death of Arthur Duke of Brittany in 1203, he was chosen by the nobles of Brittany as GUY Duke of Brittany during the minority of his daughter. His English lands were confiscated in 1203. Philippe II "Auguste" King of France conquered Brittany in 1206, deposed Guy as Duke but left him as Regent, a post which he continued to hold until 1213. The Chronique de Guillaume de Nangis records that "Guy de Thouars" died of leprosy[301].

Source - Projects MedLands Dukes of BRITTANY - http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BRITTANY.htm#_Toc216697263

Conan IV, Duke of Brittany, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Conan IV of Penthièvre (1138 – February 20, 1171), (Breton: Konan V Penteur, and Konan Breizh) called "the Young", was duke of Brittany, from 1156 to his death.[1] He was son of Alan the Black, 1st Earl of Richmond and Bertha of Brittany. He was his mother's heir as Duke Conan III. From his father’s side, Conan was great great grandson of duke Geoffrey I and great grandson of Eudes of Brittany.[1] Conan and his daughter Constance would be the only representatives of the Penthièvre dynasty of Brittany.

With the death of his mother Bertha in early 1156, Conan IV expected to inherit the ducal throne.[1] However, he was denied his inheritance by his step-father Eudes, who refused to let go over his authority. Eudas may have entered into a pact with Hoel, Count of Nantes, to divide Brittany between them. But Hoel was under threat of rebellion in Nantes, sponsored by Geoffrey VI, Count of Anjou, and he could not send Eudas any aid. Within the year Conan IV was able to capture and imprison Eudas, and claim his inheritance.[1]

By 1158, Geoffrey VI, Count of Anjou died and Conan seized Nantes, reuniting the Duchy once again. However, Geoffrey's brother King Henry II of England, responded by seizing the Earldom of Richmond, Conan's paternal inheritance, and demanded the return of Nantes. Conan and Henry made peace, and Conan married Henry's cousin, Margaret of Scotland, in 1160.[1] Margaret was daughter of Henry of Scotland, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon and Ada de Warenne, a daughter of William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey and Elizabeth de Vermandois.

Conan faced several revolts from his own nobles, rebellions possibly covertly supported by England. To put down the unrest, the Duke appealed for help to Henry, who, in return, demanded the betrothal of Conan’s only daughter and heiress Constance to Henry's son Geoffrey Plantagenet.

Links

• Conan IV de Bretagne (Conan IV le Petit) http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conan_IV_de_Bretagne
• Conan IV, Duke of Brittany (Conan IV of Penthièvre) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conan_IV,_Duke_of_Brittany

Sources

• ^ a b c d e Brittany Genealogy extracted Feb 1, 2008
• The Bretons, by Patrick Galliou and Michael Jones, Oxford, 1991, p. 191. ISBN 0-631-16406-5