Conan I (died 27 June 992) nicknamed ''Le Tort'' (The Crooked) was the

Duke of Brittany This is a list of rulers of the Duchy of Brittany. In different epochs the sovereigns of Brittany were kings, princes, and dukes. The Breton ruler was sometimes elected, sometimes attained the position by conquest or intrigue, or by hereditary r ...

from 990 to his death.

Life

Count to Duke

Conan was the son of

Judicael Berengar Judicael (or Juhel, Judhel, Judhael), thus called in Breton sources, alias Berengar (or Berengarius) his name in Frankish sources, and sometimes known as Judicael Berengar, with both names being used together, was a Count of Rennes in the 10th cent ...

, succeeding his father as Count of Rennes in 970. Conan assumed the title of Duke of

Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period ...

in the spring of 990 following his attack on Nantes and the subsequent death of Count Alan. As Duke, his rule succeeded the Regency that governed Brittany during the life of Drogo and the fractured rule of Brittany after Drogo's death by his illegitimate brothers Hoël and Guerech, and the latter's son

Alan Alan may refer to: People *Alan (surname), an English and Turkish surname * Alan (given name), an English given name **List of people with given name Alan ''Following are people commonly referred to solely by "Alan" or by a homonymous name.'' * ...

. The fractured rule over Brittany resulted in a short vacancy in the title

. Conan I had to ally himself with Odo I, Count of Blois in order to defeat Judicael Berengar before he could assume the title of Duke. Mont-Saint-Michel depuis la mer

The Mont St Michel land charter

In a charter dated 28 July 990, Conan gave the lands of Villamée, Lillele and Passille to

Mont Saint-Michel Mont-Saint-Michel (; Norman: ''Mont Saint Miché''; ) is a tidal island and mainland commune in Normandy, France. The island lies approximately off the country's north-western coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches and ...

, all of which later became part of the seigneury of

Fougères Fougères (; br, Felger; Gallo: ''Foujerr'') is a commune and a sub-prefecture of the Ille-et-Vilaine department in the region of Brittany in northwestern France. As of 2017, Fougères had 20,418 inhabitants. The Fougères area comprises appr ...

Marriage alliance

Conan married

Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou Ermengarde of Anjou, ( - ),She is called Ermengarde in northern renchsources however at least one early southern source calls her Gerberga. Angevins were known to give daughters two names as evidenced by her aunt, called Adelaide-Blanche. See: ...

, in 973, daughter of

Geoffrey I, Count of Anjou Geoffrey I of Anjou ( – 21 July 987), known as ("Grey Gown" or "Greymantle"), was count of Anjou from 960 to 987. Life Geoffrey was the eldest son of Fulk II, Count of Anjou and his first wife Gerberga. He succeeded his father as Count of Anj ...

and

Adele of Vermandois Adele of Vermandois (bef. 915–960) was both a Carolingian dynasty, Carolingian as well as a Robertians, Robertian Frankish noblewoman who was the Countess of Flanders (934–960). Life Adele, born Detlev Schwennicke, ''Europäische Stammtafeln: ...

. Conan's alliance with Odo of Blois had helped him defeat Judicael Berengar.

Norman Pact

The alliance with Blois eventually became troublesome and he later needed to ''"rid himself of influence from Blois, hich he accomplished by signinga pact with Richard I of Normandy; his pactestablished firm Breton-Norman links for the first time."'' 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. 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.

Death

Conan died fighting his brother-in-law Fulk Nerra, Count of Anjou at the Battle of Conquereuil on 27 June 992. Conan is buried at

Abbey An abbey is a type of monastery used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot or abbess. Abbeys provide a complex of buildings and land for religious activities, work, and housing of Christian monks and nuns. The c ...

Family

Conan and his wife Ermengarde-Gerberga had: * Geoffrey (c. 980–1008), the eventual heir. * Judith (982–1017), married

Richard II, Duke of Normandy Richard II (died 28 August 1026), called the Good (French: ''Le Bon''), was the duke of Normandy from 996 until 1026. Life Richard was the eldest surviving son and heir of Richard the Fearless and Gunnor. He succeeded his father as the ruler of ...

. *Judicael, count of

Porhoët The noble Breton family line of Porhoët () is represented in modern times by the Franco-Breton House of Rohan. History The first recognised Vicomte de Porhoët was Guithenoc (abt. 990-1040CE), was born in Guilliers. He married Allurum (994- ...

(died 1037). *Hernod. * Catuallon, Abbot of

Redon Redon (; ) is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in northwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Geography Redon borders the Morbihan and Loire-Atlantique departments. It is situated at the junction of t ...

Notes

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Conan 01 of Rennes

Conan I, Duke of Brittany Conan I (died 27 June 992) nicknamed ''Le Tort'' (The Crooked) was the Duke of Brittany from 990 to his death. Life Count to Duke Conan was the son of Judicael Berengar, succeeding his father as Count of Rennes in 970. Conan assumed the title ...

10th-century dukes of Brittany Dukes of Brittany Counts of Rennes

Year of birth unknown