Alix of Thouars
Encyclopedia
Alix of Thouars (in Breton Alis) was the nominal Duchess of Brittany
from 1203 to her death.
and Guy of Thouars. Constance died after giving birth to Alix and her twin sister Catherine. Alix's older half-brother was Arthur I, Duke of Brittany
and her half-sister was Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany
, the children of Constance and Geoffrey Plantagenet
. Upon the death of Richard I of England
, a power struggle commenced between her brother Arthur and King John of England
. At the Battle of Mirebeau
in 1202, Arthur and Eleanor were captured. Both children were imprisoned at Corfe Castle
and Arthur mysteriously disappeared the next year.
The Breton barons recognized Alix as Duchess of Brittany after the death of Arthur, instead of her older sister, Eleanor. This was due to fears that King John might claim to rule Brittany as regent for the imprisoned Eleanor. Her father Guy became regent for Alix until 1206, when King Philip II of France
made himself the regent of the duchy in Alix’s name.
In 1213, the French King arranged her marriage to his cousin Peter of Dreux
, who became the regent. Alix died in childbirth, without having exercised much control over her own inheritance. She was succeeded in the duchy by her son John I
, but Peter remained the de facto
ruler of Brittany until 1237. Alix had two surviving children.
Duke of Brittany
The Duchy of Brittany was a medieval tribal and feudal state covering the northwestern peninsula of Europe,bordered by the Alantic Ocean on the west and the English Channel to the north with less definitive borders of the Loire River to the south and Normandy to the east...
from 1203 to her death.
Life
Alix was born on or shortly before 5 September 1201. She was the daughter of Constance, Duchess of BrittanyConstance, Duchess of Brittany
Constance of Penthièvre was hereditary Duchess of Brittany between 1171 and 1196...
and Guy of Thouars. Constance died after giving birth to Alix and her twin sister Catherine. Alix's older half-brother was Arthur I, Duke of Brittany
Arthur I, Duke of Brittany
Arthur I was Duke of Brittany between 1194 and 1202. He was the posthumous son of Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany and Constance, Duchess of Brittany...
and her half-sister was Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany
Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany
Eleanor the "Fair Maid of Brittany", 5th Countess of Richmond , also known as Damsel of Brittany or Pearl of Brittany for her peerless beauty, was the eldest daughter of Geoffrey Plantagenet and Constance, Duchess of Brittany...
, the children of Constance and Geoffrey Plantagenet
Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany
Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany and Earl of Richmond was Duke of Brittany between 1181 and 1186, through his marriage with the heiress Constance. Geoffrey was the fourth son of King Henry II of England and Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine.-Family:He was a younger maternal half-brother of Marie de...
. Upon the death of Richard I of England
Richard I of England
Richard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period...
, a power struggle commenced between her brother Arthur and King John of England
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
. At the Battle of Mirebeau
Battle of Mirebeau
The Battle of Mirebeau was a three-sided battle between the House of Lusignan-Breton alliance, the Kingdom of England, and the Kingdom of France...
in 1202, Arthur and Eleanor were captured. Both children were imprisoned at Corfe Castle
Corfe Castle
Corfe Castle is a village and civil parish in the English county of Dorset. It is the site of a ruined castle of the same name. The village and castle stand over a gap in the Purbeck Hills on the route between Wareham and Swanage. The village lies in the gap below the castle, and is some eight...
and Arthur mysteriously disappeared the next year.
The Breton barons recognized Alix as Duchess of Brittany after the death of Arthur, instead of her older sister, Eleanor. This was due to fears that King John might claim to rule Brittany as regent for the imprisoned Eleanor. Her father Guy became regent for Alix until 1206, when King Philip II of France
Philip II of France
Philip II Augustus was the King of France from 1180 until his death. A member of the House of Capet, Philip Augustus was born at Gonesse in the Val-d'Oise, the son of Louis VII and his third wife, Adela of Champagne...
made himself the regent of the duchy in Alix’s name.
In 1213, the French King arranged her marriage to his cousin Peter of Dreux
Peter I, Duke of Brittany
Pierre Mauclerc , also known as Peter of Dreux or Pierre de Dreux, was duke of Brittany jure uxoris from 1213 to 1221, then regent of the duchy from 1221 to 1237 as well as Earl of Richmond from 1219 to 1235.-Biography:He was the second son of Robert II, Count of Dreux...
, who became the regent. Alix died in childbirth, without having exercised much control over her own inheritance. She was succeeded in the duchy by her son John I
John I, Duke of Brittany
John I the Red , known as John the Red due to the colour of his beard, was Duke of Brittany, from 1237 to his death...
, but Peter remained the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
ruler of Brittany until 1237. Alix had two surviving children.
Children
- John I, Duke of BrittanyJohn I, Duke of BrittanyJohn I the Red , known as John the Red due to the colour of his beard, was Duke of Brittany, from 1237 to his death...
(1217–1286). Married 1236 Blanche of NavarreBlanche of Navarre (daughter of Theobald I)Blanche of Navarre , also known as Blanche of Champagne, was the daughter of Theobald the Troubador, King of Navarre and Count of Champagne, and his second wife Agnes of Beaujeu. She was a member of the House of Champagne...
, whom he had issue. - Yolande of Brittany (1218 – 10 October 1272), Countess of Penthièvre and of Porhoet. Married January 1236 Hugh XI of LusignanHugh XI of LusignanHugh XI de Lusignan, Hugh VI of La Marche or Hugh II of Angoulême or Hugues XI & VI & II de Lusignan . He succeeded his mother Isabelle of Angoulême, former queen of England, as Count of Angoulême in 1246. He likewise succeeded his father Hugh X as Count of La Marche in 1249...
, Count of La Marche and Angouleme, by whom she had issue. - Arthur of Brittany (1220–1224)
Ancestry
Source
- Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700 by Frederick Lewis Weis, Lines: 96-28, 135-29, 271-28
See also
- Dukes of Brittany family treeDukes of Brittany family treeThis is a family tree of the Dukes of Brittany from the 9th century, to the annexation of Brittany by France in 1532.See also: Brittany - List of family trees...