Kevin Patrick Mostyn Family - Person Sheet
Kevin Patrick Mostyn Family - Person Sheet
Web Notes notes for Eripsoe King Of Brittany
Per Stuart's "Royalty For Commoners" (405:40), he became Duke of Brittany in 851, when his father died.
Extracted from the Book, "The Bretons", by Galliou and Jones:
"The death of NOMENOE raised CHARLES THE BALD's hopes that he might re-impose mastery over the Bretons. In the summer of 851 he launched a major attack on Erispoe only to be defeated at Jengland-Besle (L-A), a bridging point over the Vilaine, in a battle which lasted over three days. It was an even more humiliating defeat than that at Bllon and CHARLES fled from the field leaving his camp to be pillaged. The consequences were momentous for the future of Brittany. For reasons about which we can only speculate, shortly after this startling victory, Erispoe agreed peace-terms in a statesmanlike move. In return for the counties of Rennes and Nantes and the vicaria of Retz (which the Bretons had already overrun in NOMENOE's last campaigns) and a present of royal insignia, he acknowledged fealty to CHARLES .
For the first time a non-Carolingian was recognized as ruler of a regnum within the empire. In 856, as a further mark of esteem, Erispoe's daughter was betrothed to LOUIS THE STAMMERER. Until his death in November 857 Erispoe remained loyal to the EMPEROR. The acquisition of Britannia nova, as the lands conceded in 851 were sometimes called, completely transformed the economic and social as well as the political basis of Erispoe's authority. It also smoothed the way for further significant advances in Carolingian influence. Rennes and Nantes had passed into Frankish hands in the sixth century; for almost four centuries they had been advance outposts of Frankish culture and society.
Very few documents relate to the rule of Erispoe: just seven acta survive that were issued in his name, together with one charter delivered jointly With his cousin Salomon. Analysis of the witness lists reveals the presence of Erispoe's close relations (his wife MARMOHEC, his son Conan, his uncle Rivallon), the bishops whom Nominoe had promoted in 849 (Courantgen of Vannes, Retwalatr of Alet, Anaweten of Quimper, Clotwoion of Saint-Pol) and a large group of laymen (nobles) who are not otherwise distinguished by rank or office. Reference to counts reflects growing Carolingian administrative influence as does the fact that Salomon, like Erispoe, became an imperinl fiidelis.
Possibly in 852 (though much remains mysterious about what happened and when), CHARLES THE BALD granted Salomon 'a third of Brittany', a portion that he may have held under the suzerainty of Erispoe. It may have included the counties of Rennes and Nantes. Whether it was because of this territorial division or some other matter like Erispoe's continuing good relations with CHARLES THE BALD and the marriage treaty of 856, after sharing their authority for some years, the cousins came to blows. Between 2 and 12 November 857 Salomon murdered Erispoe.
The first serious Viking raids in England and Francia occured at the end of the 8th century. In 843, they took advantage of the feud between NOMENOE, his ally, Lambert, and Renaud to sack the city of Nantes. In the next few years the Loire valley became a major theatre of warfare as Viking bands, Carolingian aristocrats, and Breton princes struggled for dominance in a confusing series of alliances.
Extracted from the Book, "The Bretons", by Galliou and Jones:
"The death of NOMENOE raised CHARLES THE BALD's hopes that he might re-impose mastery over the Bretons. In the summer of 851 he launched a major attack on Erispoe only to be defeated at Jengland-Besle (L-A), a bridging point over the Vilaine, in a battle which lasted over three days. It was an even more humiliating defeat than that at Bllon and CHARLES fled from the field leaving his camp to be pillaged. The consequences were momentous for the future of Brittany. For reasons about which we can only speculate, shortly after this startling victory, Erispoe agreed peace-terms in a statesmanlike move. In return for the counties of Rennes and Nantes and the vicaria of Retz (which the Bretons had already overrun in NOMENOE's last campaigns) and a present of royal insignia, he acknowledged fealty to CHARLES .
For the first time a non-Carolingian was recognized as ruler of a regnum within the empire. In 856, as a further mark of esteem, Erispoe's daughter was betrothed to LOUIS THE STAMMERER. Until his death in November 857 Erispoe remained loyal to the EMPEROR. The acquisition of Britannia nova, as the lands conceded in 851 were sometimes called, completely transformed the economic and social as well as the political basis of Erispoe's authority. It also smoothed the way for further significant advances in Carolingian influence. Rennes and Nantes had passed into Frankish hands in the sixth century; for almost four centuries they had been advance outposts of Frankish culture and society.
Very few documents relate to the rule of Erispoe: just seven acta survive that were issued in his name, together with one charter delivered jointly With his cousin Salomon. Analysis of the witness lists reveals the presence of Erispoe's close relations (his wife MARMOHEC, his son Conan, his uncle Rivallon), the bishops whom Nominoe had promoted in 849 (Courantgen of Vannes, Retwalatr of Alet, Anaweten of Quimper, Clotwoion of Saint-Pol) and a large group of laymen (nobles) who are not otherwise distinguished by rank or office. Reference to counts reflects growing Carolingian administrative influence as does the fact that Salomon, like Erispoe, became an imperinl fiidelis.
Possibly in 852 (though much remains mysterious about what happened and when), CHARLES THE BALD granted Salomon 'a third of Brittany', a portion that he may have held under the suzerainty of Erispoe. It may have included the counties of Rennes and Nantes. Whether it was because of this territorial division or some other matter like Erispoe's continuing good relations with CHARLES THE BALD and the marriage treaty of 856, after sharing their authority for some years, the cousins came to blows. Between 2 and 12 November 857 Salomon murdered Erispoe.
The first serious Viking raids in England and Francia occured at the end of the 8th century. In 843, they took advantage of the feud between NOMENOE, his ally, Lambert, and Renaud to sack the city of Nantes. In the next few years the Loire valley became a major theatre of warfare as Viking bands, Carolingian aristocrats, and Breton princes struggled for dominance in a confusing series of alliances.