Francis I, Duke of Brittany

Francis I (in Breton Fransez I, in French François I) (11 May 1414, Vannes – 17 July 1450, Château de l'Hermine, Vannes), was Duke of Brittany, Count of Montfort and titular Earl of Richmond, from 29 August 1442 to his death. He was the son of John V, Duke of Brittany and Joan of France, the daughter of King Charles VI of France.

Francis I
Duke of Brittany; Count of Montfort
Reign	29 August 1442 – 17 July 1450
Predecessor	John V
Successor	Peter II
Born	11 May 1414 Vannes
Died	17 July 1450 (aged 36) Château de l'Hermine, Vannes.
Burial	Redon Abbey
Spouse	Yolande of Anjou Isabella of Scotland
Issue	Renaud, Count of Montfort Margaret, Duchess of Brittany Marie, Viscountess of Rohan
House	Montfort
Father	John V, Duke of Brittany
Mother	Joan of France
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Family

Francis I was originally engaged to Bonne of Savoy, the daughter of Amadeus VIII, Duke of Savoy and his wife Mary of Burgundy, Duchess of Savoy. She died just before their marriage in 1430, at the age of 15.[1]

Francis I's first marriage was to Yolande of Anjou, daughter of Louis II, Duke of Anjou and Yolande of Aragon; they were married in Nantes in August 1431.[2] Francis and Yolande had a son, Renaud, Count of Montfort. His son Renaud died young and his wife Yolande died in 1440.[3]

His second marriage was to Isabel of Scotland (daughter of James I, King of Scots and Joan Beaufort); he married Isabel at the Château d'Auray on 30 October 1442. Francis and Isabel had two daughters:

• Margaret of Brittany (1443–1469, Nantes), married Francis II, Duke of Brittany.
• Marie of Brittany (1444–1506), married John II, Viscount of Rohan and Count of Porhoët.

Succession

Francis I died on 17 July 1450 at the Château de l'Hermine, being only 36 years of age. Because he had no surviving male heirs at the time of his death, he was succeeded as Duke of Brittany by his younger brother, Peter II of Brittany.

During his time, the residences of the Dukes of Brittany consisted of: the Château de l'Hermine; the Château de Nantes; the Château de Clisson; and the Château de Suscinio.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Francis I, Duke of Brittany

16. Arthur II, Duke of Brittany 8. John of Montfort 17. Yolande of Dreux 4. John IV, Duke of Brittany 18. Louis I, Count of Nevers 9. Joanna of Flanders 19. Joan, Countess of Rethel 2. John V, Duke of Brittany 20. Philip III of Navarre 10. Charles II of Navarre 21. Joan II of Navarre 5. Joan of Navarre 22. John II of France (=#24) 11. Joan of France 23. Bonne of Bohemia (=#25) 1. Francis I, Duke of Brittany 24. John II of France (=#22) 12. Charles V of France 25. Bonne of Bohemia (=#23) 6. Charles VI of France 26. Peter I, Duke of Bourbon 13. Joanna of Bourbon 27. Isabella of Valois 3. Joan of France 28. Stephen II, Duke of Bavaria 14. Stephen III, Duke of Bavaria 29. Elisabeth of Sicily 7. Isabeau of Bavaria 30. Bernabò Visconti, Duke of Milan 15. Taddea Visconti 31. Beatrice Regina della Scala

See also

• Dukes of Brittany family tree

References

1. Chaubet, Daniel (1984). "Une enquête historique en Savoie au XVe siècle". Journal des Savants (in French). 1 (1): 112, n. 45. doi:10.3406/jds.1984.1477.
2. "Genealogy of François I on the site Medieval Lands".
3. Meuret, F.C. (1837). Annales de Nantes (in French). Suireau. p. 262.