John VI, Duke of Brittany

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

John VI the Wise (in Breton, Yann V ar Fur, in french this would be Jean VI but French accounting, influenced by the French view of the Breton War of Succession, makes him Jean V le Sage) (December 24, 1389 – August 29, 1442), was duke of Brittany, count of Montfort, and titular earl of Richmond, from 1399 to his death. He was son of Duke John V (Jean IV) and Joanna of Navarre. John VI married Joan of France, daughter of King Charles VI "the Mad" and his wife Isabella of Bavaria-Ingolstadt. By her he had seven children:

• Anne (1409 – aft. 1415)
• Isabelle (1411 – 1442, Auray), married at Redon in 1430 Guy XIV, Count of Laval (d. 1486)
• Margaret (1412–1421)
• Francis I, Duke of Brittany (1414–1450)
• Catherin (1416 – aft. 1421)
• Peter II, Duke of Brittany (1418–1457)
• Gilles of Brittany (1420–1450), Lord of Prince

Unlike his father, John VI was a peaceful man, or so the end of the Breton War of Succession permitted him to be. He strove to reinforce ducal authority, by levying a permanent army and constructing a coherent method of taxation in Brittany. John VI was also a patron of the Arts and the Church and funded the construction of several cathedrals.

[edit] See also

• Dukes of Brittany family tree