Dol-de-Bretagne
Encyclopedia
Dol-de-Bretagne cited in most historical records under its Breton name of Dol, is a commune
in the Ille-et-Vilaine
département in Brittany in north-western France
.
was documented as coming to Dol where he joined Samson of Dol
and to this very day the fruit groves which they planted remain and are known as the groves of Teilo and Samson. Legend has it that while there he was assigned by King Budic II
to subdue a belligerent winged dragon, which he was said to have tamed and then tied to a rock in the sea off Brittany. He is reported to have stayed in Dol for seven years and seven months so must have left in 556 or 557.
Dol-de-Bretagne is reputed to be the origin of the royal House of Stewart who became the monarchs of Scotland and later England and Ireland; a plaque in Dol commemorates that origin. The Stewart monarchs descend from the Seneschal
of the Count of Dol and his son, Flaad Fitzalan, who arrived in Britain in the army of William the Conqueror.
Flaad's grandson, Walter Fitzalan
, was appointed the 1st Steward of Scotland by David I of Scotland
. Malcolm IV of Scotland
later confirmed the honour bestowed by David and made the office of Steward of Scotland hereditary in Walter's family.
Dol Cathedral
is a significant building in an eclectic mix of styles.
In the fourteenth century, Walter Stewart
(so named for his family's hereditary possession of the office of High Steward of Scotland
), a descendant of Walter Fitzalan, married Marjorie Bruce
, daughter of King Robert I of Scotland. Their son became King Robert II
, and their descendants the royal House of Stewart.
In June 1173 Hugh de Kevelioc, 5th Earl of Chester, laid siege
to Dol-de-Bretagne and captured the settlement as part of the Revolt of 1173–1174 against Henry II of England
. Henry II, supported by an army of 20,000 mercenaries retook Dol-de-Bretagne the same year.
Located near the town is Cricket
Club Des Ormes, which in 2003 set a world record for the longest cricket match
. The club played for 26 hours and 13 minutes. The record has been beaten a number of times since.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine is a department of France, located in the region of Brittany in the northwest of the country.- History :Ille-et-Vilaine is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
département in Brittany in north-western France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
History
In 549, the Welsh Saint TeiloSaint Teilo
Saint Teilo, was a British Christian saint - a monk, bishop and founder of monasteries and churches. He was from Penalun , near Tenby, in Pembrokeshire, in south Wales...
was documented as coming to Dol where he joined Samson of Dol
Samson of Dol
Saint Samson of Dol was a Christian religious figure who is counted among the seven founder saints of Brittany. Born in southern Wales, he died in Dol-de-Bretagne, a small town in north Brittany.-Life:...
and to this very day the fruit groves which they planted remain and are known as the groves of Teilo and Samson. Legend has it that while there he was assigned by King Budic II
Budic II of Brittany
Budic II, King of Brittany was a King of Brittany in the early 6th century. He reputedly married the sister of High-King Arthur of Britain for some time, fleeing to Britain with his father after his cousin's usurpation of the Breton throne...
to subdue a belligerent winged dragon, which he was said to have tamed and then tied to a rock in the sea off Brittany. He is reported to have stayed in Dol for seven years and seven months so must have left in 556 or 557.
Dol-de-Bretagne is reputed to be the origin of the royal House of Stewart who became the monarchs of Scotland and later England and Ireland; a plaque in Dol commemorates that origin. The Stewart monarchs descend from the Seneschal
Seneschal
A seneschal was an officer in the houses of important nobles in the Middle Ages. In the French administrative system of the Middle Ages, the sénéchal was also a royal officer in charge of justice and control of the administration in southern provinces, equivalent to the northern French bailli...
of the Count of Dol and his son, Flaad Fitzalan, who arrived in Britain in the army of William the Conqueror.
Flaad's grandson, Walter Fitzalan
Walter Fitzalan
Walter fitz Alan was the 1st hereditary High Steward of Scotland , and described as "a Norman by culture and by blood a Breton"...
, was appointed the 1st Steward of Scotland by David I of Scotland
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
. Malcolm IV of Scotland
Malcolm IV of Scotland
Malcolm IV , nicknamed Virgo, "the Maiden" , King of Scots, was the eldest son of Earl Henry and Ada de Warenne...
later confirmed the honour bestowed by David and made the office of Steward of Scotland hereditary in Walter's family.
Dol Cathedral
Dol Cathedral
Dol Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Dol-de-Bretagne, Brittany, dedicated to Saint Samson.It was formerly the seat of the Archbishop of Dol, one of the nine ancient bishoprics of Brittany...
is a significant building in an eclectic mix of styles.
In the fourteenth century, Walter Stewart
Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland
Walter Stewart was the 6th hereditary High Steward of Scotland. He was also the father of King Robert II of Scotland.-Biography:...
(so named for his family's hereditary possession of the office of High Steward of Scotland
High Steward of Scotland
The title of High Steward or Great Steward was given in the 12th century to Walter Fitzalan, whose descendants became the House of Stewart. In 1371, the last High Steward inherited the throne, and thereafter the title of High Steward of Scotland has been held as a subsidiary title to that of Duke...
), a descendant of Walter Fitzalan, married Marjorie Bruce
Marjorie Bruce
Marjorie Bruce or Marjorie de Brus was the eldest daughter of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots by his first wife, Isabella of Mar, and the founder of the Stewart dynasty. Her marriage to Walter, High Steward of Scotland gave rise to the House of Stewart...
, daughter of King Robert I of Scotland. Their son became King Robert II
Robert II of Scotland
Robert II became King of Scots in 1371 as the first monarch of the House of Stewart. He was the son of Walter Stewart, hereditary High Steward of Scotland and of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert I and of his first wife Isabella of Mar...
, and their descendants the royal House of Stewart.
In June 1173 Hugh de Kevelioc, 5th Earl of Chester, laid siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
to Dol-de-Bretagne and captured the settlement as part of the Revolt of 1173–1174 against Henry II of England
Henry 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...
. Henry II, supported by an army of 20,000 mercenaries retook Dol-de-Bretagne the same year.
Located near the town is Cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
Club Des Ormes, which in 2003 set a world record for the longest cricket match
World's longest cricket marathon
The World's Longest Cricket Marathon is a world record currently held by Blunham Cricket Club from Bedfordshire in England. The club played for 105 hours from 10am Thursday 26th August 2010 until stumps were drawn at 7pm on Monday 30th August 2010. Guinness World records ratified the attempt on...
. The club played for 26 hours and 13 minutes. The record has been beaten a number of times since.