Arthur III | |
---|---|
Duke of Brittany | |
Reign | 22 September 1457 – 26 December 1458 |
Predecessor | Peter II |
Successor | Francis II |
Born | 24 August 1393 Château de Sucinio |
Died | 26 December 1458 Nantes |
(aged 65)
Burial | Nantes Cathedral |
Spouse |
Margaret of Burgundy Joan of Albret Catherine of Luxembourg |
House | House of Montfort |
Father | John IV, Duke of Brittany |
Mother | Joan of Navarre |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Arthur III (in Breton Arzhur III) (24 August 1393 – 26 December 1458), known as the Justicier and as Arthur de Richemont, was Lord of Parthenay and titular Count (Earl) of Richmond in England and for eleven months at the very end of his life, Duke of Brittany and Count of Montfort after inheriting those titles upon the death of his nephew.
Arthur was a younger son of Duke John IV and his third wife Joanna of Navarre, and so a member of the Ducal House of Montfort. Arthur was born at the Château de Suscinio.
Just a year before his own death, Arthur succeeded his nephew Peter II as Duke. Arthur was also titular Earl of Richmond; the earldom had often been granted to the Dukes of Brittany, but after the death of Arthur's father, the English refused to recognize his heirs as earls. Nevertheless, they continued to style themselves "Count of Richmond", while the English title was given to John, Duke of Bedford, Plantagenet (1389–1435) in 1414.
Arthur was an important figure at the French court during the Hundred Years' War, even before becoming Duke of Brittany.
Arthur sided with the Armagnac faction against the Burgundians during their civil conflict in France which lasted from 1410 to 1414. He fought at the Battle of Agincourt on 25 October 1415, where he was wounded and captured. He was released by the English in 1420 and helped persuade his brother, Duke John, to sign the Treaty of Troyes. In 1422, the English created him Duke of Touraine. However, he subsequently returned to the allegiance of the Dauphin in 1424, was made Constable of France with support from Yolande of Aragon in 1425.