Brian of Brittany
Encyclopedia
Brian of Brittany in English, or Brien (also Brient) de Bretagne in French, was a Breton
noble who fought for William I of England
. He was born in about 1042, the second (probably illegitimate) son of Odo, Count of Penthièvre. Brian is said to have commanded a band of Bretons with his brother Alan the Black (Alain Niger), at the Battle of Hastings
in 1066.
At midsummer
in 1069, Brian and Alan led a force that defeated a raid by Godwine and Edmund, sons of Harold Godwinson, who had sailed from Ireland with a fleet of 64 ships to the mouth of the River Taw
in Devon
. They had escaped to Leinster after the Battle of Hastings
in 1066 where they were hosted by Diarmait
. In 1068 and 1069 Diarmait lent them the fleet of Dublin for their attempted invasions of England. Later in the same year, Brian and William fitz Osbern
were sent to relieve sieges at Shrewsbury
and Exeter
by rebelling Englishmen. They were too late to save the former, but a sally by the defenders of Exeter drove the English into the path of Brian and William who "punished their audacity with great slaughter". Brian received grants of land in Suffolk
and Cornwall
, although the first mention of him being made Earl of Cornwall was not made until 1140 by his nephew, Alan, 1st Earl of Richmond. He had been given the same title by King Stephen and may have been trying to improve the legitimacy of his new rank. Brian's name is often associated with the construction of Launceston Castle
. He left England following the rebellion of Ralph de Gaël in 1075. He lived the rest of his life as a semi-invalid in Brittany. He died before 1086; his estates had by then become part of the grants made by King William to Robert of Mortain.
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...
noble who fought for William I of England
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...
. He was born in about 1042, the second (probably illegitimate) son of Odo, Count of Penthièvre. Brian is said to have commanded a band of Bretons with his brother Alan the Black (Alain Niger), at the Battle of Hastings
Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II...
in 1066.
At midsummer
Midsummer
Midsummer may simply refer to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, but more often refers to specific European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice, or that take place on a day between June 21 and June 24, and the preceding evening. The exact dates vary between different...
in 1069, Brian and Alan led a force that defeated a raid by Godwine and Edmund, sons of Harold Godwinson, who had sailed from Ireland with a fleet of 64 ships to the mouth of the River Taw
River Taw
The River Taw rises at Taw Head, a spring on the central northern flanks of Dartmoor. It reaches the Bristol Channel away on the north coast of Devon at a joint estuary mouth which it shares with the River Torridge.-Watercourse:...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. They had escaped to Leinster after the Battle of Hastings
Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II...
in 1066 where they were hosted by Diarmait
Diarmait mac Mail na mBo
Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó was King of Leinster, and also High King of Ireland .He was one of the most important and significant Kings in Ireland in the pre-Norman era...
. In 1068 and 1069 Diarmait lent them the fleet of Dublin for their attempted invasions of England. Later in the same year, Brian and William fitz Osbern
William Fitz Osbern
William Fitz Osbern may refer to:* William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford , Norman magnate and friend of William the Conqueror* William Fitz Osbern , leader of popular revolt in London 1196...
were sent to relieve sieges at Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
and Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
by rebelling Englishmen. They were too late to save the former, but a sally by the defenders of Exeter drove the English into the path of Brian and William who "punished their audacity with great slaughter". Brian received grants of land in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, although the first mention of him being made Earl of Cornwall was not made until 1140 by his nephew, Alan, 1st Earl of Richmond. He had been given the same title by King Stephen and may have been trying to improve the legitimacy of his new rank. Brian's name is often associated with the construction of Launceston Castle
Launceston Castle
Launceston Castle is located in the town of Launceston, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. .-Early history:The castle is a Norman motte and bailey earthwork castle raised by Robert, Count of Mortain, half-brother of William the Conqueror shortly after the Norman conquest, possibly as early as 1067...
. He left England following the rebellion of Ralph de Gaël in 1075. He lived the rest of his life as a semi-invalid in Brittany. He died before 1086; his estates had by then become part of the grants made by King William to Robert of Mortain.