Breton-Norman War

Breton-Norman War
Part of Middle Ages
The Bayeux Tapestry depicts the Battle of Dinan, one of the decisive battles of the war.
Date 1064–1066 Location Château de Dinan, Brittany Result Conan surrenders
Belligerents
Kingdom of England Duchy of Normandy	Duchy of Brittany
Commanders and leaders
Harold Godwinson William, Duke of Normandy Rivallon I of Dol-Combourg	Conan II of Brittany

The Breton-Norman War was fought between the Duchy of Brittany and the Duchy of Normandy in the 11th century.

War

In this portion of the Bayeux Tapestry, some troops are depicted throwing spears, while others are trying to burn down the defenses

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. 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. 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. William, perhaps to impress Harold, invited him to accompany him on a campaign against Conan II.

Battle of Dinan

The Battle of Dinan occurred in 1065. Harold fought on the side of William. Their combined armies 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).

Conan's 1066 campaign and death

During Conan's 1066 campaign against Anjou, he took Pouancé and Segré, and arrived in Château-Gontier. There he was found dead after donning poisoned riding gloves. Duke William was widely suspected.

Aftermath

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.

Further reading

• Howarth, David Armine (2008). 1066: The Year of the Conquest. Paw Prints. ISBN 978-1-4395-1242-5. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=NF6bPwAACAAJ&dq=Howarth,+1066:+The+Year+of+the+Conquest&hl=en&sa=X&ei=sMonT7uhFobC0QWqv8DfBA&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA.