Olivier (died 28 September 1433) was

Count of Penthièvre Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

and Lord of

Avesnes Avesnes (, Picard: ''Avinne'') is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. Geography The commune is a very small village situated some 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Montreuil-sur-Mer, on the D 129 E 1. Population ...

from 1404 until his death.

Biography

Olivier was the eldest son and heir of John I, Count of Penthièvre and Margaret de Clisson, and the grandson of Joan, Duchess of Brittany and her husband,

Charles of Blois Charles of Blois-Châtillon (131929 September 1364), nicknamed "the Saint", was the legalist Duke of Brittany from 1341 until his death, via his marriage to Joan, Duchess of Brittany and Countess of Penthièvre, holding the title against the ...

, making him the senior claimant to the Breton throne in the Penthièvre line. In 1411, Olivier joined the Armagnacs in the Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War despite being married to Isabella, a daughter of John, Duke of Burgundy. In this capacity, he fought alongside Louis II, Duke of Anjou, at the siege of

Bourges Bourges ( ; ; ''Borges'' in Berrichon) is a commune in central France on the river Yèvre (Cher), Yèvre. It is the capital of the Departments of France, department of Cher (department), Cher, and also was the capital city of the former provin ...

in 1412. Although his father and grandmother had abandoned the family's claim to Brittany in 1381, Margaret and her sons Olivier and Charles de Avaugour plotted to seize the duchy. In 1420, they invited

John V, Duke of Brittany John V, sometimes numbered as VI, (24 December 1389 – 29 August 1442) bynamed John the Wise (; ), was Duke of Brittany and Count of Montfort from 1399 to his death. His rule coincided with the height of the Hundred Years' War between Engla ...

to a party at Champtoceaux, where they captured him and threatened him with death if he did not abandon the ducal throne. The French dauphin and regent

Charles Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''* ...

allowed events to play out, despite outcries from within and outside of France. After holding the duke for five months, Olivier's brother John de L'Aigle, Duchess Joan of Brittany, and the Breton nobility negotiated his release in February 1421. Reneging on agreements made while in captivity, John V called together the Estates of Brittany and convinced them to condemn Olivier to death and confiscate all of his lands in

Brittany Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...

. The count retreated first to

Limoges Limoges ( , , ; , locally ) is a city and Communes of France, commune, and the prefecture of the Haute-Vienne Departments of France, department in west-central France. It was the administrative capital of the former Limousin region. Situated o ...

and then to Avesnes in Hainaut. While there, he married his second wife, Joan, daughter of Simon IV de Lalaing, Lord of

Quiévrain Quiévrain (; ) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. On 1 January 2006, the municipality had 6,559 inhabitants. The total area is 21.22 km2, giving a population density of 309 inhabitants per km2. The ...

(d. 1467). He died at Avesnes in 1433 without legitimate progeny and was succeeded by his brother,

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

Family

Olivier married as his first wife on 22 July 1406 at

Arras Arras ( , ; ; historical ) is the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department, which forms part of the region of Hauts-de-France; before the reorganization of 2014 it was in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The historic centre of the Artois region, with a ...

Isabella, daughter of John, Duke of Burgundy. She died childless in 1412 at the age of 12. In 1428, Olivier married as his second wife Jeanne de Lalaing, daughter of Simon IV de Lalaing, Lord of Quiévrain. She died in 1467 without progeny.

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Biography

Family

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Further reading