Counts and dukes of Penthièvre
Encyclopedia
In the 11th and 12th centuries the countship of Penthièvre (Breton
: Penteur) in Brittany
(now in the department of Côtes-d'Armor
) belonged to a branch of the sovereign house of Brittany. Geoffrey I, Duke of Brittany
, gave it to his brother Eudes
in 1035, and the line formed a cadet branch of the ducal house of Brittany. Henry d'Avaugour, heir of this dynasty, was dispossessed of the countship in 1235 by the Duke of Brittany
, Pierre Mauclerc
, who gave it as dowry to his daughter, Yolande, on her marriage in 1238 to Hugh XI of Lusignan
, Count of La Marche. John I, Duke of Brittany
, Yolande's brother, seized the countship on her death in 1272.
brought Penthièvre to her husband, Charles de Châtillon-Blois. They subsequently were proclaimed the duchess and duke of Brittany. War ensued. In the midst of the Breton War of Succession
, in 1352, the États de Bretagne or Estates of Brittany were established. They would develop into the Duchy's parlement
. In 1364, Joan and Charles lost decisively, and were left to keep Penthièvre.
When John V, Duke of Brittany
in 1373 went in exile to England, the king of France Charles V
named as lieutenant-general of Brittany his brother, the duke of Anjou
, a son-in-law of Joanna de Penthièvre.
In 1420, duke John VI
was kidnapped by the count of Penthièvre, son of Joanna of Penthièvre. John's wife, duchess Joanna de France besieged the rebels and set free her husband, who confiscated the Penthièvre's goods. In 1437 Nicole de Blois, a descendant of this family, married Jean II de Brosse
, and was deprived of Penthièvre by Francis II, Duke of Brittany, in 1465 - thus undermining the Penthièvre family's position in the country. In 1488, at the death of the last male duke Francis II, the head of the Penthièvre family was Jean de Brosse (died 1502), grandson of Nicole de Blois the aforementioned, and he asserted their claim to the duchy, but Francis' daughter Anne succeeded.
The countship, which was restored to Sebastian of Luxemburg, heir of the Brosse family through his mother, was erected for him into a duchy in the peerage of France
(duché-pairie) in 1569, and was afterwards held by the duchess of Mercœur
, daughter of the first duke of Penthièvre, and then by her daughter, the duchess of Vendôme
.
In 1582 Henry III of France
, last living male-line grandson of Claude, Duchess of Brittany, made Philippe Emmanuel, Duke of Mercœur, his brother-in-law and a leader of Catholic League
, governor of Brittany
. Invoking the hereditary rights of his wife Marie de Luxembourg, he endeavoured to make himself independent in that province from 1589 onwards, and organized a government at Nantes
, proclaiming their young son Philippe Louis de Lorraine-Mercœur "prince and duke of Brittany". He allied with Spain and defeated Henry IV of France
's attempts to subjugate Brittany until March 20, 1598 when Mercœur was forced to surrender and subsequently went in exile to Hungary.
, inherited Penthièvre in 1669, but it was taken from him by decree in 1687 and adjudged to Anne Marie de Bourbon, princess of Conti
. In 1696, it was sold to the count of Toulouse
, whose son, Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, duc de Penthièvre
, bore the title of duke of Penthièvre. This title passed by inheritance to the House of Orléans.
Capetian
House of Lorraine
House of Bourbon-Vendôme
House of Bourbon-Penthièvre
July Monarchy
Breton language
Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany , France. Breton is a Brythonic language, descended from the Celtic British language brought from Great Britain to Armorica by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages. Like the other Brythonic languages, Welsh and Cornish, it is classified as...
: Penteur) in 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...
(now in the department of Côtes-d'Armor
Côtes-d'Armor
Côtes-d'Armor is a department in the north of Brittany, in northwestern France.-History:Côtes-du-Nord was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Brittany. Its name was changed in 1990 to...
) belonged to a branch of the sovereign house of Brittany. Geoffrey I, Duke of Brittany
Geoffrey I, Duke of Brittany
Geoffrey I of Rennes was duke of Brittany, from 992 to his death. He was son of Duke Conan I and Ermengarde of Anjou, whose parents were Geoffrey I of Anjou and Adele of Meaux....
, gave it to his brother Eudes
Eudes, Count of Penthievre
Odo of Rennes , Count of Penthièvre, was the youngest son of Duke Geoffrey I of Brittany and Hawise of Normandy, daughter of Richard I of Normandy. Following the death of his brother Duke Alan III, Eudes ruled as regent of Brittany in the name of his nephew Conan II, between 1040 and 1062...
in 1035, and the line formed a cadet branch of the ducal house of Brittany. Henry d'Avaugour, heir of this dynasty, was dispossessed of the countship in 1235 by the Duke 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...
, Pierre Mauclerc
Peter I, Duke of Brittany
Pierre Mauclerc , also known as Peter of Dreux or Pierre de Dreux, was duke of Brittany jure uxoris from 1213 to 1221, then regent of the duchy from 1221 to 1237 as well as Earl of Richmond from 1219 to 1235.-Biography:He was the second son of Robert II, Count of Dreux...
, who gave it as dowry to his daughter, Yolande, on her marriage in 1238 to Hugh XI of Lusignan
Hugh XI of Lusignan
Hugh XI de Lusignan, Hugh VI of La Marche or Hugh II of Angoulême or Hugues XI & VI & II de Lusignan . He succeeded his mother Isabelle of Angoulême, former queen of England, as Count of Angoulême in 1246. He likewise succeeded his father Hugh X as Count of La Marche in 1249...
, Count of La Marche. John I, Duke of Brittany
John I, Duke of Brittany
John I the Red , known as John the Red due to the colour of his beard, was Duke of Brittany, from 1237 to his death...
, Yolande's brother, seized the countship on her death in 1272.
Heirs of Brittany
In 1337 Joan, Duchess of BrittanyJoan, Duchess of Brittany
Joanna of Penthièvre or Joanna the Lame was reigning Duchess of Brittany together with her husband Charles of Blois between 1341 and 1364...
brought Penthièvre to her husband, Charles de Châtillon-Blois. They subsequently were proclaimed the duchess and duke of Brittany. War ensued. In the midst of the Breton War of Succession
Breton War of Succession
The Breton War of Succession was a conflict between the Houses of Blois and Montfort for control of the Duchy of Brittany. It was fought between 1341 and 1364. It formed an integral part of the early Hundred Years War due to the involvement of the French and English governments in the conflict; the...
, in 1352, the États de Bretagne or Estates of Brittany were established. They would develop into the Duchy's parlement
Parlement
Parlements were regional legislative bodies in Ancien Régime France.The political institutions of the Parlement in Ancien Régime France developed out of the previous council of the king, the Conseil du roi or curia regis, and consequently had ancient and customary rights of consultation and...
. In 1364, Joan and Charles lost decisively, and were left to keep Penthièvre.
When John V, Duke of Brittany
John V, Duke of Brittany
John V the Conqueror KG was Duke of Brittany and Count of Montfort, from 1345 until his death.-Numbering:...
in 1373 went in exile to England, the king of France Charles V
Charles V of France
Charles V , called the Wise, was King of France from 1364 to his death in 1380 and a member of the House of Valois...
named as lieutenant-general of Brittany his brother, the duke of Anjou
Louis I of Naples
Louis I of Anjou , or Louis I of Naples, was the second son of King John II of France and Bonne of Luxembourg...
, a son-in-law of Joanna de Penthièvre.
In 1420, duke John VI
John VI, Duke of Brittany
John VI the Wise , was duke of Brittany, count of Montfort, and titular earl of Richmond, from 1399 to his death...
was kidnapped by the count of Penthièvre, son of Joanna of Penthièvre. John's wife, duchess Joanna de France besieged the rebels and set free her husband, who confiscated the Penthièvre's goods. In 1437 Nicole de Blois, a descendant of this family, married Jean II de Brosse
Jean II de Brosse
Jean II de Brosse, also Jehan II de Brosse , was the elder son of French Maréchal Jean de Brosse. He would become chambellan of the king of France in 1449...
, and was deprived of Penthièvre by Francis II, Duke of Brittany, in 1465 - thus undermining the Penthièvre family's position in the country. In 1488, at the death of the last male duke Francis II, the head of the Penthièvre family was Jean de Brosse (died 1502), grandson of Nicole de Blois the aforementioned, and he asserted their claim to the duchy, but Francis' daughter Anne succeeded.
The countship, which was restored to Sebastian of Luxemburg, heir of the Brosse family through his mother, was erected for him into a duchy in the peerage of France
Peerage of France
The Peerage of France was a distinction within the French nobility which appeared in the Middle Ages. It was abolished in 1789 during the French Revolution, but it reappeared in 1814 at the time of the Bourbon Restoration which followed the fall of the First French Empire...
(duché-pairie) in 1569, and was afterwards held by the duchess of Mercœur
Mercœur
Mercœur may refer to the following places in France:*Mercœur, Corrèze, a commune in the department of Corrèze*Mercœur, Haute-Loire, a commune in the department of Haute-LoireOr to the*Duke of Mercœur...
, daughter of the first duke of Penthièvre, and then by her daughter, the duchess of Vendôme
Vendôme
Vendôme is a commune in the Centre region of France.-Administration:Vendôme is the capital of the arrondissement of Vendôme in the Loir-et-Cher department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. It has a tribunal of first instance.-Geography:...
.
In 1582 Henry III of France
Henry III of France
Henry III was King of France from 1574 to 1589. As Henry of Valois, he was the first elected monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the dual titles of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575.-Childhood:Henry was born at the Royal Château de Fontainebleau,...
, last living male-line grandson of Claude, Duchess of Brittany, made Philippe Emmanuel, Duke of Mercœur, his brother-in-law and a leader of Catholic League
Catholic League (French)
The Catholic League of France, sometimes referred to by contemporary Roman Catholics as the Holy League, a major player in the French Wars of Religion, was formed by Duke Henry of Guise in 1576...
, governor of Brittany
Governor of Brittany
This page is a list of royal governors of Brittany during the Ancien Regime.*Nominoe, 9th century*Enguerrand VII, Lord of Coucy from 1380*Jean de Laval, husband of Françoise de Foix, 16th century*Louis III de Bourbon, Duke of Montpensier 1569-1582...
. Invoking the hereditary rights of his wife Marie de Luxembourg, he endeavoured to make himself independent in that province from 1589 onwards, and organized a government at 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....
, proclaiming their young son Philippe Louis de Lorraine-Mercœur "prince and duke of Brittany". He allied with Spain and defeated Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
's attempts to subjugate Brittany until March 20, 1598 when Mercœur was forced to surrender and subsequently went in exile to Hungary.
Later dukes from various houses
The duchess of Vendôme's grandson, Louis Joseph, duc de VendômeLouis Joseph, duc de Vendôme
Louis Joseph de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme was a French military commander during the War of the Grand Alliance and War of the Spanish Succession, Marshal of France.-Biography:...
, inherited Penthièvre in 1669, but it was taken from him by decree in 1687 and adjudged to Anne Marie de Bourbon, princess of Conti
Conti
-People:* Bill Conti, film music director* Bruno Conti, former football player and member of the Italian national football team in 1982* Carlos Conti , Spanish comic writer* Francesco Bartolomeo Conti , Florentine composer...
. In 1696, it was sold to the count of Toulouse
Louis-Alexandre de Bourbon, Comte de Toulouse
Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, comte de Toulouse , duc de Penthièvre , d'Arc, de Châteauvillain and de Rambouillet , , was the son of Louis XIV and of his mistress Madame de Montespan...
, whose son, Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, duc de Penthièvre
Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, duc de Penthièvre
Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon was the son of Louis Alexandre de Bourbon and his wife Marie Victoire de Noailles. He was also a grandson of Louis XIV of France and his mistress, Madame de Montespan. From birth he was known as the Duke of Penthièvre...
, bore the title of duke of Penthièvre. This title passed by inheritance to the House of Orléans.
Maison de Rennes
- EudesEudes, Count of PenthievreOdo of Rennes , Count of Penthièvre, was the youngest son of Duke Geoffrey I of Brittany and Hawise of Normandy, daughter of Richard I of Normandy. Following the death of his brother Duke Alan III, Eudes ruled as regent of Brittany in the name of his nephew Conan II, between 1040 and 1062...
(1035–1079), son of Geoffrey I, Duke of BrittanyGeoffrey I, Duke of BrittanyGeoffrey I of Rennes was duke of Brittany, from 992 to his death. He was son of Duke Conan I and Ermengarde of Anjou, whose parents were Geoffrey I of Anjou and Adele of Meaux.... - Geoffrey I (1079–1093), son of Eudes
- Stephen IStephen, Count of TréguierStephen, Count of Tréguier, Lord of Richmond was a Breton noble and a younger son of Odo, Count of Penthièvre and Agnes of Cornwall, sister of Hoel II, Duke of Brittany...
(1093–1125), brother of Geoffrey I - Geoffrey II (1125–1148), son of Stephen I
- Rivallo (1148–1162), son of Geoffrey II
- Stephen II (1162–1164), son of Rivallo
- Geoffrey III (1164–1177), brother of Stephen II
- Alan I (1177–1212), cousin of Geoffrey III, grandson of Stephen I through his son Henry, called Henry I
- Henry II of Avagour (1212–1230), son of Alan I, was dispossessed of Penthièvre by Peter I, Duke of BrittanyPeter I, Duke of BrittanyPierre Mauclerc , also known as Peter of Dreux or Pierre de Dreux, was duke of Brittany jure uxoris from 1213 to 1221, then regent of the duchy from 1221 to 1237 as well as Earl of Richmond from 1219 to 1235.-Biography:He was the second son of Robert II, Count of Dreux...
, who gave it to his daughter Yolande on her marriage to Hugh IX of LusignanHugh IX of LusignanHugh IX the Brown of Lusignan was the grandson of Hugh VIII. His father, also Hugh , was the co-seigneur of Lusignan from 1164, marrying a woman named Orengarde before 1162 or about 1167 and dying in 1169...
Lords of Avaugour
- Alan II (1230–1267), son of Henry II
- Henry III (1267–1304), son of Alan II
- Henry IV (1301–1334), son of Henry III
- Joan (1334–1384), granddaughter of Henry IV
CapetianCapetian dynastyThe Capetian dynasty , also known as the House of France, is the largest and oldest European royal house, consisting of the descendants of King Hugh Capet of France in the male line. Hugh Capet himself was a cognatic descendant of the Carolingians and the Merovingians, earlier rulers of France...
House of Dreux
- Peter MauclercPeter I, Duke of BrittanyPierre Mauclerc , also known as Peter of Dreux or Pierre de Dreux, was duke of Brittany jure uxoris from 1213 to 1221, then regent of the duchy from 1221 to 1237 as well as Earl of Richmond from 1219 to 1235.-Biography:He was the second son of Robert II, Count of Dreux...
(1230–1237), son of Robert II of DreuxRobert II of DreuxRobert II of Dreux , Count of Dreux and Braine, was the eldest surviving son of Robert I, Count of Dreux, and Agnes de Baudemont, countess of Braine, and a grandson of King Louis VI of France.... - John IJohn I, Duke of BrittanyJohn I the Red , known as John the Red due to the colour of his beard, was Duke of Brittany, from 1237 to his death...
(1272–1286), son of Peter - John IIJohn II, Duke of BrittanyJohn 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...
(1286–1305), son of John I - Arthur IIArthur II, Duke of BrittanyArthur 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....
(1305–1312), son of John II - Guy (1312–1331), son of Arthur II
- Joan (1331–1384), daughter of Guy, granddaughter of Henry IV of Avagour, married Charles de Blois-ChâtillonCharles, Duke of BrittanyCharles of Blois , claimed the title Duke of Brittany, from 1341 to his death.Charles is the son of Guy I of Blois-Châtillon, count of Blois, by Margaret of Valois, a sister of king Philip VI of France. He was a devout man, who took piety to the extreme of mortifying his own flesh...
House of Blois-Châtillon
- John III (1384–1404), son of Joan
- Olivier (1404–1433), son of John
- John IV (1433–1454), brother of Olivier
- Nicole (1454–1479), niece of John IV, married Jean II de BrosseJean II de BrosseJean II de Brosse, also Jehan II de Brosse , was the elder son of French Maréchal Jean de Brosse. He would become chambellan of the king of France in 1449...
House of Brosse
- John V (1454–1482), son of Nicole
- John VI (1482–1502), son of John V
- René (1502–1524), son of John VI
- John VIIJean IV de BrosseJean IV de Brosse was the son of René de Brosse and Jeanne de Commines .After the death of his father at the Battle of Pavia, he succeeded him as Count of Penthièvre....
(1524–1566), son of René
House of Luxembourg
- SebastianSebastien, Duke of PenthievreSebastien de Luxembourg, count, later duke of Penthièvre was duke of Penthièvre and a peer of France.Nephew of Jean de Brosse, duc d'Étampes, he was allowed to inherit his uncle's taken estates and was subsequently created the 1st Duke of Penthièvre.His daughter and heiress Marie de Luxembourg...
(1566–1569), nephew of John VII - Marie (1569–1623), married Philippe Emmanuel de Lorraine
House of LorraineHouse of LorraineThe House of Lorraine, the main and now only remaining line known as Habsburg-Lorraine, is one of the most important and was one of the longest-reigning royal houses in the history of Europe...
- Philippe Emmanuel de Lorraine (1576–1602)
- Françoise de LorraineFrançoise de Lorraine (1592–1669)Françoise de Lorraine was a French noblewoman and the daughter-in-law of King Henry IV of France; sometimes known as Françoise de Mercœur, she was the niece of Louise of Lorraine, wife of the previous king, Henry III of France...
(1602–1669), married César de Bourbon
House of Bourbon-VendômeHouse of BourbonThe House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
- César de Bourbon (1608–1665), legitimised son of Henry IV of FranceHenry IV of FranceHenry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
- Louis II de Bourbon-VendômeLouis II de Bourbon-VendômeLouis de Bourbon , was Duke of Mercœur and later the second Duke of Vendôme, and the grandson of Henry IV of France and Gabrielle d'Estrées...
(1665–1669), son of César de Vendôme - Louis III Joseph de VendômeLouis Joseph, duc de VendômeLouis Joseph de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme was a French military commander during the War of the Grand Alliance and War of the Spanish Succession, Marshal of France.-Biography:...
(1669–1712), son of Louis II de Bourbon-Vendôme
-
- Sold to Marie Anne de BourbonMarie Anne de BourbonMarie Anne de Bourbon, Légitimée de France was the eldest legitimised daughter of King Louis XIV of France and Louise de La Vallière. At the age of thirteen, she was married to Louis Armand de Bourbon, Prince of Conti and as such was the Princess of Conti by marriage...
in 1696.
- Sold to Marie Anne de Bourbon
House of Bourbon-PenthièvreBourbon-PenthièvreThe House of Bourbon-Penthièvre was an illegitimate branch of the House of Bourbon, thus descending from the Capetian dynasty. It was founded by the duc de Penthièvre , the only child and heir of the comte de Toulouse, the youngest illegitimate son of Louis XIV of France and the marquise de...
- Louis Alexandre de BourbonLouis-Alexandre de Bourbon, Comte de ToulouseLouis Alexandre de Bourbon, comte de Toulouse , duc de Penthièvre , d'Arc, de Châteauvillain and de Rambouillet , , was the son of Louis XIV and of his mistress Madame de Montespan...
(1697–1737), count of Toulouse, duke of Rambouillet, legitimised son of Louis XIV of FranceLouis XIV of FranceLouis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days... - Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon (1737–1793), son of the Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, Count of Toulouse
Second Restoration
- Charles d'Orléans (1820-1828), son of Louis Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of OrléansLouis-Philippe of FranceLouis Philippe I was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 in what was known as the July Monarchy. His father was a duke who supported the French Revolution but was nevertheless guillotined. Louis Philippe fled France as a young man and spent 21 years in exile, including considerable time in the...
(the future King of the French)
July MonarchyJuly MonarchyThe July Monarchy , officially the Kingdom of France , was a period of liberal constitutional monarchy in France under King Louis-Philippe starting with the July Revolution of 1830 and ending with the Revolution of 1848...
- Pierre d'Orléans (1845–1919), son of François d'Orléans, prince de Joinville
See also
- Earl of RichmondEarl of RichmondThe 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:...
- Dukes of Brittany family treeDukes of Brittany family treeThis is a family tree of the Dukes of Brittany from the 9th century, to the annexation of Brittany by France in 1532.See also: Brittany - List of family trees...
- Eudes, Count of PenthièvreEudes, Count of PenthievreOdo of Rennes , Count of Penthièvre, was the youngest son of Duke Geoffrey I of Brittany and Hawise of Normandy, daughter of Richard I of Normandy. Following the death of his brother Duke Alan III, Eudes ruled as regent of Brittany in the name of his nephew Conan II, between 1040 and 1062...