Alan III, Duke of Brittany

Alan III of Rennes (c. 997 – 1 October 1040) (French: Alain III de Bretagne) was Count of Rennes and duke of Brittany, by right of succession from 1008 to his death.

Alan III
Duke of Brittany
Reign	20 November 1008 – 1 October 1040
Predecessor	Geoffrey I
Successor	Conan II
Regent	Hawise of Normandy (Regent 1008–1026)
Born	c. 997
Died	1 October 1040 Vimoutiers
Spouse	Bertha of Blois
Issue	Conan II, Duke of Brittany Hawise, Duchess of Brittany
House	Rennes
Father	Geoffrey I, Duke of Brittany
Mother	Hawise of Normandy

Life

Alan was the son of Duke Geoffrey I and Hawise of Normandy.^[1]

Alan succeeded his father as Duke of Brittany in 1008.^[2] Because he was still a minor at his father's death, his mother acted as regent of Brittany ^[3] while her brother Richard II, Duke of Normandy assumed guardianship over Brittany.^[4]

Marriage

In 1018 Alan married Bertha of Blois, daughter of Odo II, Count of Blois and his second wife Ermengarde of Auvergne.^[1]

Norman suzerainty

When Richard III, Duke of Normandy died in August 1026, his brother Robert I succeeded him.^[5] Alan apparently took advantage of the resulting turmoil to break free of Norman suzerainty.^[4]

In the early 1030s Robert I successfully attacked Dol and Alan's retaliatory raid on Avranches was repulsed causing continued raiding back and forth between them.^[6] Facing an invasion from Normandy via land and from Duke Robert's fleet, Robert, Archbishop of Rouen (uncle of Hawise and Richard II) mediated a truce between his two great-nephews at Mont Saint-Michel where Alan swore fealty to his cousin Robert.^[7]

Guardian

When he left Normandy for the Holy Land Robert I, Duke of Normandy appointed his cousin, Alan III, to be a guardian of his young son William.^[a][8]

Wars

Alan III also assisted Herbert I 'Wake-Dog' in his wars with Avesgaud, Bishop of Le Mans and was with the count in his attack on Avesgaud's castle at La Ferté-Bernard destroying the castle and causing Avesgaud to flee.^[9]

Protector

In 1037, upon the death of Robert, Archbishop of Rouen, the protection of young William was now left to Alan III and his cousin Gilbert, who tentatively held Normandy together. They appointed Mauger to the now vacant see of Rouen and his brother William as count of Arques, attempting to gain their support for Duke William.^[10]

Death

On 1 October 1040, while besieging a rebel castle near Vimoutiers in Normandy, Alan III suddenly died.^[10] According to Orderic, he was poisoned by unnamed Normans.^[b][11]

Family

Alain and Bertha of Blois had:

• Conan II, (d. 1066), succeeded his father.^[1]
• Hawise of Brittany, who married Hoel of Cornouaille.^[1]

After 14 May 1046 his widow Bertha married secondly Hugh IV, Count of Maine.^[1]

Notes

1. Among the guardians Duke Robert chose to watch over his son William were at least three family members. Alan III was probably selected as both a family member and one who would not expected to compete with young William. Gilbert, Count of Brionne was another grandson of Richard I who could be counted on for military support to aid William. Also the senior member of the family was Robert, Archbishop of Rouen who lent his powerful support to the young Duke William. See: Crouch, The Normans (2007). p. 60.
2. Not long after the last of young Duke William's three powerful guardians, Gilbert 'Crispin' Count of Brionne, was himself assassinated while riding with friends. See: Crouch, The Normans (2007), p. 61; and Cokayne, The Complete Peerage IV, pp. 308–9.

References

1. Detlev Schwennicke, Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten, Neue Folge, Band II (Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, Marburg, Germany, 1984) Tafel 75
2. Gwenno Piette, A concise History of Brittany (University of Wales Press, Cardiff, 2008), p. 38
3. The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumieges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni, Vol. II, Ed. & Trans. Elisabeth M. C. Van Houts (The Clarendon Press, Oxford, New York, UK, 1995), pp. 14–5
4. Francois Neveux, A Brief History of the Normans, Trans. Howard Curtis (Constable & Robinson, Ltd., London, 2006), p. 108
5. David C. Douglas, William the Conqueror (University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1964), pp. 32–3
6. David Crouch, The Normans (Hambledon Continuum, New York, 2007), p. 50
7. The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumieges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni, Vol. II, Ed. & Trans. Elisabeth M. C. Van Houts (The Clarendon Press, Oxford, New York, UK, 1995), pp. 78–9
8. Ordericus Vitalis, The Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy, Trans. Thomas Forester, Volume II (Henry G. Bohn, London, 1854), p. 161
9. Richard E. Barton, Lordship in the County of Maine, c. 890–1160 (The Boydell Press, Woodbridge, 2004). pp. 47, 87
10. David Crouch, The Normans (Hambledon Continuum, New York, 2007), p. 61.
11. Ordericus Vitalis, The Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy, Trans. Thomas Forester, Volume II (Henry G. Bohn, London, 1854), p. 74

Alan III, Duke of Brittany House of Rennes Born: 997 Died: 10 October 1040
Regnal titles
Preceded by Geoffrey I	Duke of Brittany 1008–1040	Succeeded by Conan II
Preceded by Geoffrey I	Count of Rennes 1008–1040	Succeeded by Conan II