Alan IV of Brittany
| Alan IV | |
|---|---|
Alan IV's seal
|
|
| Duke of Brittany | |
| Reign | 1072/84–1112 |
| Predecessor | Hoel II & Hawise |
| Successor | Conan III |
| Regent | Hoel II |
| Born | before 1060 or 1063x1066 |
| Died | 13 October 1119 Redon Abbey |
| Burial | Redon Abbey |
| Spouse |
Constance of Normandy Ermengarde of Anjou |
| Issue |
Conan III Geoffrey Hawise, Countess of Flanders |
| House | House of Cornouaille |
| Father | Hoel II |
| Mother | Hawise |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Alan IV (born circa 1063; died 13 October 1119) was Duke of Brittany from 1084 until his abdication in 1112. He was also Count of Nantes (from c. 1103) and Count of Rennes. His parents were Duchess Hawise and Duke Hoel II. He is also known as Alan Fergant. Through his father, he was of the Breton House of Cornouaille dynasty (Breton: Kerne dynasty). He was the last Breton-speaking Duke of Brittany.
A traditional rivalry between Brittany and Normandy continued at the close of the 11th century. The Breton-Norman war of 1064–1065 was the result of William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy (later to become known as William the Conqueror) support of rebels in Brittany against Alan's maternal uncle, Conan II.
Conan II died in late 1066 during a campaign in Anjou, and was succeeded by Alan's parents, Conan's sister Hawise as Duchess and her husband Hoel II as Consort. Hoel ruled as Regent of Brittany from Duchess Hawise's death in 1072 until Alan reached his majority in 1084.
To prevent further hostilities during his invasion of England, William I married his daughter Constance to the new duke Alan in 1087. The marriage ceremonies may have taken place in Bayeux in Normandy. William of Malmesbury wrote that Constance was unpopular at the Breton court because of her "severe and conservative" manner. However, Orderic Vitalis wrote that as duchess Constance did all she could to further the welfare of the Bretons, who grieved deeply at her death in 1090.
In 1092 Alan IV donated property to the abbey of Redon by charter, and by 1093 married Ermengarde of Anjou, as a political alliance with Fulk IV of Anjou to counter Anglo-Norman influence.
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