Conan I of Rennes | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Brittany | |
| Died | (992-06-27)27 June 992 Conquereuil,Kingdom of France |
| Noble family | Rennes |
| Spouse | Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou |
| Issue Detail | Judith of Brittany Geoffrey I, Duke of Brittany Judicael |
| Father | Judicael Berengar |
Conan I (died 27 June 992), nicknamedLe Tort (The Crooked), was theDuke of Brittany from 990 to his death.
Conan was the son ofJudicael Berengar, succeeding his father as Count of Rennes in 970.
Conan assumed the title of Duke ofBrittany in the spring of 990 following his attack on Nantes and the subsequent death of Count Alan.[1] As Duke, his rule succeeded the Regency that governed Brittany during the life ofDrogo and the fractured rule of Brittany after Drogo's death by his illegitimate brothersHoël andGuerech, and the latter's sonAlan.[2] The fractured rule over Brittany resulted in a short vacancy in the titleDuke of Brittany. Conan I had to ally himself withOdo I, Count of Blois in order to defeat Judicael Berengar before he could assume the title of Duke.[3]
In a charter dated 28 July 990, Conan gave the lands ofVillamée, Lillele and Passille toMont Saint-Michel, all of which later became part of the seigneury ofFougères.[4]
Conan marriedErmengarde-Gerberga of Anjou,[a][7] in 973, daughter ofGeoffrey I, Count of Anjou andAdele of Vermandois.[8] Conan's alliance with Odo of Blois[2] had helped him defeat Judicael Berengar.
The alliance with Blois eventually became troublesome and he later needed to"rid himself of influence from Blois, [which he accomplished by signing] a pact with Richard I of Normandy; [this pact] established firm Breton-Norman links for the first time."[3] Richard I had married the daughter of Hugh I the Great, and after this marriage had re-asserted his father's claim as Overlord of the Breton duchy.[3] Conan I's pact with Normandy strengthened that assertion but the historical documentation for that Overlordship claim remains doubtful because it largely appears only in the less than authoritative writings of Dudo of Saint-Quentin.[3][b]
Conan died fighting his brother-in-lawFulk Nerra, Count of Anjou at theBattle of Conquereuil on 27 June 992.[10] Conan is buried atMont Saint-MichelAbbey.[11]
Conan and his wife Ermengarde-Gerberga had:
Conan I of Rennes House of Rennes Born: 927 Died: 27 June 992 | ||
| Preceded by | Count of Rennes 958–992 | Succeeded by |
| Vacant Title last held by Alan | Duke of Brittany 990–992 | |