Guy of Nantes
Encyclopedia
Guy or Guido was appointed to replace the late Roland
as Warden of the Breton March
after his death at the Battle of Roncesvalles in 778
. Guy no more effectively exercised control over Brittany
than his predecessor, but was the chief contact by which the Bretons knew French policy. His actual territory of control was the County of Nantes
. Carolingian infighting distracted Guy and prevented him from exhibiting any real authority. It was to be Norman
pressure on the Bretons which would open a portal to a French dynasty in Brittany under Berengar of Rennes.
Guy was the son of Lambert and Teutberga of the Austrasia
n family of the Guideschi
. Guy received his charge in Neustria and Nantes about 799
, at the same time that his brother Frodoald received the county of Vannes
. Royal annals note in the year 799 that "Guy, prefect of the marches of Brittany, who in the same year traversed the whole province with the counts his colleagues, came to present [to Charlemagne
] at Aachen
, the arms of the Breton chiefs who had been rendered to him, and on each trophy was inscribed the name of the chief to whom the weapon belonged." It was specified at the same time that "Brittany appeared then to be entirely subject."
Guy's name subsequently appears, notably in 814
, in the many acts recorded in the cartulary of the abbey of Saint-Sauveur de Redon
, where it is found beside that of Jarnhitin (or Iarnhitin), machtiern (or mactiern) or princeps plebis (prince of the people, meaning chief). The cartulary says "Jarnhitin rules, Guy is count."
Guy died before 819
, leaving his son Lambert
as count of Nantes and prefect of the march.
Roland
Roland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...
as Warden of the Breton March
March of Neustria
The marches of Neustria were creations of the Carolingian king of West Francia covering the ancient Merovingian kingdom of Neustria. Originally, there were two marches, one against the Bretons and one against the Norsemen created by Charles the Bald in 861. These two marches are often called the...
after his death at the Battle of Roncesvalles in 778
778
Year 778 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 778 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* August 15 – Battle of Roncevaux Pass...
. Guy no more effectively exercised control over Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
than his predecessor, but was the chief contact by which the Bretons knew French policy. His actual territory of control was the County of Nantes
County of Nantes
The counts of Nantes were originally the Frankish rulers of the Nantais under the Carolingians. Their county served as a march against the Bretons of the Vannetais...
. Carolingian infighting distracted Guy and prevented him from exhibiting any real authority. It was to be Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
pressure on the Bretons which would open a portal to a French dynasty in Brittany under Berengar of Rennes.
Guy was the son of Lambert and Teutberga of the Austrasia
Austrasia
Austrasia formed the northeastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising parts of the territory of present-day eastern France, western Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Metz served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier, and...
n family of the Guideschi
Guideschi
The Guideschi, Guidoni, Vitone or Widonids were an Italian family of Frankish origin prominent in the ninth century. They were descended from Guy of Nantes, whose origins were Austrasian. They were an aggressive dynasty, expanding their base of power into the Papal States, ever loyal to the Empire...
. Guy received his charge in Neustria and Nantes about 799
799
Year 799 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 799 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Religion :* 29 November – Pope Leo III, aided...
, at the same time that his brother Frodoald received the county of Vannes
County of Vannes
County of Vannes was the land ruled by the Count of Vannes....
. Royal annals note in the year 799 that "Guy, prefect of the marches of Brittany, who in the same year traversed the whole province with the counts his colleagues, came to present [to Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
] at Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
, the arms of the Breton chiefs who had been rendered to him, and on each trophy was inscribed the name of the chief to whom the weapon belonged." It was specified at the same time that "Brittany appeared then to be entirely subject."
Guy's name subsequently appears, notably in 814
814
Year 814 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Charlemagne dies in Aachen, aged 67 or 72...
, in the many acts recorded in the cartulary of the abbey of Saint-Sauveur de Redon
Redon Abbey
Redon Abbey, or Abbey of Saint-Sauveur, Redon , in Redon in the present Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, France, is a former Benedictine abbey founded in 832 by Saint Conwoïon, at the point where the Oust flows into the Vilaine, on the border between Neustria and Brittany.-History:In 832 Ratwili, a local...
, where it is found beside that of Jarnhitin (or Iarnhitin), machtiern (or mactiern) or princeps plebis (prince of the people, meaning chief). The cartulary says "Jarnhitin rules, Guy is count."
Guy died before 819
819
Year 819 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Abbasid capital is moved back to Baghdad .- Europe :...
, leaving his son Lambert
Lambert I of Nantes
Lambert I was the Count of Nantes and Prefect of the Breton March between 818 to 831 and Duke of Spoleto between 834 and 836. Lambert succeeded his father Guy....
as count of Nantes and prefect of the march.