Breton–Norman War
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The Breton–Norman War of 1064–66 was fought between the Duchy of Brittany and the Duchy of Normandy.
Brittany, an independent Celtic duchy, had a traditional rivalry with neighboring Normandy. The 1064–1065 war between Brittany and Normandy was sparked after William the Conqueror, as Duke of Normandy, supported Rivallon I of Dol's rebellion against the hereditary Duke of Brittany, Conan II.[1]
In 1065, the year before his invasion of Anglo-Saxon England, William of Normandy sent word to the surrounding countries (including Brittany), warning them against attacking his lands, on the grounds that his mission bore the papal banner.[2] However, Conan promptly informed the duke that he would take the opportunity to invade the latter's Duchy. William's army set out for battle. While outside the monastery of Mont Saint-Michel, two Norman soldiers became mired in quicksand, and Harold Godwinson, future King of England saved them.
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The Battle of Dinan occurred in 1065. Harold fought on the side of William whose army chased Conan from Dol-de-Bretagne to Rennes and he finally surrendered at Château de Dinan, Brittany. The battle is recalled in the Bayeux Tapestry (see illustration).[3]
During Conan's 1066 campaign against Anjou, he took Pouancé and Segré, and arrived in Château-Gontier. There he was found dead on 11 December after donning poisoned riding gloves. Duke William was widely suspected.[4]
Conan II was succeeded by his sister, Hawise, whose marriage to Hoel of Cornwall may have been a political move to consolidate and stabilize the east and west regions of the duchy.
References
- ↑ "Brittany Genealogy"
- ↑ Howarth 2008.
- ↑ Note: In the Bayeux Tapestry, Conan is pictured surrendering by giving William the keys to Dinan via a lance.
- ↑ Howarth 2008, pp. 98–99.
Bibliography
- Howarth, David Armine (2008) [1977]. 1066: The Year of the Conquest. Paw Prints. ISBN 978-1-4395-1242-5.