Arthur II, Duke of Brittany

Arthur II
Duke of Brittany
Reign	18 November 1305 - 27 August 1312
Predecessor	John II
Successor	John III
Spouse	Marie, Viscountess of Limoges Yolande of Dreux
Among Others Issue
John III John IV
House	House of Dreux
Father	John II
Mother	Beatrice of England
Born	2 July 1262
Died	27 August 1312(1312-08-27) (aged 50) Château de L'Isle
Burial	Cordeliers Convent
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Arthur II (2 July 1262 – 27 August 1312), of the House of Dreux, was Duke of Brittany from 1305 to his death. He was the first son of John II and Beatrice, daughter of Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence.

After he inherited the ducal throne, he gave his brother John their father's English earldom of Richmond.

As duke, Arthur was independent of the French crown. He divided his duchy into eight "battles": Leon, Kernev, Landreger, Penteur, Gwened, Naoned, Roazhon, and Sant Malou. In 1309, he convoked the first estates general (the ancestor of the Breton parliament) in Brittany. It was the first time in French history that the third estate was represented.

Arthur died at Château de L'Isle and was interred in a marble tomb of the cordeliers of Vannes. The tomb was vandalised during the French Revolution, but repaired and is on display today.

Marriages and children

In 1275, Arthur married Marie, Viscountess of Limoges, daughter of Guy VI, Viscount of Limoges and Margaret, Lady of Molinot. Her maternal grandparents were Hugh IV, Duke of Burgundy and his first wife Yolande of Dreux. They were parents of three children:

• John III, Duke of Brittany (8 March 1286 – 30 April 1341).
• Guy of Brittany, Count of Penthièvre (1287–1331). Father of Joanna of Penthièvre.
• Peter of Brittany, Seigneur of Dol-Combourg and Sant-Maloù(1289–1312).

Mary died in 1291. In May, 1292, Arthur was re-married to another Yolande of Dreux, who was Countess of Montfort, daughter of Robert IV, Count of Dreux and Beatrice de Montfort. She had been briefly Queen of Scotland by her first marriage. They were parents of seven children:

• Joan of Brittany (1294–1363). Married Robert, Lord de Cassell.
• John IV, Duke of Brittany (1295 – 16 September 1345).
• Beatrice of Brittany (1295–1384). Married Guy X, Lord of Laval.
• Joan of Brittany (1296–1364). Married Robert, Count of Marle.
• Alice of Brittany (1297–1377). Married Bouchard VI, Count of Vendôme.
• Blanche of Brittany (born c. 1300). Considered to have died young.
• Marie of Brittany (1302–1371). A nun.

See also

• Dukes of Brittany family tree

Arthur II, Duke of Brittany House of Dreux Cadet branch of the Capetian Dynasty Born: 2 July 1262 Died: 27 August 1312
Regnal titles
Preceded by Marie	Viscount of Limoges 1275–1301 with Marie (1275–1291)	Succeeded by John III
Preceded by John II	Duke of Brittany 1305–1312
	Count of Penthièvre 1305–1312	Succeeded by Guy
Preceded by Beatrice	Count of Montfort 1311–1312 with Yolande	Succeeded by John II