Francis II, Duke of Brittany

Also known as: Francis duke of Britaine / Francis, Duke of Brittany · Family: Brittany · Role: duke · First appears: Edward IV 29

Life events

• 1475 · Edward IV sent ambassadors and gold to secure Henry VII for marriage with Elizabeth of York.(Edward IV 33 · 📍 Britaine)
  • With: Edward IV Robert Stillington Henry VII Elizabeth of York
  • “therefore to attempt eftsoones the mind of Francis duke of Britaine, he sent ouer vnto the said duke, one doctor Stillington, and two other his ambassadors laden with no small summe of gold.”
• 1475 · Francis II agreed to surrender Henry VII after believing Edward IV would marry him to Elizabeth of York.(Edward IV 33 · 📍 Britaine)
  • With: Henry VII Elizabeth of York
  • “And though at the first he by excuses denied their request, yet at the length, beléeuing that king Edward would giue to the earle his eldest daughter, the ladie Elizabeth in marriage, he consented to deliuer him, and receiued of the English orators a great summe of monie.”
• 1475 · Francis II learned Henry VII was targeted for execution and sent him into sanctuary at S. Malo.(Edward IV 33 · 📍 S. Malo)
  • With: Peter Landois Henry VII
  • “But yer they were imbarked with their preie, the duke being aduertised, that the earle of Richmond was not so earnestlie sought for, to be coupled in mariage with king Edwards daughter; but rather that his head might be chopped off with an hatchet, caused his treasuror Peter Landoise to conueie the said earle of Richmond into a sanctuarie at S. Malo”
• c. 1483 · Francis, Duke of Brittany refused imprisonment and prepared aid for Henry VII.(Richard III 11 · 📍 Britaine)
  • With: Henry VII
  • “Francis duke of Britaine not onelie refused to kéepe the earle of Richmond as a prisoner, at his contemplation, and for his sake; but also that he was readie to aid and succour the said earle, with men, monie and all things necessarie for his transporting into England”
• c. 1483 · Francis II, Duke of Brittany promised Henry VII military aid, prompting naval preparations.(Richard III 12)
  • With: Henry VII
  • “The duke promised him aid and helpe. Vpon confidence whereof he rigged his ships, and set foorth a nauie well decked with ordinance, and warlikelie furnished with all things necessarie, to the intent to saile forward shortlie, and to loose no time.”

Edward IV 29

• allies with Edward IV “On the king of Englands part were comprised as alies (if they would thereto assent) the dukes of Burgognie and Britaine.”

Edward IV 33

• liege: Peter Landois “caused his treasuror Peter Landoise to conueie the said earle of Richmond into a sanctuarie at S. Malo,”
• protégé: John Cheulet “one Iohn Cheulet, so estéemed among the princes of Britaine as few were in all the countrie, and in much credit, and well accepted with the duke, was (when these things were thus concluded) for his solace in the countrie.”
• with Henry VII (interaction) “But yer they were imbarked with their preie, the duke being aduertised, that the earle of Richmond was not so earnestlie sought for, to be coupled in mariage with king Edwards daughter; but rather that his head might be chopped off with an hatchet, caused his treasuror Peter Landoise to conueie the said earle of Richmond into a sanctuarie at S. Malo”

Richard III 11

• allies with Henry VII “Francis duke of Britaine not onelie refused to kéepe the earle of Richmond as a prisoner, at his contemplation, and for his sake; but also that he was readie to aid and succour the said earle, with men, monie and all things necessarie for his transporting into England”

Richard III 12

• protégé: Henry VII “The duke promised him aid and helpe.”
• with Henry VII (Francis II promised Henry VII military aid.) “The duke promised him aid and helpe.”

Richard III 21

• with Henry VII (Henry was held as a captive at Francis's court.) “brought vp by my moothers meanes: and mine, like a captiue in a close cage in the court of Francis duke of Britaine”
• with Henry VII (Richard's speech states that Richmond was kept as a captive at Francis's court.) “And to begin with the erle of Richmond capteine of this rebellion, he is a Welsh milkesop, a man of small courage, and of lesse experience in martiall acts and feats of warre, brought vp by my moothers meanes: and mine, like a captiue in a close cage in the court of Francis duke of Britaine”

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Extracted from the original text of Holinshed's Chronicles — the reigns Shakespeare dramatized. Made with Rho MD.