Porhoët
Encyclopedia
The first recognised vicomte de Porohoet was Guithenoc (abt. 990-1040CE), formerly of Guilliers. Guithenoc was born in Guilliers, Moribihan, Brittany, Western France. He married Allurum (994-?) of Guilliers. He became Vicomte, and in about 1008 he moved to La Trinite, in Porhoet, Morbihan, Brittany. There he built Castle Josselin, which he named for his son, Josselin (1020–1074). It is still owned by the descendents of Porhoet and is the longest continuously held private estate in the world.
Vicomte Josselin de Porhoet had three sons with the surname Rohan: Mainguy De Rohan, Jostho de Rohan, and Roger de Rohan. He had a fourth son, the third vicomte de Porhoet, Eudo I de Porhoet (1049-?).
Eudo (or Eudes) I married Anne de Leon (1065-?). They had two children, Vicomte Geoffrey de Porhoet (1092–1141) and Alain I de Rohan
Geoffrey married Hawisa Fergant of Brittany (abt. 1105-?). They had two sons, Vicomte Eudes II Porhoet (1122-?) and Alan la Zouche(1132-?).
Eudes II married into the ruling duchy of Brittany
though Bertha (b.1114-?), daughter to Duke Conan III of Brittany (abt. 1096-1148).
of England (5 March 1133- 6 July 1189) had planned to replace Duke Conan III of Brittany with someone from his immediate family
. He had promised his younger brother Geoffrey, of the house of Plantegenet, this duchy if he succeeded to the throne of England. To this end, he had Conan III disinherit his son Hoel III, claiming him as illegitimate. (Hoel III's mother, the Duchess, Maude, was a daughter and illegitimate heir to Henry I of England
).
This meant that Bertha, who was the next in line to the duchy of Brittany, became the legitimate heir to the estate of Conan III.
Bertha's sister Constance (1118-?) was next in line to the duchy (after Bertha); she married Alan, younger brother to Eudes II, thus cementing Porhoet claims to Brittany.
When Conan III passed, his son-in-law Eudes II (along with his brother-in-law
Hoel III), challenged the throne for succession of the duchy. During this time (1148–1156) Eudes II ruled Brittany with Hoel III.
Henry II faced anarchy on many fronts; he was in the midst of the "Nineteen Year Winter." His younger brother Geoffrey, to whom he had promised the duchy, also contested the throne.
Henry II invaded Brittany, and the Castle at Josselin was razed. Eudes II was forced to flee, and the Porhoet family recognised Henry II as King.
. He had a son through her: Eudes III (abt. 1156-?), Comte de Porhoet.
Vicomte Josselin de Porhoet had three sons with the surname Rohan: Mainguy De Rohan, Jostho de Rohan, and Roger de Rohan. He had a fourth son, the third vicomte de Porhoet, Eudo I de Porhoet (1049-?).
Eudo (or Eudes) I married Anne de Leon (1065-?). They had two children, Vicomte Geoffrey de Porhoet (1092–1141) and Alain I de Rohan
Geoffrey married Hawisa Fergant of Brittany (abt. 1105-?). They had two sons, Vicomte Eudes II Porhoet (1122-?) and Alan la Zouche(1132-?).
Eudes II married into the ruling duchy of Brittany
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...
though Bertha (b.1114-?), daughter to Duke Conan III of Brittany (abt. 1096-1148).
Conflict with Henry II
In order to consolidate his power, King Henry IIHenry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
of England (5 March 1133- 6 July 1189) had planned to replace Duke Conan III of Brittany with someone from his immediate family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
. He had promised his younger brother Geoffrey, of the house of Plantegenet, this duchy if he succeeded to the throne of England. To this end, he had Conan III disinherit his son Hoel III, claiming him as illegitimate. (Hoel III's mother, the Duchess, Maude, was a daughter and illegitimate heir to Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
).
This meant that Bertha, who was the next in line to the duchy of Brittany, became the legitimate heir to the estate of Conan III.
Bertha's sister Constance (1118-?) was next in line to the duchy (after Bertha); she married Alan, younger brother to Eudes II, thus cementing Porhoet claims to Brittany.
When Conan III passed, his son-in-law Eudes II (along with his brother-in-law
Brother-in-law
A brother-in-law is the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, or the husband of one's spouse's sibling.-See also:*Affinity *Sister-in-law*Brothers in Law , a 1955 British comedy novel...
Hoel III), challenged the throne for succession of the duchy. During this time (1148–1156) Eudes II ruled Brittany with Hoel III.
Henry II faced anarchy on many fronts; he was in the midst of the "Nineteen Year Winter." His younger brother Geoffrey, to whom he had promised the duchy, also contested the throne.
Henry II invaded Brittany, and the Castle at Josselin was razed. Eudes II was forced to flee, and the Porhoet family recognised Henry II as King.
Epilogue
Eudes II married Eleanor (abt. 1135-?) of Leon, SpainLeón, Spain
León is the capital of the province of León in the autonomous community of Castile and León, situated in the northwest of Spain. Its city population of 136,985 makes it the largest municipality in the province, accounting for more than one quarter of the province's population...
. He had a son through her: Eudes III (abt. 1156-?), Comte de Porhoet.
Movement to England / Beginning of Zouches
His younger brother Alan and moved to England under Henry II and settled in Devonshire where he married Alice de Belmais, daughter and heir to the estate of Philip de Belmais of Tong, Salops, Ashby, and Leics. He changed his surname from de Porhoet to la Zouche.External links
- http://www.peterjoslin.btinternet.co.uk/chateau_josselin.htm
- http://www.casteland.com/puk/castle/bretagne/morbihan/josselin/josselin.htm