John of Montfort | |
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Duke of Brittany | |
Reign | 1341–1345 |
Predecessor | John III |
Successor | John IV |
Born | 1295 Hennebont |
Died | 16 September 1345 Hennebont |
(aged 49–50)
Spouse | Joanna of Flanders |
House | House of Dreux |
Father | Arthur II, Duke of Brittany |
Mother | Yolande de Dreux |
John of Montfort (in Breton Yann Moñforzh, in French Jean de Montfort) (1295 – 16 September 1345, Château d'Hennebont), sometimes known as John IV, Duke of Brittany, and 6th Earl of Richmond from 1341 to his death. He was the son of Arthur II, Duke of Brittany and his second wife, Yolande de Dreux. He contested the inheritance of the Duchy of Brittany by his niece, Joan of Penthièvre, which led to the War of the Breton Succession, which in turn evolved into being part of the Hundred Years' War between England and France. John's patron in his quest was King Edward III of England. He died in 1345, 19 years before the end of the war, and the victory of his son John IV over Joan of Penthièvre and her husband, Charles of Blois.
John of Montfort was born in 1295, the only son to Arthur II of Brittany and his second wife Yolande of Dreux. In 1322 he inherited from his mother the title of count of Montfort-l'Amaury, and in 1329 he married Joanna of Flanders in Chartres. Joanna was the daughter of Louis I, Count of Nevers, and Joan, Countess of Rethel. They had two children.
On 30 April 1341, John III, Duke of Brittany, died without a male heir. His half-brother, John of Montfort, was a candidate for the succession, which was also claimed by Joan of Penthièvre, niece of John III and wife of Charles of Blois, himself a nephew of the Philip VI, King of France. The King was, of course, favourable to his nephew.