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The noble Breton family line of Porhoët () was a French noble family in the middle ages, from around 990 through the 1200's. Notable members included Odo I, Odo II, and Alan I. Alan I would go on to form the Franco-Breton House of Rohan, which survives to the modern day.


History

The first recognised Vicomte de Porhoët was Guithenoc ( 990–1040CE), was born in Guilliers. He married Allurum (994–?) of Guilliers. He became Vicomte, and in about 1008 he moved to La Trinite, in Porhoet. Both Guilliers and Porhoet are located in the modern day French departement of
Morbihan The Morbihan ( , ; ) is a departments of France, department in the administrative region of Brittany (administrative region), Brittany, situated in the northwest of France. It is named after the Gulf of Morbihan, Morbihan (''small sea'' in Breton ...
in the province of
Brittany Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...
. In Porhoët Guithenoc built Josselin Castle, which he named for his son, Josselin (1020–1074). It is still owned by the descendants of Porhoët and is the longest continuously held private estate in the world. Vicomte Josselin de Porhoët had three sons with the surname Rohan: Mainguy De Rohan, Jostho de Rohan, and Roger de Rohan. He had a fourth son, the third vicomte de Porhoët, Odo I, Viscount of Porhoët (1049–?). Odo I married Anne de Leon (1065–?). They had two children, Vicomte Geoffrey de Porhoët (1092–1141) and Alan I, Viscount of Rohan. Geoffrey is said to have married Hawisa Fergant of Brittany (abt. 1105–?). They had two sons, one of which was Odo II, Viscount of Porhoët (1122-?). The title Count of Porhoët was joined to the Breton Ducal crown. Pierre Mauclerc bestowed the title on his daughter Yolande; upon her death the title was rejoined to the Duchy by her brother John I.


Franco-Breton House of Rohan

Alain le Noir was the 1st Viscount de Rohan. He was the third son of Eudes I de Porhoët and his wife Emma de Léon (the daughter of
Guihomar II, Viscount of Léon Guihomar II de Léon (died in 1103) was a Viscounty of Léon, Viscount of Léon. He is said to have succeeded his grandfather Guihomar I, Viscount of Léon, Guihomar I. Origins Guihomar is said to be the son of a man named Ehuarn. But according ...
). The name Rohan comes from the name of the castle he built, and passed on to his descendants, on the shores of the Oust.


Viscount of Porhoët as Duke of Brittany

Eudes II of Porhoët, also known as Odo II, is a notable figure in the history of the
Duchy of Brittany The Duchy of Brittany (, ; ) was a medieval feudal state that existed between approximately 939 and 1547. Its territory covered the northwestern peninsula of France, bordered by the Bay of Biscay to the west, and the English Channel to the north. ...
. Odo II married into the ruling
duchy of Brittany The Duchy of Brittany (, ; ) was a medieval feudal state that existed between approximately 939 and 1547. Its territory covered the northwestern peninsula of France, bordered by the Bay of Biscay to the west, and the English Channel to the north. ...
though his first marriage to Bertha (b.1114–?). This was Bertha's second marriage. She was the daughter of
Conan III, Duke of Brittany Conan III, also known as Conan of Cornouaille and Conan the Fat (, and ; c. 1093–1096 – 17 September 1148) was duke of Brittany, from 1112 to his death. He was the son of Alan IV, Duke of Brittany and Ermengarde of Anjou (d. 1146), Ermengard ...
. Upon Bertha's death, Odo II served as Regent to Bertha's son Conan IV of Penthièvre. Bertha and Odo II had three children permitting the Porhoët line to continue. Bertha's sister Constance (1118–?) was next in line to the duchy (after Bertha); she married Alan, younger brother to Odo II, thus cementing Porhoët claims to Brittany. When Bertha died, Odo II tried to deny Conan IV his inheritance and usurp the rule of Brittany. He formed an alliance with Hoel, Count of Nantes, Conan III's disinherited son. In order to counter Odo II, Henry II of England invaded Brittany. In 1156 Odo was deposed by his step son and imprisoned by Conan IV's ally Raoul de
Fougères Fougères (; ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Foujerr'') is a Communes of France, commune and a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the Ille-et-Vilaine Departments of France, department, located in Brittany (administrative region), Brittany, no ...
. Henry II razed Josselin Castle. Odo II had a second marriage with Jeanne/Eléonore de Léon, daughter of Guiomar III, Vicomte de Léon. Their son became Odo III.


The Viscounts and Counts of Porhoët

*Guithenoc (990–1040), becomes Viscount. **Josselin (1025–1074), son of Guithenoc. *** Odo I, Viscount of Porhoët (1049–1092), son of Josselin. ****Geoffrey (1082–1141), son of Odo I. ***** Odo II, Viscount of Porhoët (1122–1170), son of Geoffrey, married Bertha and so became son-in-law of
Conan III, Duke of Brittany Conan III, also known as Conan of Cornouaille and Conan the Fat (, and ; c. 1093–1096 – 17 September 1148) was duke of Brittany, from 1112 to his death. He was the son of Alan IV, Duke of Brittany and Ermengarde of Anjou (d. 1146), Ermengard ...
; contested the Ducal Crown of Brittany. ******Odo III (1160–1239), son of Odo II; he was made Count of Porhoët.


Also of note

Alan de Porhoët, son of Odo I, was created Viscount of Rohan and was the founder of the House of Rohan. Alan de Porhoët, younger brother of Odo II, left for England and became Alan la Zouche, great-grandfather of two English Barons and great-great-grandfather of a third - see Baron Zouche.


Notes


References


External links

* https://web.archive.org/web/20070814061819/http://www.peterjoslin.btinternet.co.uk/chateau_josselin.htm * http://www.casteland.com/puk/castle/bretagne/morbihan/josselin/josselin.htm {{DEFAULTSORT:Porhoet People from Morbihan