CONAN IV, DUKE OF BRITTANY

'Conan IV' (1138 – February 20 1171), called "the Young", was duke of Brittany, from 1156 to his death. He was son of Alan ''the Black'', 1st Earl of Richmond and Bertha of Brittany. Through his mother he was the nephew and heir of Duke Conan III. From his father’s side, Conan was great great grandson of duke Geoffrey I and great grandson of Eudes of Brittany.
In 1156, Hoel III was expelled and Conan IV was successful in wresting control of the Duchy from his stepfather Eudes. In 1158, Geoffrey, Count of Nantes died and Conan seized Nantes. Geoffrey's brother, King Henry II of England, responded by seizing Richmond and demanding the return of Nantes. Conan and Henry made peace, and Conan married Henry's cousin, Margaret of Scotland, in 1160. Margaret was daughter of Henry of Scotland, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon and Ada de Warenne, a daughter of William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey and Elizabeth de Vermandois.
Conan had to face several revolts from his own nobles. To put down the unrest, the Duke appealed for help to Henry, who, in return, demanded the betrothal of Conan’s only daughter and heiress Constance to Henry's son Geoffrey Plantagenet.

Contents

See also

References

See also

★ Dukes of Brittany family tree

References

★ ''The Bretons'', by Patrick Galliou and Michael Jones, Oxford, 1991, p. 191. ISBN 0-631-16406-5