Treaty of Guérande (1365) facts for kids

The first Treaty of Guérande was signed on April 12, 1365. This important agreement officially ended the Breton War of Succession. This war was a long fight over who should rule the Duchy of Brittany.

The First Treaty of Guérande

The Breton War of Succession was a conflict between two families. They both wanted to be the Duke or Duchess of Brittany. John III, Duke of Brittany had died without a clear heir. This led to a big dispute.

One side was Joanna de Penthièvre and her husband, Charles de Blois. They had the support of King Charles V of France. The other side was John of Montfort and his son, John IV. They were supported by their English allies.

John of Montfort died during the war after being held prisoner. Charles de Blois died in the Battle of Auray in 1364. This battle was a major turning point and decided the war.

What the Treaty Decided

Even though John IV and his English allies won the war on the battlefield, the Treaty of Guérande was seen as a win for the French in terms of diplomacy.

The treaty made John IV the official Duke of Brittany. He had the clear right to rule. Joanna de Penthièvre was allowed to keep the title of Duchess of Brittany for the rest of her life. However, this was just a title, and she did not have ruling power as Duchess. She was also allowed to keep her title of Countess of Penthièvre with full rights.

Later Treaties and Events

After the first treaty, there were more important events involving Brittany.

The Second Treaty of Guérande

In 1381, after King Charles V died, a second Treaty of Guérande was signed. This agreement was between John IV and King Charles VI of France.

This treaty confirmed that Brittany would remain neutral. This meant Brittany would not take sides in the ongoing wars between France and England. The treaty also gave Joanna de Penthièvre a pension, which was a regular payment.

A very important part of this second treaty was about who would inherit the Duchy. It stated that if the House of Montfort (John IV's family) did not have a male heir to become Duke, then the oldest male heir from Joanna de Penthièvre's family would become Duke. This rule helped settle the long-standing argument about who had the right to inherit the Duchy of Brittany.

Imprisonment of John V

In 1420, some descendants of Joanna de Penthièvre tried to take back the Duchy. They did this by imprisoning John V, who was the Duke at the time.

However, their attempt failed. After John V was released, he forced the Penthièvre family to give up their lands to the Ducal crown. This action effectively ended the part of the 1365 treaty that had favored Joanna and her descendants.

See also

• List of treaties