List of monarchs of Brittany
Introduction This is a '''list of monarchs of the Duchy of Brittany'''. In different epochs the sovereigns of Brittany were kings, princes, and dukes. The Breton ruler was sometimes elected, sometimes attained the position by conquest or intrigue, or by hereditary right. Hereditary dukes were sometimes a female ruler, carrying the title duchesse of Brittany. Its principal cities and regions were ruled by counts who often found themselves in conflict with the Breton ruler, or who became the Breton ruler. During the declining years of the Roman Empire, the earliest Breton rulers in Gaul were styled "kings" of the small realms of Cornouaille and Domnonia. Some such kings may have had a form of hegemony over all of the Brythonic populations in the Armorican peninsula, and Riothamus is called King of the Britons by the chronicler Jordanes. However, there are no certain rulers of the whole of Brittany, which was divided into the fiefdoms of local counts. The Duchy of Brittany had its origins in the Battle of Trans-la-Forêt of 939, which established the river Couesnon as the boundary between Brittany and Normandy. In 942, Alan II paid homage to Louis IV of France; however, the duchy did not gain royal attention until 1123, when Louis VI of France confirmed the bishop of Nantes. No other Duke of Brittany repeated Alan II's homage until Arthur I recognised Philip II of France as his liege in 1202.The area was often called a Duchy, and its monarchs were considered independent Sovereign Dukes. However, one historical view is that before the middle of the 12th century the Dukes of Brittany were often also called Counts by the Kings of France, as the kingdom of France then saw Brittany as no more than a county. In 1297, the peninsula was elevated into a Duchy in the peerage of France. This view is not consistent with the manner in which Charles VIII of France and then Louis XII of France approached the Duchy and the rights of Anne of Brittany who married each in succession.
Early Breton monarchs *Conan Meriadoc (4th century) – by tradition, the founder of Brittany*Budic II (early 6th century)*Waroch II (late 6th century)*Saint Judicaël (early 7th century)*Alain II Hir (640?–690)*Morman ( 814–818)*Wihomarc ( 822–825)
Dukes of Brittany ===Dukes under the Carolingians===*Nominoe (or ''Nevenoe'') ( 841–851), as a ''missus dominicus'' of the Emperor Louis the Pious, a count of Vannes (Gwened) and arguably a duke (''dux'') of Brittany*Erispoe ( 851–857), as a duke, then as a king*Salomon (or ''Salaun'') ( 857–874), as a duke, then a king*Pasquitan (or ''Paskweten'') ( 874–877), ruling Brittany (southern part) with Gurvand*Gurvand ( 874–877), ruling Brittany (northern part) with Pasquitan*Judicael ( 877–888), successor of Gurvand, ruled Brittany (north) with Alan the Great (south)*Alan the Great (reigned from 877 to 888 with Judicaël, alone as a duke, then as a king up to 907)*Gourmaëlon, Count of Cornouaille (reigned from 907 as a guardian of the kingdom)The succession was interrupted by the Viking occupation (913–937)===House of Nantes=== '''Alan IIthe Fox'''(''Alan al Louarn'')938–952   before 919son of Mathuedoi, Count of Poher, and a daughter of Alan I (1) Roscille of Anjou943(2) ? of Bloisbef. 949/51one son  952Nantesaged about 33 '''Drogo'''(''Drogon'')952–958   949/52only legitimate son of Alan II ''never married''  958Angersaged 5–9 '''Hoël I'''(''Hoel Iañ '')958–981  ?illegitimate son of Alan II and the "noble" Judith ''never married''  981 '''Guerech'''(''Guerech Iañ'')981–988 ?illegitimate son of Alan II and the "noble" Judith, younger brother of Hoël I Aremburga of Ancenisafter 981one son  988 '''Alan'''(''Alan Breizh'')988–990 after 981son of Guerech and Aremburga of Ancenis ''never married''  990===House of Rennes=== '''Conan I'''(''Konan Iañ'')990–992   927eldest son of Judicael Berengar, Count of Rennes and Gerberga Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou973five children 27 June 992Conquereuilaged 64–65 '''Geoffrey I'''(''Jafrez Iañ '')992–1008   980eldest son of Conan I and Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou Hawise of Normandy996four children 20 November 1008aged 27–28 '''Alan III'''(''Alan III'')1008–1040''with Odo I as regent, then co-ruler (1008–1034)'' 100px  997eldest son of Geoffrey I and Hawise of Normandy Bertha of Blois1018two children 1 October 1040Montgommeryaged 42–43 '''Odo I'''(''Eozen I'')1008–1034''as regent, then co-ruler to Alan III'' 100px  999second son of Geoffrey I and Hawise of Normandy Orguen of Cornouaillesix children  1079Cessonaged 79–80 '''Conan II'''(''Konan II'')1040–1066''with Odo I as regent (1040–1057)''   1033only son of Alan III and Bertha of Blois ''never married'' 11 December 1066Château-Gontieraged 32–33 '''Hawise'''(''Hawiz'')1066–1072''with Hoël II ''   1037only daughter of Alan III and Bertha of Blois 1066seven children 19 August 1072aged 34–35 '''Hoël II'''(''Hoël II'')1066–1072''with Hawise ''   1031eldest son of Alain Canhiart, Count of Cornouaille and Judith of Nantes, descendant of Alan II 13 April 1084aged 52–53===House of Cornouaille=== '''Alan IVthe Younger'''(''Alan IV Fergant '')1072–1112''with Hoël II as regent(1072–1084)'' 100px bef. 1060eldest son of Hoël II and Hawise (1) Constance of Normandy1086/88no issue(2) Ermengarde of Anjou1093three children 13 October 1119Redon Abbeyaged 60s '''Conan IIIthe Fat'''(''Konan III'')1112–1148 100px  1093–1096eldest son of Alan IV and Ermengarde of Anjou Maud FitzRoy1112three children 17 September 1148aged 54–58 '''Bertha'''(''Berta'')1148–1156''with Odo II '' 100px  1114eldest daughter of Conan III and Maud FitzRoy (1) Alan, 1st Earl of Richmond1137/8three children(2) Odo II1148three children  1156aged 41–43 '''Odo II'''(''Eozen II'')1148–1156''with Bertha '' 100px ?eldest son of Geoffrey, Viscount of Porhoet and Hawise (1) Bertha1148three children(2) Joan-Eleanor of LéonAugust 1167two or three children  1170===House of Penthièvre=== '''Conan IV the Black'''(''Konan IV'')1156–1166 100px  1138only son of Alan of Penthièvre, 1st Earl of Richmond and Bertha Margaret of Huntingdon1160one daughter  20 February 1171aged 33 '''Constance'''(''Konstanza'')1166–1201''with Geoffrey II(1181–1186)with Arthur I(1196–1201)with Guy(1199–1201)'' 100px  1161daughter of Conan IV and Margaret of Huntingdon (1) Geoffrey IIJuly 1181three children(2) Ranulf3 February 1188no issue(3) Guy of ThouarsOctober 1199two or three daughters 5 September 1201Nantesaged 40 '''Geoffrey II'''(''Jafrez II'')1181–1186''with Constance '' 100px  23 September 1158fourth son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine ConstanceJuly 1181three children 19 August 1186Paris, Franceaged 27 '''Guy'''(''Gi'')1199–12011203–1213''with Constance(1199–1201)with Alix(1203–1213)''  birth date unknownsecond son of Aimery IV of Thouars and Aénor of Lusignan (1) ConstanceOctober 1199two or three daughters(2) Eustachie of Chemillé1203two sons 13 April 1213Chemillé, France===House of Plantagenet=== '''Arthur I'''(''Arzhur Iañ'')1196–1203''with Constance(1196–1201)''80px 29 March 1187in Nantes,only son of Geoffrey II and Constance never married Disappeared in captivity aged 16; fate unknown Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany, eldest daughter of Geoffrey and Constance and full elder sister of Arthur, also unmarried, was prevented from succession for her imprisonment in England which lasted till her death in 1241, thus was merely a titular duchess from 1208 to 1214 when John, King of England ceased to support her claim.===House of Thouars=== '''Alix'''(''Alis'')1203–1221''with Guy as regent(1203–1213)with Peter I(1213–1221)'' 150px 1200eldest daughter of Guy and Constance Peter I1213three children 21 October 1221aged 21 '''Peter IMauclerc'''(''Pêr Iañ'')1213–1221''with Alix'' 150px   1190second son of Robert II of Dreux and Yolanda de Coucy (1) Alix1213three children(2) Nicole 1230one son(3) Marguerite de Commequiersbef. January 1236no issue 6 July 1250sea off Damiettaaged 59–60===House of Dreux=== '''John Ithe Red'''(''Yann Iañ ar Ruz'')1221–1286''with Peter I as regent(1221–1237)'' 150px  1217/18eldest son of Peter I and Alix Blanche of NavarreChâteau-Thierry, Aisne16 January 1236eight children 8 October 1286Château de l'Isle, Férel, Morbihanaged 67–69 '''John II'''(''Yann II'')1286–1305 100px 3/4 January 1239eldest son of John I and Blanche of Navarre Beatrice of EnglandWestminster Abbey, London25 December 1260eight children 16 November 1305Lyonaged 66 '''Arthur II'''(''Arzhur II'')1305–1312 100px 2 July 1262eldest son of John II and Beatrice of England (1) Marie of LimogesTours1277three children(2) Yolande of DreuxMay 1292six children 27 August 1312Château de l'Isle, Férel, Morbihanaged 50 '''John IIIthe Good'''(''Yann III'')1312–1341 100px 8 March 1286Château de Champtoceaux, Maine-et-Loireeldest son of Arthur II and Marie of Limoges (1) Isabella of Valois18 February 1298no issue(2) Isabella of Castile and LeónBurgos21 June 1310no issue(3) Joan of SavoyChartres21 March 1330no issue 30 April 1341Caenaged 55===Breton War of Succession=== '''Joanthe Lame'''(''Janed'')1341–1364''with Charles I '' 100px  1319only daughter of Guy of Brittany, Count of Penthièvre and Joan of Avaugour Paris4 June 1337five children 10 September 1384Guingampaged 64–65 '''Charles I'''(''Charlez Iañ'')1341–1364''with Joan '' 100px  1319Bloissecond son of Guy I, Count of Blois and Margaret of Valois 29 September 1364Aurayaged 44–45 '''John (IV) of Montfort'''(''Yann IV Moñforzh'')May 1341–1345 100px  1293only son of Arthur II and Yolande de Dreux Joanna of FlandersChartresMarch 1329two children 26 September 1345Château d'Hennebon, Hennebontaged 51–52 '''John (V) of Montfort'''(''Yann V Moñforzh'')1345–1364 100px  1339only son of John of Montfort and Joanna of Flanders (1) Mary Plantagenet of EnglandWoodstock Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshiresummer of 1361no issue(2) Joan HollandLondonMay 1366no issue(3) Joan of NavarreSaillé-près-Guérande2 October 1386nine children 1/2 November 1399Nantesaged 59–60===House of Montfort=== '''John IVthe Conqueror'''(''Yann IV'')1364–1399(Previously ''John V'' in pretentious succession from his father.) 100px  1339only son of John of Montfort and Joanna of Flanders (1) Mary Plantagenet of EnglandWoodstock Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshiresummer of 1361no issue(2) Joan HollandLondonMay 1366no issue(3) Joan of NavarreSaillé-près-Guérande2 October 1386nine children 1/2 November 1399Nantesaged 59–60 '''John Vthe Wise'''(''Yann V ar Fur'')1399–1442 100px 24 December 1389Château de l'Hermine, Vannes, Morbihaneldest son of John IV and Joan of Navarre Joan of FranceHôtel de Saint-Pol, Paris19 September 1396seven children 29 August 1442Manoir de La Touche, Nantesaged 52 '''Francis Ithe Well-Loved'''(''Frañsez Iañ'')1442–1450 100px  11 May 1414Vanneseldest son of John V and Joan of France (1) Yolande of AnjouAmboise20 August 1431one son(2) Isabella of ScotlandChâteau d'Auray30 October 1442two daughter 17 July 1450Château de l'Hermine, Vannes, Morbihanaged 36 '''Peter IIthe Simple'''(''Pêr II'')1450–1457 100px  7 July 1418Nantessecond son of John V and Joan of France Françoise d'Amboise 1442no issue 22 September 1457Nantesaged 39 '''Arthur IIIthe Justicier'''(''Arzhur III'')1457–1458 100px  24 August 1393Château de Suscinio, Vannessecond son of John IV and Joan of Navarre (1) Margaret of BurgundyDijon10 October 1423no issue(2) Joan of AlbretNérac29 August 1442no issue(3) Catherine of Luxembourg2 July 1445no issue 26 December 1458Nantesaged 65 '''Francis II'''(''Frañsez II'')1458–1488 100px  23 June 1433Château de Clissoneldest son of Richard de Dreux, Count of Étampes and Marguerite d'Orléans, Countess of Vertus (1) Marguerite of BrittanyChâteau de l'Hermine16 November 1455one son(2) Marguerite of FoixChâteau de Clisson27 June 1474two daughters 9 September 1488Couëronaged 55 '''Anne'''(''Anna'')1488–1514 100px  25 January 1477Château de Nanteseldest daughter of Francis II and Margaret of Foix (1) ''Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor''(by proxy) Rennes Cathedral19 December 1490no issue(2) Charles VIII of FranceChâteau de Langeais19 December 1491four children(3) Louis XII of FranceChâteau de Nantes8 January 1499four children 9 January 1514Château de Bloisaged 36===House of Valois=== '''Claude'''(''Klaoda'')1514–1524''withFrancis(1514–1515)'' 100px  14 October 1499Romorantin-Lanthenayeldest daughter of Louis XII of France and Anne Francis I of FranceChâteau de Saint-Germain-en-Laye18 May 1514eight children 20 July 1524Château de Bloisaged 24 '''Francis'''(''Frañsez'')1514–1515''with Claude(1514–1515)'' 100px  12 September 1494Château de Cognaconly son of Charles de Valois, Count of Angoulême and Louise of Savoy (1) ClaudeChâteau de Saint-Germain-en-Laye18 May 1514eight children(2) Eleanor of AustriaAbbaye de Veien7 August 1530no issue 31 March 1547Château de Rambouilletaged 52 '''Francis III'''(''Frañsez III'')1524–1536 100px  28 February 1518Château d'Amboiseeldest son of Francis I of France and Claude ''never married'' 10 August 1536Chateau de Tournonaged 18 '''Henry'''(''Herri'')1536–1547 100px  31 March 1519Château de Saint-Germain-en-Layesecond son of Francis I of France and Claude Catherine de' MediciMarseille Cathedral28 October 1533ten children 10 July 1559Place des Vosgesaged 40
As courtesy title |width=auto| '''Louis de France'''1704–1705 100px  25 June 1704Palace of Versailleseldest son of Louis, Duke of Burgundy and Marie-Adélaïde of Savoy ''never married'' 13 April 1705Palace of Versaillesdied before first birthday '''Louis de France'''1707–1712  100px  8 January 1707Palace of Versaillessecond son of Louis, Duke of Burgundy and Marie Adélaïde of Savoy ''never married'' 18 February 1712Palace of Versaillesaged 5 '''François de Bourbon '''1973–1984  100px  22 November 1972Madrideldest son of Alfonso, Duke of Anjou and Cádiz and María del Carmen Martínez-Bordiú y Franco ''never married'' 7 February 1984Pamplonaaged 11
Family tree Family tree of the Rulers of Brittany from Nominoe, its first duke, to Henry II and the loss of the ducal title in 1547.
See also * Brittany* Château des ducs de Bretagne (Castle of the Dukes of Brittany)* Duchy of Brittany* List of Breton royal consorts* Union of Brittany and France
References
External links