Alan, 1st Earl of Richmond

Alan of Penthièvre (b.c.1100 – September 15,1146, ( "Breton Alan Penteur" ) also know as "Alan the Black", was a Breton noble who fought for Stephen of England [ Cockayne, G. E., edited by H. A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, & Lord Howard de Walden, "The Complete Peerage", London, 1945, vol.x, p.788.] (before 1100 – September 15,1146 [ Cockayne "et al" (1945) vol.x, p.791n, where it states that he was born before his younger brother Henry, who was born in 1100.] ) Alan was the third son of Stephen, Count of Tréguier.

In a politically arranged marriage Alan married Bertha of Brittany, daughter of Conan III, Duke of Brittany, perhaps in a move to draw Brittany onto Stephen's side in the conflict against the dispossessed Empress Matilda. In part to promote the alliance with Conan III of Brittany Stephen made Conan's son-in-law Alan as 1st Earl of Richmond in the second creation. The title Earl of Richmond had been held by Alan's uncle Alan 'The Red, who had died heireless. Additionally, Stephen recognized Alan as Earl of Cornwall, in recognition of his other uncle Brian who had formerly possessed Cornwall, but was deprived of it by Ranulph de Gernon, 2nd Earl of Chester after the Battle of Lincoln (1141).

With Bertha of Brittany they had three children:

* Conan IV, Duke of Brittany, their son and heir.
* Constance, who married Alan III, Vicomte of Rohan.
* Enougen, abbess of St. Sulpice.

In addition, Alan had four illegitimate sons [ Cockayne "et al" (1945) vol.x, p.790n] :
* Bryan FitzAlan, progenitor of the Lords of Bedale in Richmondshire.
* Stephen FitzAlan.
* Reynold FitzAlan.
* Robert FitzAlan.

Alan died in Brittany by 1146 and was buried at Bégard. After his death, Bertha returned to Brittany. There, on his surprise death-bed, Conan III renounced Hoèl as his son and heir and designated Bertha as his heiress. When he died, Bertha inherited the Duchy of Brittany. As the dowager Countess of Richmond, Bertha continued to represent the alliance between Brittany and Stephan's England.

Chester's grandson was made Duke of Brittany jure uxoris with Constance, Duchess of Brittany, which made him automatically Earl of Richmond.

Notes

References

* Galliou, Patrick, & Jones, Michael, "The Bretons", Oxford, 1991, p.191.
* Barlow, Professor Frank, "The Feudal Kingdom of England 1042 - 1216", London,1955, tree opposite p.288.