Alain (Bretagne) Fergent (1067 - 1119)

Born 1 Jan 1067 in Bretagne

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 13 Oct 1119 at age 52 in Redon, Bretagne

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Alain IV Bretagne was a member of the aristocracy in Europe.

Biography

Alan IV was Duke of Brittany from 1084 until his abdication in 1112. He was also Count of Nantes and Count of Rennes. His parents were Hawise, Duchess of Brittany and Hoel II. He is also known as Alan Fergant. Through his father, he was of the Breton House of Cornouaille dynasty.

A traditional rivalry between Brittany and Normandy continued at the close of the 11th century. To prevent further hostilities during his invasion of England, William the Conqueror 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 alleged that Alan IV had Constance poisoned to death, but this remained unverified. 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. She had no issue.

In 1093, Alan IV married Ermengarde of Anjou, as a political alliance with Fulk IV of Anjou to counter Anglo-Norman influence. With Ermengarde he had three children: Geoffrey - died young ; Conan - his successor as Duke of Brittany and Hawise - she married Count Baldwin VII of Flanders, also known as Hawise Fergant.

In 1098 Alan went on the First Crusade, leaving Ermengarde as his regent, and returned in 1101.

Alan IV abdicated as Duke in 1112. Alan and Ermengarde were separated upon his abdication. The former Duke retired to the monastery of Redon, where he died the 13 October 1119.

Sources

• ROYAL ANCESTRY by Douglas Richardson Vol. I, page 7

CONSTANCE OF ENGLAND. She married in 1086 (as his 1st wife) ALAN IV, (Bretagne) (aka Fergant) Count (or Duke) of Brittany, son and heir of Hoel, Count (or Duke) of Nantes, by Hawise, daughter of Alan III, Count (or Duke) of Brittany. They had no issue. ALAN IV, married (2nd) ERMENDGRDE OF ANJOU, divorced wife of Guillaume IX Duke of Aquitaine, Count of Poitou, and daughter of Fulk (or Foulques IV "le rechin," Count of Anjou, by his 1st wife, Hildegarde, daughter of Lancelin [II] de Baugency. They had two sons, Conan[III], and Geoffroi, and one daughter, Hawise (wife of Baudouin VII, Count of Flanders). Constance, died 13 August 1090. ALAN IV, Count (or Duke) of Brittany, died 13 October 1119.

• ROYAL ANCESTRY by Douglas Richardson Vol. I, page 541

• Wikipedia (en) Alan IV, Duke of Brittany

• Ancestry.com family trees

Acknowledgements

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