John V, Duke of Brittany

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Coat of Arms of the Dukes of Brittany, and of the region Brittany
Coat of Arms of the Dukes of Brittany, and of the region Brittany

John V the Conqueror (in Breton Yann IV, in French Jean IV) (1339 – November 1, 1399), was Duke of Brittany and Count of Montfort, from 1345 until his death. He was son of Duke John of Montfort and Joanna of Flanders.

The first part of his rule was tainted by the Breton War of Succession, fought against his cousin Joanna of Penthièvre and her husband Charles of Blois. After his father's death, his mother took him to England to ask for the aid of Edward III. His mother was declared insane and imprisoned in Tickhill Castle in 1343. He was taken in to the King's household afterwards. In 1364, John V managed to win an important victory against the House of Blois in the battle of Auray, with the help of the English army. His rival Charles was killed in battle and Joanna forced to sign the Treaty Guérande on April 12, 1365. In the terms of the treaty, Joanna gave up her rights to Brittany and recognized John IV as sole master of the duchy. Surprisingly, John V declared himself a vassal to king Charles V of France, not to Edward III of England who helped him to become duke, and whose daughter had been John's first wife. Nevertheless, the French exerted pressure over Brittany and the local nobles and forced John V to exile between 1373 and 1379.

John V married three times:

1) Mary Plantagenet (1344–1362), daughter of Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault;
2) in London in May 1366, Joan Holland (1350–1384), daughter of Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent and
3) at Saillé-près-Guérande on October 2, 1386, princess Joanna of Navarre (1370–1437), daughter of Charles II of Navarre, future queen of England, the mother of his children:

[edit] See also

Preceded by
John IV
disputed with Charles		 Duke of Brittany
1345–1399		 Succeeded by
John VI
Count of Montfort
1345–1389
Preceded by
John of Gaunt		 Earl of Richmond
1372 - 1399		 Succeeded by
Ralph de Neville