The dispute over the inheritance of Brittany between the Montforts and the Penthièvres dates back to the Hundred Years War, with the First Breton Succession War being one of the sub-conflicts of the Hundred Years War, lasting from 1341 to 1365.
It was brought to an end by the Treaty of Guérande, which stated the Montforts would be Dukes of Brittany, but when their line would run out of males, it would pass down the Penthièvre line.
A century of history later, Francis II of Brittany was the last Montfort Duke of Brittany, having had a stillborn son and two daughters, Anne and Isabeau.
However, the Penthièvre succession rights were purchased by Louis XI the Spider, King of France, from Nicole de Châtillon-Penthièvre, on the 3rd of January 1480.
As such, controlling the Breton succession, in the wake of the Burgundian inheritance, became a major point of focus for the French monarchy. After an ill-advised rebellion during the Mad War, Anne de Beaujeu, the regent of France, would impose the Treaty of Sablé placing four key Breton fortresses under French occupation and forcing the Duke of Brittany to require royal assent to marry his daughters.
The Duke would soon pass. While Charles VIII put the duchy under sequestre to investigate the state of inheritance, Anne of Brittany was proclaimed Duchess to protect local autonomy from the Crown, and sought to marry Maximilian von Habsburg, already responsible for separating Burgundy's territories (aside from the Apanages) from France. This led to the French-Breton War, and the marriage of Charles VIII to Anne of Brittany instead, which would cost France Artois and the Free County of Burgundy. In addition, retaining Brittany would remain the major point of focus of French matrimonial policy for the next three decades.
What, then, would have happened if Francis II of Brittany died in late December 1479 ?
The purchase of the Penthièvre succession rights was already in the cards, but it wouldn't be Nicole de Penthièvre who would inherit Brittany, but her son Jean II de Brosse.
In addition, it is doubtful that the succession of Brittany allowed for a straight cession of the succession rights, the determination of if Brittany was a sovereign Duchy or a French vassal always was a major point of dispute between Paris and Naoned.
Anne and Isabelle being both toddlers at the time (being born respectively in 1477 and 1478), they would most likely be out of the picture. Jean II, Viscount of Rohan, Lord of Léon and Count of Porhoët, however, would most likely attempt to claim the Duchy, what with being the heir according to the Breton succession prior to the Treaty of Guérande. In addition, with France in the midst of the Burgundian Succession War, it is unlikely that it would have overmuch troops to spare initially.
As such, my interpretation is :
1) First Jean of Rohan would take over Brittany, either as regent for Anne or in his own name.
2) The Spider King would probably support the Penthièvre claim to Brittany, but be unable to initially act upon it. The purchase of the Penthièvre rights would probably be altered in some fashion.
3) When the Burgundian Succession War winds down, either the Spider King or Anne de Beaujeu would invade Brittany and topple Rohan, in exchange for either the Duchy itself, or merely full recognition of Brittany as a French fief... and probably some conditions on Breton succession (ie what standards would be applied to declare it in disinherence)
4) The marriage between Charles VIII and Margaret of Austria would probably not get called off.
What's your opinion on that matter ?
It was brought to an end by the Treaty of Guérande, which stated the Montforts would be Dukes of Brittany, but when their line would run out of males, it would pass down the Penthièvre line.
A century of history later, Francis II of Brittany was the last Montfort Duke of Brittany, having had a stillborn son and two daughters, Anne and Isabeau.
However, the Penthièvre succession rights were purchased by Louis XI the Spider, King of France, from Nicole de Châtillon-Penthièvre, on the 3rd of January 1480.
As such, controlling the Breton succession, in the wake of the Burgundian inheritance, became a major point of focus for the French monarchy. After an ill-advised rebellion during the Mad War, Anne de Beaujeu, the regent of France, would impose the Treaty of Sablé placing four key Breton fortresses under French occupation and forcing the Duke of Brittany to require royal assent to marry his daughters.
The Duke would soon pass. While Charles VIII put the duchy under sequestre to investigate the state of inheritance, Anne of Brittany was proclaimed Duchess to protect local autonomy from the Crown, and sought to marry Maximilian von Habsburg, already responsible for separating Burgundy's territories (aside from the Apanages) from France. This led to the French-Breton War, and the marriage of Charles VIII to Anne of Brittany instead, which would cost France Artois and the Free County of Burgundy. In addition, retaining Brittany would remain the major point of focus of French matrimonial policy for the next three decades.
What, then, would have happened if Francis II of Brittany died in late December 1479 ?
The purchase of the Penthièvre succession rights was already in the cards, but it wouldn't be Nicole de Penthièvre who would inherit Brittany, but her son Jean II de Brosse.
In addition, it is doubtful that the succession of Brittany allowed for a straight cession of the succession rights, the determination of if Brittany was a sovereign Duchy or a French vassal always was a major point of dispute between Paris and Naoned.
Anne and Isabelle being both toddlers at the time (being born respectively in 1477 and 1478), they would most likely be out of the picture. Jean II, Viscount of Rohan, Lord of Léon and Count of Porhoët, however, would most likely attempt to claim the Duchy, what with being the heir according to the Breton succession prior to the Treaty of Guérande. In addition, with France in the midst of the Burgundian Succession War, it is unlikely that it would have overmuch troops to spare initially.
As such, my interpretation is :
1) First Jean of Rohan would take over Brittany, either as regent for Anne or in his own name.
2) The Spider King would probably support the Penthièvre claim to Brittany, but be unable to initially act upon it. The purchase of the Penthièvre rights would probably be altered in some fashion.
3) When the Burgundian Succession War winds down, either the Spider King or Anne de Beaujeu would invade Brittany and topple Rohan, in exchange for either the Duchy itself, or merely full recognition of Brittany as a French fief... and probably some conditions on Breton succession (ie what standards would be applied to declare it in disinherence)
4) The marriage between Charles VIII and Margaret of Austria would probably not get called off.
What's your opinion on that matter ?
