Hawise, Duchess of Brittany

11th-century noblewoman

Hawise of Rennes (Breton: Hawiz Breizh; French: Havoise de Bretagne) (c. 1024-1037 – 19 August 1072) was sovereign Duchess of Brittany from 1066 until her death.

Hawise was daughter and heiress of Alan III, Duke of Brittany, by his wife, Bertha of Blois,^[1] and as such, a member of the House of Rennes. She had two siblings: Conan II and Emma of Brittany. Hawise succeeded her older brother Conan, who was assassinated by poisoning on 11 December 1066.

Little is known of the life of Hawise of Rennes. She was married to Hoel of Cornwall some time before 1058.^[1] Hoel exercised authority jure uxoris and continued to control the government after her death in 1072 acting as regent for their son, Alan IV.

Family

Hawise married Hoel of Cornwall. They had:

Orwen de Cornouailles, (1050-1103)
Hildeberge de Cornouaille, (1067-1095)
Alain IV Fergant de Cornouaille, (circa 1067- October 19, 1119) Duke of Brittany, Count of Rennes, Count of Nantes^[1]
Matthew, inherited the county of Nantes.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Keats-Rohan 1992, p. 47.

Sources

Jean-Christophe Cassard, Houel Huuel : comte de Cornouaille puis duc de Bretagne (c. 1030–1084), t. CXVII, Société archéologique du Finistère, Quimper, 1988 (ISSN 0249-6763), pp. 95–117
Keats-Rohan, K.S.B. (1992). "The Bretons and Normans of England 1066–1154: the Family, the Fief and the Feudal Monarchy". Nottingham Medieval Studies. 36(Jan). Brepols.

Regnal titles
Hawise, Duchess of Brittany House of Rennes Born: 1036 Died: 19 August 1072
Preceded by Conan II	Duchess of Brittany 1066–1072 with Hoel II	Succeeded by Alan IV

Monarchs of Brittany

Early monarchs

c. 578–907	Waroch Saint Judicael Alain II Hir Morman Wihomarc Nominoe Erispoe Salomon Pascweten Gurvand Judicael Alan I Gourmaëlon

Viking occupation

c. 907–938	Hroflr Rognvaldr Incon

House of Nantes

938–958	Alan II (938–952) Drogo (952–958) Hoël I (960–981) Guerech (981–988) Alan (III) (988–990)

House of Rennes

958–1072	Conan I (990–992) Geoffrey I (992–1008) Alan III (1008–1040) Odo I (1008–1034) Conan II (1040–1066) Hawise (1066–1072) with Hoël II (1066–1072)

House of Cornouaille

1072–1156	Alan IV (1072–1112) Conan III (1112–1148) Bertha (1148–1156) with Odo II (1148–1156)

House of Penthièvre

1156–1196	Conan IV (1156–1166) Constance (1166–1201) with Geoffrey II (1181–1186) later Guy of Thouars (1199–1201)

House of Plantagenet

1196–1203	Arthur I (1196–1203)

House of Thouars

1203–1221	Alix (1203–1221) with Peter I (1213–1221)

House of Dreux

1221–1341	John I (1221–1286) John II (1286–1305) Arthur II (1305–1312) John III (1312–1341)

War of the Breton Succession

1341–1365	Joan (1341–1364) with Charles (1341–1364) disputed by John of Montfort (1341–1345) and John IV (1345–1365)

Montfort of Brittany

1365–1514	John IV (1365–1399) John V (1399–1442) Francis I (1442–1450) Peter II (1450–1457) Arthur III (1457–1458) Francis II (1458–1488) Anne (1488–1514)