Battle of Blain
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Blain, also called the Battle of Messac, was fought on 24 May 843 by the forces of Lambert II of Nantes
allied to Erispoe, prince of Brittany, against Renaud
, Frankish Count of Nantes. It arose from Breton resistance to Frankish power within Brittany and disputes over control of the County of Nantes. The defeat of the Franks led to a period of Breton expansionism.
, Nominoe, Duke of Brittany, rebelled against the authority of Charles the Bald
and attempted to expand into Frankish territory. When Charles placed Renaud in command of the Frankish border zone as Count of Nantes, he incurred the enmity of Lambert II of Nantes
, who believed that he was the rightful heir to the County. Lambert and Nominoe intended to join forces. While Nominoe prepared an army to attack Nantes, Renaud organised the defence of the city. However, when Renaud heard that Nominoe was incapacitated due to an illness he decided to strike first against the Bretons, who were now under the command of Nominoe's son Erispoe. Frankish forces advanced from Nantes to the river Vilaine
, hoping to take the Bretons by surprise. Erispoe's troops had arrived at Messac
and were in the process of crossing the Vilaine when Renaud launched his surprise attack. Erispoe's advanced force was completely routed, and his main army dangerously weakened.
However, the Chronicle of Nantes
gives a slightly different version of events, asserting that Renaud, believing that he had crushed the Bretons at Messac, gathered his forces to return to Nantes. Arriving at Blain, he stopped to rest his troops. Meanwhile, Lambert had joined Erispoe, and with their combined armies they struck back at Renaud. The Frankish soldiers were lying on the grass near the edges of the river Isac
, in complete abandonment, when suddenly Lambert's and Erispoe's armies attacked and destroyed them.
Whichever version is correct, Renaud himself was killed in the aftermath of the battle. A Viking force under Hastein
may also have joined the Bretons, though other evidence suggests that they arrived a little while later looking for plunder.
Lambert took control of Nantes, but seems to have been unable to hold it. The Vikings plundered the city and murdered the bishop, Gohard. The Breton victory was followed by others, leading by 851 to the Treaty of Angers, in which the towns of Nantes
and Rennes
became possessions of Brittany and Erispoe was granted the title king of Brittany.
Lambert II of Nantes
Lambert II was the Count of Nantes and Prefect of the Breton March between 843 and 851. Lambert ruled the county in opposition to Amaury, the puppet count installed by Charles the Bald, King of West Francia. At his death, the county was effectively in Breton control...
allied to Erispoe, prince of Brittany, against Renaud
Renaud d'Herbauges
Renaud was Frankish Count of Herbauges, Count of Poitiers and Count of Nantes. His name is also spelled Rainaldus or Ragenold, and he is sometimes known as Reginald in English...
, Frankish Count of Nantes. It arose from Breton resistance to Frankish power within Brittany and disputes over control of the County of Nantes. The defeat of the Franks led to a period of Breton expansionism.
Background
Following the break-up of the Carolingian empireCarolingian Empire
Carolingian Empire is a historiographical term which has been used to refer to the realm of the Franks under the Carolingian dynasty in the Early Middle Ages. This dynasty is seen as the founders of France and Germany, and its beginning date is based on the crowning of Charlemagne, or Charles the...
, Nominoe, Duke of Brittany, rebelled against the authority of Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald , Holy Roman Emperor and King of West Francia , was the youngest son of the Emperor Louis the Pious by his second wife Judith.-Struggle against his brothers:He was born on 13 June 823 in Frankfurt, when his elder...
and attempted to expand into Frankish territory. When Charles placed Renaud in command of the Frankish border zone as Count of Nantes, he incurred the enmity of Lambert II of Nantes
Lambert II of Nantes
Lambert II was the Count of Nantes and Prefect of the Breton March between 843 and 851. Lambert ruled the county in opposition to Amaury, the puppet count installed by Charles the Bald, King of West Francia. At his death, the county was effectively in Breton control...
, who believed that he was the rightful heir to the County. Lambert and Nominoe intended to join forces. While Nominoe prepared an army to attack Nantes, Renaud organised the defence of the city. However, when Renaud heard that Nominoe was incapacitated due to an illness he decided to strike first against the Bretons, who were now under the command of Nominoe's son Erispoe. Frankish forces advanced from Nantes to the river Vilaine
Vilaine
The Vilaine is a river in Brittany, in the west of France. The river's source is in the Mayenne département , and flows out in the Atlantic Ocean at Pénestin in the Morbihan département . It is 218 km long...
, hoping to take the Bretons by surprise. Erispoe's troops had arrived at Messac
Messac, Ille-et-Vilaine
Messac is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Bretagne in north-western France.-Demographics:Inhabitants of Messac are called Messacois.-References:* ;* -External links:*...
and were in the process of crossing the Vilaine when Renaud launched his surprise attack. Erispoe's advanced force was completely routed, and his main army dangerously weakened.
The main battle
Sources differ about what happened next, though all agree that the tables were turned on Renaud by the timely arrival of Erispoe's ally Lambert II. According to one version of events, Erispoe was saved at Messac itself by Lambert, who had gathered soldiers on the borders of the Anjou, and had advanced on the Vilaine to join his forces with Nominoe. He completely surprised Renaud, and made a great carnage. With both armies present, Renaud's troops were nearly surrounded and were destroyed.However, the Chronicle of Nantes
Chronicle of Nantes
Chronicle of Nantes is an eleventh-century Latin chronicle of history extending from 570 to about 1049 AD...
gives a slightly different version of events, asserting that Renaud, believing that he had crushed the Bretons at Messac, gathered his forces to return to Nantes. Arriving at Blain, he stopped to rest his troops. Meanwhile, Lambert had joined Erispoe, and with their combined armies they struck back at Renaud. The Frankish soldiers were lying on the grass near the edges of the river Isac
ISAC
internet Speech Audio Codec is a wideband speech codec, developed by Global IP Solutions . It is suitable for VoIP applications and streaming audio. The encoded blocks have to be encapsulated in a suitable protocol for transport, eg. RTP.It is one of the codecs used by AIM Triton, the Gizmo5, QQ,...
, in complete abandonment, when suddenly Lambert's and Erispoe's armies attacked and destroyed them.
Whichever version is correct, Renaud himself was killed in the aftermath of the battle. A Viking force under Hastein
Hastein
Hastein was a notable Viking chieftain of the late 9th century who made several raiding voyages.- Early life :...
may also have joined the Bretons, though other evidence suggests that they arrived a little while later looking for plunder.
Lambert took control of Nantes, but seems to have been unable to hold it. The Vikings plundered the city and murdered the bishop, Gohard. The Breton victory was followed by others, leading by 851 to the Treaty of Angers, in which the towns of Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
and Rennes
Rennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
became possessions of Brittany and Erispoe was granted the title king of Brittany.