Porhoët

The noble Breton family line of Porhoët is represented in modern times by the Franco-Breton House of Rohan.

History

The first recognised vicomte de Porhoet was Guithenoc (abt. 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 in the province of Brittany.

In Porhoët Guithenoc built Josselin Castle, which he named for his son, Josselin (1020–1074). It is still owned by the descendents of Porhoet and is the longest continuously held private estate in the world.

Vicomte Josselin de Porhoet 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 Porhoet, Eudo I de Porhoet (1049-?).

Eudo (or Eudes) I married Anne de Leon (1065-?). They had two children, Vicomte Geoffrey de Porhoet (1092–1141) and Alain I de Rohan

Geoffrey is said to have married Hawisa Fergant of Brittany (abt. 1105-?). They had two sons, one of which was as Odo II or Odo, Viscount of Porhoet (1122-?).

The title Count of Porhoet 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 Porhoet and his wife Emma de Léon (the daughter of Guyomarch II, Viscount de Léon). The name Rohan comes from the name of the castle he built, and passed on to his descendants, on the shores of the Oust.

His son, Eudes II, married Bertha, the daughter of Conan III and Maud of England (an illegitimate daughter of Henry I). They had no descendants.

Viscount of Porhoet as Duke of Brittany

Eudes II of Porhoet, known also as Odo II is a notable figure in the history of the Duchy of Brittany.

Odo II married into the ruling duchy of Brittany though his first marriage to Bertha (b.1114-?). This was Bertha's second marriage. She was the daughter of Conan III, Duke of Brittany. 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 Porhoet 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 Porhoet 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.^{[lower-alpha 1]} In order to counter Odo II, Henry II of England invaded Brittany. ^{[lower-alpha 2]} In 1516 Odo was deposed by his step son and imprisoned by Conan IV's ally Raoul de Fougeres. Henry II raised Josselin Castle.

Odo II possibly had a second marriage with Jeanne/Eléonore de Léon, daughter of Guiomar III, Vicomte de Léon. They had two, and possibly three, children.

The Vicomtes and Counts of Porhoët

Guithenoc (990 - 1040) - becomes Vicomte;
- Josselin - Vicomte de Porhoet - son of Vicomte Guithenoc
  - Odo^{[lower-alpha 3]} I, Vicomte de Porhoët- son of Vicomte Josselin
    - Geoffrey, Victome de Porhoët - son of Odo I, married Hawise Fergant of Brittany
      - Odo II - husband of Bertha and so son-in-law of Conan III, Duke of Brittany; contested the Ducal Crown of Brittany
        Odo III, Comte de Porhoët - son of Odo II
        Yolande de Dreux (1218-1272), Comtesse de Porhoët ^{[lower-alpha 4]}
        
        Alan, ^{[lower-alpha 5]} - son of Odo III; flees to England
      - Alan de Porhoët - younger brother of Odo II, husband to Constance of Brittany, the younger sister of Bertha
    - Alan - Vicomte de Rohan; son of Odo I and founder of the House of Rohan

Notes