Hawise, Duchess of Brittany
Encyclopedia
Hawise of Rennes (c. 1037 – August 19, 1072) was hereditary Duchess of Brittany
from 1066 until her death.
She was the second child and heiress of Alan III, Duke of Brittany
by his wife Berthe de Blois, and as such, a member of the House of Rennes. Hawise survived her older brother Conan II, Duke of Brittany
, who was assassinated by poisoning on December 11, 1066.
Little is known of the life of Hawise of Rennes. She was married to Hoel of Cornwall
some time before 1058. Hoel exercised authority jure uxoris
, by right of his wife, and continued to control the government after her death in 1072 acting as regent for their son. Hawise and Hoel were succeeded to the ducal throne by their son Alan IV, Duke of Brittany
in 1084.
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...
from 1066 until her death.
She was the second child and heiress of Alan III, Duke of Brittany
Alan III, Duke of Brittany
Alan III of Rennes was duke of Brittany, from 1008 to his death. He was son of Duke Geoffrey I and Hawise of Normandy. Alan married Bertha, daughter of Odo II, Count of Blois and had at least two children: Conan II, his successor, and Hawise of Brittany, who married Hoel of Cornwall.Alan III was...
by his wife Berthe de Blois, and as such, a member of the House of Rennes. Hawise survived her older brother Conan II, Duke of Brittany
Conan II, Duke of Brittany
Conan II of Rennes was Duke of Brittany, from 1040 to his death. Conan was the eldest child and heir of Alan III, Duke of Brittany by his wife Berthe de Blois, and member of the House of Rennes...
, who was assassinated by poisoning on December 11, 1066.
Little is known of the life of Hawise of Rennes. She was married to Hoel of Cornwall
Hoel II, Duke of Brittany
Hoel II of Cornwall was count of Kernev , from 1058 as Hoel V, and after his marriage to Hawise, Duchess of Brittany, in 1066, he became duke of Brittany...
some time before 1058. Hoel exercised authority jure uxoris
Jure uxoris
Jure uxoris is a Latin term that means "by right of his wife" or "in right of a wife". It is commonly used to refer to a title held by a man whose wife holds it in her own right. In other words, he acquired the title simply by being her husband....
, by right of his wife, and continued to control the government after her death in 1072 acting as regent for their son. Hawise and Hoel were succeeded to the ducal throne by their son Alan IV, Duke of Brittany
Alan IV, Duke of Brittany
Alan IV was Duke of Brittany, from 1084 until his abdication in 1112. He was also Count of Nantes and Count of Rennes. He was son of Hawise, Duchess of Brittany and Duke Hoel II. He was known as Alan Fergant, which in Breton means "Alan the Strong"...
in 1084.