John I, Duke of Brittany

Duke of Brittany from 1221 to 1286

John II
Peter, Lord of Hade
Alix, Countess of Blois

HouseDreuxFatherPeter I, Duke of BrittanyMotherAlix, Duchess of Brittany

John I (Breton: Yann, French: Jean; c. 1217/1218 – 8 October 1286), known as John the Red due to the colour of his beard, was Duke of Brittany from 1221 to his death and 2nd Earl of Richmond in 1268.

John was the eldest of three children born to Duchess Alix and her husband and jure uxoris co-ruler, Duke Peter I.^[1] He became duke upon his mother's death in 1221. His father, who had reigned as duke due to his marriage to Alix, ruled as regent until John reached adulthood.^[2] In 1268, Henry III granted the earldom of Richmond to John,^[3] and the title continued in his family, through frequent temporary forfeitures and reversions, until 1342.

He experienced a number of conflicts with the Bishop of Nantes and the Breton clergy. In 1240, he issued an edict expelling Jews from the duchy and cancelling all debts to them.^[4] He joined Louis IX of France in the Eighth Crusade in 1270, and survived the plague that killed the king. The duchy of Brittany experienced a century of peace, beginning with John I and ending with Duke John III's reign in 1341.^[5]

Marriage and issue

In 1236 John married Infanta Blanche, daughter of King Theobald I of Navarre.^[6] They had the following surviving issue:

John II, Duke of Brittany (1239–1305), married Beatrice of England and had issue.^[7]
Peter (1241–1268), Lord of Dinan, Hade, Léon, Hennebont and La Roche-Derrien.^[7]
Alix (1243–1288), Dame de Pontarcy; married John of Châtillon, Count of Blois.^[7]
Theobald (1245–1246), interred in the church abbey of Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys.
Theobald (1247 – died young), interred in the church abbey of Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys.
Eleanor (1248 – died young), interred in the church abbey of Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys.
Nicolas (1249–1251), interred in the church abbey of Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys.
Robert (1251–1259), interred in the church abbey of Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys.

References

^ Richard 1983, p. xxviii.
^ Lower 2005, p. 117.
^ Crawford 2002, p. 35.
^ Jones 1988, p. 140.
^ Jones 1988, p. 34.
^ Hallam & Everard 2001, p. 273.
^ ^a ^b ^c Morvan 2009, p. table 2.

Sources

Crawford, Anne (2002). Letters of Medieval Women. Sutton.
Hallam, Elizabeth M.; Everard, Judith (2001). Capetian France, 987-1328. London: Longman. ISBN 9780582489097. OCLC 6813908.
Jones, Michael (1988). The Creation of Brittany: A Late Medieval State. London: The Hambledon Press. ISBN 9780907628804. OCLC 16805427.
Lower, Michael (2005). The Barons' Crusade: A Call to Arms and Its Consequences. University of Pennsylvania Press.
Morvan, Frederic (2009). La Chevalerie bretonne et la formation de l'armee ducale (in French). Presses Universitaires de Rennes.
Richard, Jean (1983). Lloyd, Simon (ed.). Saint Louis, Crusader King of France. Translated by Birrell, Jean. Cambridge University Press.

Regnal titles
John I, Duke of Brittany House of Dreux Cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty Born: c. 1217/18 Died: 8 October 1286
Preceded by Alix and Peter I	Duke of Brittany 1221–1286	Succeeded by John II
Peerage of England
Preceded by Peter of Savoy	Earl of Richmond 1268	Succeeded by John II

Monarchs of Brittany

Early monarchs

c. 578–907	Waroch Saint Judicael Alain II Hir Morman Wihomarc Nominoe Erispoe Salomon Pascweten Gurvand Judicael Alan I Gourmaëlon

Viking occupation

c. 907–938	Hroflr Rognvaldr Incon

House of Nantes

938–958	Alan II (938–952) Drogo (952–958) Hoël I (960–981) Guerech (981–988) Alan (III) (988–990)

House of Rennes

958–1072	Conan I (990–992) Geoffrey I (992–1008) Alan III (1008–1040) Odo I (1008–1034) Conan II (1040–1066) Hawise (1066–1072) with Hoël II (1066–1072)

House of Cornouaille

1072–1156	Alan IV (1072–1112) Conan III (1112–1148) Bertha (1148–1156) with Odo II (1148–1156)

House of Penthièvre

1156–1196	Conan IV (1156–1166) Constance (1166–1201) with Geoffrey II (1181–1186) later Guy of Thouars (1199–1201)

House of Plantagenet

1196–1203	Arthur I (1196–1203)

House of Thouars

1203–1221	Alix (1203–1221) with Peter I (1213–1221)

House of Dreux

1221–1341	John I (1221–1286) John II (1286–1305) Arthur II (1305–1312) John III (1312–1341)

War of the Breton Succession

1341–1365	Joan (1341–1364) with Charles (1341–1364) disputed by John of Montfort (1341–1345) and John IV (1345–1365)

Montfort of Brittany

1365–1514	John IV (1365–1399) John V (1399–1442) Francis I (1442–1450) Peter II (1450–1457) Arthur III (1457–1458) Francis II (1458–1488) Anne (1488–1514)