, Alan Canhiart, Count Of Cornouaille

Alain Canhiart (died 1058) was the Count of Cornouaille from 1020-1058.He was the son of Benoît de Cornouaille and the father of Hoel II, Dukeof Brittany. His family name, Canhiart, is understood to be derived fromthe old Breton Kann Yac''h [a] and was translated into the Latin texts ofhis era as Bellator fortis.

According to Paul Le Baud Alain was a descendant of Rivallon Mur Marzouand therefore was a male line descendant of the early Kings of Brittany.[1] As Count of Cornouaille he inherited his regnal rights from thefamily that appears to have ruled the Cornouaille region of Brittany fromabout the 10th century [b] His father Benoît (or Benedic) died between1008 and 1029. He was the Count-Bishop of Cornouaille; he had beenelected Bishop of Quimper circa 990 and exercised the offices jointly butkept them separated. [c] His mother was Guigoëdon (or Guiguoedon); shewas the daughter of Orscand le Grand, the Bishop of Vannes [d] She was amember of the family of Alan I, King of Brittany. [e]

Alain became Count circa 1020 when his father renounced this title.Alain''s brother Orscand succeeded their father as Bishop.

At one point Alain supported rebels who opposed Alan III, Duke ofBrittany. Alan III prevailed and punished Count Alain by confiscating histerritories, in particular Belle-Île-en-Mer. Alain returned to the Duke''sgood graces by facilitating his marriage to Berthe of Blois, the daughterof Count Odo; the duke allowed Alain to recover the property that hadbeen seized that belonged to the dowry of Alain''s mother.

Alain married Judith of Nantes and through her gained a claim on theCounty of Nantes. In part as a result of his rising power, he wasattacked by Alan III but was able to push back the Duke''s army in 1031 ina battle near Locronan. In this battle Alain was assisted by Saint Ronan.Alan III and Alain were again reconciled.

After this second battle with the Duke of Brittany, Alain faceddifficulties with his vassals in the Viscounty of Leon, most notablyGuyomarch I. Guyomarch I allied with Morvan, Viscount of Faou, to opposeAlain. Alain was successful in putting down these revolts.

Around 1029, after a serious illness, Alain founded the Abbey ofSainte-Croix of Quimperlé with the assistance of his brother Orscand, theBishop. He included Belle-Île in his donation to the Abbey .

In 1050, at the death of his wife''s nephew, Mathias I of Nantes, Alainconfirmed her inheritance and his rights to rule Nantes as regent fo hisson Hoel, the eventual Count of Nantes.

Around 1026, Alain married Judith of Nantes, the daughter of Judicael ofNantes, and sole heir to the County of Nantes. As was the custom of theperiod, under the dowry arrangements Alain obtained five villages inQuistillic and half of the church of Cluthgual with the sepulcure and allappertaining rights. [2] [f]

Alain and Judith had six children
Hoel II- Count of Nantes, Count of Rennes, and eventually Duke ofBrittany
Guérech (Quiriac) (1030-1079) - elected Bishop of Nantes in 1059,consecrated 7 January 1061
Budic - died 1091
Hodiern - Abbess of Locmaria de Quimper
Benoît - Abbot of the Abbey of Sainte-Croix de Quimperlé in 1066, electedBishop of Nantes in 1079, consecrated in 1081; retired in 1114 andmurdered in 1115
Agnes - wife of Odo I of Penthievre.

Alain died in 1058. He was buried at Quimperle. His tomb was destroyedduring the French Revolution. [g]

He was succeeded as Count of Cornouaille by his son Hoel.