Lambert II of Nantes
Encyclopedia
Lambert II was the Count of Nantes and Prefect
of the Breton March between 843 and 851. Lambert ruled the county in opposition to Amaury, the puppet count installed by Charles the Bald
, King of West Francia. At his death, the county was effectively in Breton control. Lambert was the son of Lambert I
and his wife Itta.
was made Count of Nantes in place of him. Disappointed in his ambitions, Lambert II broke with Charles the Bald and turned to Nominoe, Duke of Brittany, who was then in almost open revolt against the Franks. Lambert gathered soldiers on the borders of the Anjou, intending to advance on the river Vilaine
to join his forces with Nominoe.
Renaud fortified Nantes, but learning of a serious illness that had temporarily incapacitated Nominoe, he decided to strike first. Renaud invaded Breton territory at the junction of the Diocese of Alet and County of Nantes
, on the Roman road of Angers
-Carhaix. An army of Bretons led by Nominoe's son Prince Erispoe was crossing the Vilaine at Messac when Renaud attacked. At the Battle of Messac, Erispoe was initially defeated by Renaud. Shortly afterwards, however, the timely arrival of Lambert's troops allowed Erispoe to counter-attack in force, defeating Renaud. Renaud himself was killed the day afterwards, during the pursuit. The allies may also have been assisted by the Viking warlord Hastein
, who is said to have personally killed Renaud. However, other sources assert that Lambert killed Renaud and that the Viking force arrived shortly afterwards, looking for plunder.
Lambert occupied Nantes, but was unable to hold it. The Vikings sacked the town and killed its bishop. Charles the Bald appointed Amaury to replace Renaud.
In the following year Bernard of Poitiers
formed an alliance with Renaud's son Hervé, Count of Herbauges against Lambert. Lambert and the Bretons ambushed and killed them both in Maine
.
, which gave Lambert renewed control of Nantes. Amaury remained the nominal count. Lambert was later reconciled to Charles and appointed Count of Angers (845-6), then transferred to Francia. He was officially restored as Count of Nantes in 849. However in 850 Lambert and his brother Warnar renewed their alliance with Nominoe and both raided Maine "with unspeakable fury" according to the Chronicon Fontanellense. In August, Charles marched on Rennes, but avoided fighting. Instead he garrisoned the town and installed Amaury as new Count of Nantes. Immediately after he left, Lambert and Nominoe defeated the garrisons and captured the new Count.
Nominoe died shortly thereafter and Charles attempted once more to reassert his authority. Lambert once again defected to the Breton side and fought with Erispoe in the decisive Battle of Jengland
in 851, in which Charles was defeated. Their victory merely led to total control of Nantes being given to Erispoe.
After Jengland Lambert sought to carve out territory between Maine
and Anjou
, but was killed in an ambush by Gauzbert of Maine
in the following year.
, Pepin of Italy. His wife was also the sister of his young stepmother, Adelaide of Lombardy. Lambert II and Tetrata were parents to three children: Lambert III of Nantes
; Lisois Vetulus (Dove), Abbess of Craon; and Warnar of Nantes.
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
of the Breton March between 843 and 851. Lambert ruled the county in opposition to Amaury, the puppet count installed by Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald , Holy Roman Emperor and King of West Francia , was the youngest son of the Emperor Louis the Pious by his second wife Judith.-Struggle against his brothers:He was born on 13 June 823 in Frankfurt, when his elder...
, King of West Francia. At his death, the county was effectively in Breton control. Lambert was the son of Lambert I
Lambert I of Nantes
Lambert I was the Count of Nantes and Prefect of the Breton March between 818 to 831 and Duke of Spoleto between 834 and 836. Lambert succeeded his father Guy....
and his wife Itta.
Defeat of Renaud
Lambert initially served Charles the Bald, but turned against him when his rival Renaud d'HerbaugesRenaud d'Herbauges
Renaud was Frankish Count of Herbauges, Count of Poitiers and Count of Nantes. His name is also spelled Rainaldus or Ragenold, and he is sometimes known as Reginald in English...
was made Count of Nantes in place of him. Disappointed in his ambitions, Lambert II broke with Charles the Bald and turned to Nominoe, Duke of Brittany, who was then in almost open revolt against the Franks. Lambert gathered soldiers on the borders of the Anjou, intending to advance on the river Vilaine
Vilaine
The Vilaine is a river in Brittany, in the west of France. The river's source is in the Mayenne département , and flows out in the Atlantic Ocean at Pénestin in the Morbihan département . It is 218 km long...
to join his forces with Nominoe.
Renaud fortified Nantes, but learning of a serious illness that had temporarily incapacitated Nominoe, he decided to strike first. Renaud invaded Breton territory at the junction of the Diocese of Alet and County of Nantes
County of Nantes
The counts of Nantes were originally the Frankish rulers of the Nantais under the Carolingians. Their county served as a march against the Bretons of the Vannetais...
, on the Roman road of Angers
Angers
Angers is the main city in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France about south-west of Paris. Angers is located in the French region known by its pre-revolutionary, provincial name, Anjou, and its inhabitants are called Angevins....
-Carhaix. An army of Bretons led by Nominoe's son Prince Erispoe was crossing the Vilaine at Messac when Renaud attacked. At the Battle of Messac, Erispoe was initially defeated by Renaud. Shortly afterwards, however, the timely arrival of Lambert's troops allowed Erispoe to counter-attack in force, defeating Renaud. Renaud himself was killed the day afterwards, during the pursuit. The allies may also have been assisted by the Viking warlord Hastein
Hastein
Hastein was a notable Viking chieftain of the late 9th century who made several raiding voyages.- Early life :...
, who is said to have personally killed Renaud. However, other sources assert that Lambert killed Renaud and that the Viking force arrived shortly afterwards, looking for plunder.
Lambert occupied Nantes, but was unable to hold it. The Vikings sacked the town and killed its bishop. Charles the Bald appointed Amaury to replace Renaud.
In the following year Bernard of Poitiers
Bernard of Poitiers
Bernard was the Count of Poitou from 840 to his death. He was the brother of Emenon, Count of Angoulême.Upon the death of Louis the Pious, he was installed to succeed Renaud d'Herbauges by Charles the Bald. However, he associated Renaud's son Hervé, Count of Herbauges, with him in his war against...
formed an alliance with Renaud's son Hervé, Count of Herbauges against Lambert. Lambert and the Bretons ambushed and killed them both in Maine
Maine (province)
Le Maine is one of the traditional provinces of France . It corresponds to the old county of Maine, with its center, the city of Le Mans.-Location:...
.
Reconciliation and renewed rebellion
Lambert became a consistent ally of Nominoe and Erispoe, fighting with Nominoe against Charles at the Battle of BallonBattle of Ballon
The Battle of Ballon took place on 22 November 845 between the forces of Charles the Bald, king of West Francia, and Nominoë Duke of Brittany. Nominoë was appropriating border territory and opposing Charles' attempt to impose Frankish authority...
, which gave Lambert renewed control of Nantes. Amaury remained the nominal count. Lambert was later reconciled to Charles and appointed Count of Angers (845-6), then transferred to Francia. He was officially restored as Count of Nantes in 849. However in 850 Lambert and his brother Warnar renewed their alliance with Nominoe and both raided Maine "with unspeakable fury" according to the Chronicon Fontanellense. In August, Charles marched on Rennes, but avoided fighting. Instead he garrisoned the town and installed Amaury as new Count of Nantes. Immediately after he left, Lambert and Nominoe defeated the garrisons and captured the new Count.
Nominoe died shortly thereafter and Charles attempted once more to reassert his authority. Lambert once again defected to the Breton side and fought with Erispoe in the decisive Battle of Jengland
Battle of Jengland
The Battle of Jengland took place on 22 August 851, between the Frankish army of Charles the Bald and the Breton army of Erispoe, Duke of Brittany...
in 851, in which Charles was defeated. Their victory merely led to total control of Nantes being given to Erispoe.
After Jengland Lambert sought to carve out territory between Maine
Maine (province)
Le Maine is one of the traditional provinces of France . It corresponds to the old county of Maine, with its center, the city of Le Mans.-Location:...
and Anjou
Anjou
Anjou is a former county , duchy and province centred on the city of Angers in the lower Loire Valley of western France. It corresponds largely to the present-day département of Maine-et-Loire...
, but was killed in an ambush by Gauzbert of Maine
Gauzbert of Maine
Gauzbert was Count of Maine from 840 to 853. He was a member of the Rorgonide family, son of Gauzlin I, lord of Maine and Adeltrude.He is recorded for the first time in 839 in a charter of his brother Count Rorgon I of Maine...
in the following year.
Family
He married Tetrata of Lombardy, a daughter of the eldest son of CharlemagneCharlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
, Pepin of Italy. His wife was also the sister of his young stepmother, Adelaide of Lombardy. Lambert II and Tetrata were parents to three children: Lambert III of Nantes
Lambert III of Nantes
Lambert III was the pretender to the County of Nantes between 851 and his death in 862.Lambert was the son of Lambert II of Nantes, at whose death in 851, the administration of the region fell effectively to the Bretons. His mother was Tetrata of Lombardy, a daughter of the eldest son of...
; Lisois Vetulus (Dove), Abbess of Craon; and Warnar of Nantes.