Conan II, Duke of Brittany
Encyclopedia
Conan II of Rennes was Duke of Brittany
, from 1040 to his death. Conan was the eldest child and heir of Alan III, Duke of Brittany
by his wife Berthe de Blois, and member of the House of Rennes. He was the elder brother of Hawise
, who succeeded him as suo jure
duchess.
, who initially ruled Brittany as regent during Conan's minority. However, by the time Conan reached his majority his uncle Eudas refused to give up his authority. By 1057 Conan captured his uncle, whom he had chained and imprisoned.
Once enthroned as Duke Conan II of Brittany, he faced numerous threats, including revolts from his nobles sponsored by William, Duke of Normandy
, afterwards King of England.
Brittany, an independent Celtic duchy, had a traditional rivalry with neighboring Normandy. The 1064 -1065 War between Brittany and Normandy
was sparked after Duke William supported Rivallon I of Dol
's rebellion against Conan II.
In 1065, before his invasion of Anglo-Saxon England, William of Normandy sent word to the surrounding counties, including Brittany, warning them against attacking his lands, on the grounds that his mission bore the papal banner. However, Conan promptly informed the duke that he would definitely take the opportunity to invade the latter's duchy. During Conan's 1066 campaign against Anjou, he took Pouancé
and Segré
, and arrived in Château-Gontier
, where he was found dead after donning poisoned riding gloves. Duke William was widely suspected.
Conan II was succeeded by his sister Hawise, whose marriage to Hoel of Cornwall may have been a political move to consolidate and stabilize the east and west regions of the duchy following Conan's death.
See also: Dukes of Brittany family tree
Duke of Brittany
The Duchy of Brittany was a medieval tribal and feudal state covering the northwestern peninsula of Europe,bordered by the Alantic Ocean on the west and the English Channel to the north with less definitive borders of the Loire River to the south and Normandy to the east...
, from 1040 to his death. Conan was the eldest child and heir of Alan III, Duke of Brittany
Alan III, Duke of Brittany
Alan III of Rennes was duke of Brittany, from 1008 to his death. He was son of Duke Geoffrey I and Hawise of Normandy. Alan married Bertha, daughter of Odo II, Count of Blois and had at least two children: Conan II, his successor, and Hawise of Brittany, who married Hoel of Cornwall.Alan III was...
by his wife Berthe de Blois, and member of the House of Rennes. He was the elder brother of Hawise
Hawise, Duchess of Brittany
Hawise of Rennes was hereditary Duchess of Brittany from 1066 until her death.She was the second child and heiress of Alan III, Duke of Brittany by his wife Berthe de Blois, and as such, a member of the House of Rennes...
, who succeeded him as suo jure
Suo jure
Suo jure is a Latin phrase meaning "in her [or his] own right".It is commonly encountered in the context of titles of nobility, especially in cases where a wife may hold a title in her own right rather than through her marriage....
duchess.
Duke of Brittany
Conan's inheritance was usurped by his uncle, Eudes, Count of PenthièvreEudes, Count of Penthievre
Odo of Rennes , Count of Penthièvre, was the youngest son of Duke Geoffrey I of Brittany and Hawise of Normandy, daughter of Richard I of Normandy. Following the death of his brother Duke Alan III, Eudes ruled as regent of Brittany in the name of his nephew Conan II, between 1040 and 1062...
, who initially ruled Brittany as regent during Conan's minority. However, by the time Conan reached his majority his uncle Eudas refused to give up his authority. By 1057 Conan captured his uncle, whom he had chained and imprisoned.
Once enthroned as Duke Conan II of Brittany, he faced numerous threats, including revolts from his nobles sponsored by William, Duke of Normandy
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
, afterwards King of England.
Brittany, an independent Celtic duchy, had a traditional rivalry with neighboring Normandy. The 1064 -1065 War between Brittany and Normandy
Breton-Norman War
The Breton-Norman War was a war between the Duchy of Brittany and the Duchy of Normandy in the 11th century.- War :Brittany, an independent Celtic duchy, had a traditional rivalry with neighboring Normandy...
was sparked after Duke William supported Rivallon I of Dol
Rivallon I of Dol
Rivallon of Dol-Combourg was born to Hamo I, Viscount of Alet and Roianteline. He would enter marriage with Evrard, Count of Bretueil and Viscount of Chartres's daughter, Aremburga de Puiset. He died around 1065. In his lifetime, he rebelled against Conan II, Duke of Brittany with the aid of...
's rebellion against Conan II.
In 1065, before his invasion of Anglo-Saxon England, William of Normandy sent word to the surrounding counties, including Brittany, warning them against attacking his lands, on the grounds that his mission bore the papal banner. However, Conan promptly informed the duke that he would definitely take the opportunity to invade the latter's duchy. During Conan's 1066 campaign against Anjou, he took Pouancé
Pouancé
Pouancé is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France. It is located on the border of 4 French departements: the Maine-et-Loire where its belong, the Mayenne in the North, the Ille-et-Vilaine in the North-west, and the Loire-Atlantique in the West.Since the Middle-age, Pouancé is...
and Segré
Segré
Segré is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France.-Geography:The town of Segré is the most southern part of the commune, where the Verzée flows into the Oudon River.-External links:*...
, and arrived in Château-Gontier
Château-Gontier
Château-Gontier is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It is about south of Laval, the préfecture of the department of Mayenne. Château-Gontier is home to the Refuge de l'Arche, a refuge for abandoned or mistreated animals.-People:...
, where he was found dead after donning poisoned riding gloves. Duke William was widely suspected.
Conan II was succeeded by his sister Hawise, whose marriage to Hoel of Cornwall may have been a political move to consolidate and stabilize the east and west regions of the duchy following Conan's death.
See also: Dukes of Brittany family tree
Dukes of Brittany family tree
This is a family tree of the Dukes of Brittany from the 9th century, to the annexation of Brittany by France in 1532.See also: Brittany - List of family trees...