John of Brittany, Earl of Richmond
Encyclopedia
John of Brittany or Jean de Bretagne (c. 1266 – 17 January 1334) 3rd Earl of Richmond
, was an English
nobleman of Breton
origin. He entered royal service under Edward I
, and fought in the Scottish Wars
. On 15 October 1306 he received his father's title of Earl of Richmond
. Although he was generally loyal to Edward II
during the times of baronial opposition, he eventually supported the coup of Isabella
and Mortimer. He then retired to his estates in France, and for the rest of his life remained politically inactive.
John of Brittany was not an accomplished soldier, and among the earls of England he was politically quite insignificant. He was nevertheless a capable diplomat, valued by both Edward I and Edward II for his negotiating skills. John was never married, and upon his death his title and estates fell to his nephew, John III, Duke of Brittany
.
, and his wife Beatrice
, who together had three sons and three daughters who survived to adulthood. Beatrice was the daughter of Henry III of England
, which made John the nephew of Henry's son and heir Edward I
. His father held the title of Earl of Richmond
, but was little involved in English political affairs. John was raised at the English court together with Edward I's son Henry
, who died in 1274. He participated in tournaments
in his youth, but never distinguished himself as a soldier. When in 1294 the French king confiscated King Edward's Duchy of Aquitaine
, John travelled to France but failed to take Bordeaux
, and in Easter 1295 had to flee the town of Rions
. In January 1297 he shared defeat at the siege of Bellegarde
with Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln
, following which he returned to England.
Despite his poor results in France he remained highly regarded by King Edward I, who judged him almost as a son. After his return to England John became involved in the Scottish Wars
. He was probably at the Battle of Falkirk
in 1298, and was certainly at the Siege of Caerlaverock in 1300. His father died in 1305, and was succeeded to the Duchy of Brittany by John's elder brother, Arthur
. The following year however, Edward I invested John with his father's other title, Earl of Richmond.
, a position which was confirmed upon the accession of Edward II
in 1307. At this time Richmond was also one of the nation's oldest earls. As the relationship between Edward II and his nobility deteriorated, Richmond remained loyal to the king; in 1309 he went on an embassy to Pope Clement V
on behalf of Edward's favourite
Piers Gaveston. Richmond was allegedly Gaveston's close personal friend, and did not share the antagonistic attitudes held by certain other earls. By 1310 however, the relationship between Edward II and his earls had deteriorated to the point where a committee of magnate
s took control over government from the king. Richmond was one of eight earls appointed to this group of 21, referred to as the Lords Ordainers
.
Richmond then travelled to France for diplomatic negotiations, before returning to England. Gaveston, exiled by the Ordainers but who later made an illicit return, was killed in June 1312 by Thomas of Lancaster and other nobles. It fell upon Richmond, together with Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester
, to reconcile the two parties after this event. In 1313 he followed Edward on a state visit to France, and thereafter generally remained a trusted subject. In 1318 he witnessed the Treaty of Leake
, which restored Edward to full power.
In 1320 he again accompanied the king to France, and the next year he carried out peace negotiations with the Scots. When in 1322 Thomas of Lancaster rebelled and was defeated at the Battle of Boroughbridge
, Richmond was present at his trial, when Lancaster was sentenced to death. After this, Edward staged an unsuccessful military campaign against Scotland. Although Richmond covered Edward's retreat at the Battle of Old Byland
, enabling him to evade capture, Richmond was taken prisoner. He remained in captivity until 1324, when he was released for a ransom of 14,000 marks
. After his release he continued his diplomatic activities, in Scotland and France.
, who had been sent on a diplomatic mission to France, and had disobeyed her husbands orders to return. In September 1326 Isabella, her lover Mortimer, and a small army, invaded England. By January 1327 Edward II had been forced to abdicate, and his son was declared King Edward III
. Although Richmond's lands were restored, his last years were spent on his French estates, and he remained largely cut off from English political affairs. He died on 17 January 1334, and was buried in the church of the Franciscan
s in Nantes
. John of Brittany never married; he was succeeded by his nephew John
(Arthur's son), who inherited his Earldom.
Earl of Richmond
The now-extinct title of Earl of Richmond was created many times in the Peerage of England. The earldom of Richmond was held by various Bretons, Normans, the royal families of Plantagenet, Capet, Savoy, Tudor and Stuart.-History:...
, was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
nobleman of Breton
Breton people
The Bretons are an ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Brythonic speakers who emigrated from southwestern Great Britain in waves from the 3rd to 6th century into the Armorican peninsula, subsequently named Brittany after them.The...
origin. He entered royal service under Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
, and fought in the Scottish Wars
First War of Scottish Independence
The First War of Scottish Independence lasted from the invasion by England in 1296 until the de jure restoration of Scottish independence with the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328...
. On 15 October 1306 he received his father's title of Earl of Richmond
Earl of Richmond
The now-extinct title of Earl of Richmond was created many times in the Peerage of England. The earldom of Richmond was held by various Bretons, Normans, the royal families of Plantagenet, Capet, Savoy, Tudor and Stuart.-History:...
. Although he was generally loyal to Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
during the times of baronial opposition, he eventually supported the coup of Isabella
Isabella of France
Isabella of France , sometimes described as the She-wolf of France, was Queen consort of England as the wife of Edward II of England. She was the youngest surviving child and only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre...
and Mortimer. He then retired to his estates in France, and for the rest of his life remained politically inactive.
John of Brittany was not an accomplished soldier, and among the earls of England he was politically quite insignificant. He was nevertheless a capable diplomat, valued by both Edward I and Edward II for his negotiating skills. John was never married, and upon his death his title and estates fell to his nephew, John III, Duke of Brittany
John III, Duke of Brittany
John III the Good was duke of Brittany, from 1312 to his death. He was son of Duke Arthur II and Mary of Limoges, his first wife...
.
Family background and early life
John was the second surviving son of John II, Duke of BrittanyJohn II, Duke of Brittany
John II was Duke of Brittany and Earl of Richmond, from 1286 to his death. He was son of Duke John I and Blanche of Navarre...
, and his wife Beatrice
Beatrice of England
Beatrice of England , also known as Beatrice de Dreux, was a Princess of England as the daughter of King Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence...
, who together had three sons and three daughters who survived to adulthood. Beatrice was the daughter of Henry III of England
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
, which made John the nephew of Henry's son and heir Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
. His father held the title of Earl of Richmond
Earl of Richmond
The now-extinct title of Earl of Richmond was created many times in the Peerage of England. The earldom of Richmond was held by various Bretons, Normans, the royal families of Plantagenet, Capet, Savoy, Tudor and Stuart.-History:...
, but was little involved in English political affairs. John was raised at the English court together with Edward I's son Henry
Henry of England
Henry of England was the fifth child and second son of Edward I of England by his first wife Eleanor of Castile....
, who died in 1274. He participated in tournaments
Tournament (medieval)
A tournament, or tourney is the name popularly given to chivalrous competitions or mock fights of the Middle Ages and Renaissance . It is one of various types of hastiludes....
in his youth, but never distinguished himself as a soldier. When in 1294 the French king confiscated King Edward's Duchy of Aquitaine
Duke of Aquitaine
The Duke of Aquitaine ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of Frankish, English and later French kings....
, John travelled to France but failed to take Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, and in Easter 1295 had to flee the town of Rions
Rions
Rions is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
. In January 1297 he shared defeat at the siege of Bellegarde
Bellegarde, Gers
Bellegarde is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-Population:...
with Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln
Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln
Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln was a confidant of Edward I of England.In 1272 on reaching the age of majority he became Earl of Lincoln...
, following which he returned to England.
Despite his poor results in France he remained highly regarded by King Edward I, who judged him almost as a son. After his return to England John became involved in the Scottish Wars
First War of Scottish Independence
The First War of Scottish Independence lasted from the invasion by England in 1296 until the de jure restoration of Scottish independence with the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328...
. He was probably at the Battle of Falkirk
Battle of Falkirk (1298)
The Battle of Falkirk, which took place on 22 July 1298, was one of the major battles in the First War of Scottish Independence...
in 1298, and was certainly at the Siege of Caerlaverock in 1300. His father died in 1305, and was succeeded to the Duchy of Brittany by John's elder brother, Arthur
Arthur II, Duke of Brittany
Arthur II , of the House of Dreux, was Duke of Brittany from 1305 to his death. He was the first son of John II and Beatrice, daughter of Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence....
. The following year however, Edward I invested John with his father's other title, Earl of Richmond.
Service to Edward II
Though a military failure and politically relatively insignificant, the English government viewed Richmond as a trusted diplomat. He was a skilled negotiator, and his French connections were a useful asset. In 1305, Edward I had appointed him Guardian of ScotlandGuardian of Scotland
The Guardians of Scotland were the de facto heads of state of Scotland during the First Interregnum of 1290–1292, and the Second Interregnum of 1296–1306...
, a position which was confirmed upon the accession of Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
in 1307. At this time Richmond was also one of the nation's oldest earls. As the relationship between Edward II and his nobility deteriorated, Richmond remained loyal to the king; in 1309 he went on an embassy to Pope Clement V
Pope Clement V
Pope Clement V, born Raymond Bertrand de Got was Pope from 1305 to his death...
on behalf of Edward's favourite
Favourite
A favourite , or favorite , was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In medieval and Early Modern Europe, among other times and places, the term is used of individuals delegated significant political power by a ruler...
Piers Gaveston. Richmond was allegedly Gaveston's close personal friend, and did not share the antagonistic attitudes held by certain other earls. By 1310 however, the relationship between Edward II and his earls had deteriorated to the point where a committee of magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
s took control over government from the king. Richmond was one of eight earls appointed to this group of 21, referred to as the Lords Ordainers
Ordinances of 1311
The Ordinances of 1311 were a series of regulations imposed upon King Edward II by the peerage and clergy of the Kingdom of England to restrict the power of the king. The twenty-one signatories of the Ordinances are referred to as the Lords Ordainers, or simply the Ordainers...
.
Richmond then travelled to France for diplomatic negotiations, before returning to England. Gaveston, exiled by the Ordainers but who later made an illicit return, was killed in June 1312 by Thomas of Lancaster and other nobles. It fell upon Richmond, together with Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester
Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford
Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford, 7th Earl of Gloucester was a powerful English noble. Also known as "Red" Gilbert de Clare, probably because of his hair colour.- Lineage :...
, to reconcile the two parties after this event. In 1313 he followed Edward on a state visit to France, and thereafter generally remained a trusted subject. In 1318 he witnessed the Treaty of Leake
Treaty of Leake
The Treaty of Leake was an agreement between the "Middle Party", including courtier adherents of Edward II of England, and the king's cousin, the Earl Thomas of Lancaster and his followers. It was signed at Leake in Nottinghamshire on 9 August 1318. The treaty was meant to reconcile the king and...
, which restored Edward to full power.
In 1320 he again accompanied the king to France, and the next year he carried out peace negotiations with the Scots. When in 1322 Thomas of Lancaster rebelled and was defeated at the Battle of Boroughbridge
Battle of Boroughbridge
The Battle of Boroughbridge was a battle fought on 16 March 1322 between a group of rebellious barons and King Edward II of England, near Boroughbridge, northwest of York. The culmination of a long period of antagonism between the king and Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, his most powerful subject, it...
, Richmond was present at his trial, when Lancaster was sentenced to death. After this, Edward staged an unsuccessful military campaign against Scotland. Although Richmond covered Edward's retreat at the Battle of Old Byland
Battle of Old Byland
The Battle of Old Byland was a significant encounter between Scots and English troops in Yorkshire in October 1322, forming part of the Wars of Scottish Independence...
, enabling him to evade capture, Richmond was taken prisoner. He remained in captivity until 1324, when he was released for a ransom of 14,000 marks
Mark (money)
Mark was a measure of weight mainly for gold and silver, commonly used throughout western Europe and often equivalent to 8 ounces. Considerable variations, however, occurred throughout the Middle Ages Mark (from a merging of three Teutonic/Germanic languages words, Latinized in 9th century...
. After his release he continued his diplomatic activities, in Scotland and France.
Deposition of Edward II and final years
In March 1325 Richmond made a final return to France, where for the first time he made himself a clear opponent of the king. His lands in England were confiscated by the Crown. He aligned himself with Queen IsabellaIsabella of France
Isabella of France , sometimes described as the She-wolf of France, was Queen consort of England as the wife of Edward II of England. She was the youngest surviving child and only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre...
, who had been sent on a diplomatic mission to France, and had disobeyed her husbands orders to return. In September 1326 Isabella, her lover Mortimer, and a small army, invaded England. By January 1327 Edward II had been forced to abdicate, and his son was declared King Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
. Although Richmond's lands were restored, his last years were spent on his French estates, and he remained largely cut off from English political affairs. He died on 17 January 1334, and was buried in the church of the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
s in 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....
. John of Brittany never married; he was succeeded by his nephew John
John III, Duke of Brittany
John III the Good was duke of Brittany, from 1312 to his death. He was son of Duke Arthur II and Mary of Limoges, his first wife...
(Arthur's son), who inherited his Earldom.