Renaud d'Herbauges
Frankish Count of Herbauges, Count of Poitiers and Count of Nantes
795 CE to 843 CE
Renaud (died 843) was Frankish Count of Herbauges, Count of Poitiers and Count of Nantes.
His name is also spelled Rainaldus or Ragenold, and he is sometimes known as Reginald in English.
He is referred to as Renaud of Aquitaine, but seems to have been a member of the Rorgonid family of Maine.
The County of Herbauges consists of three pagi south of the Loire: Arballicus (Herbauges), Metallicus (the Mauges), and Teofalicus (Tiffauges) and is separate from the County of Poitou, of which Renaud also appears to have been Count.
His appointment as Count is prior to July 835 when he appears in a battle against the Normans in Noirmoutier.
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The Atlantic Lands
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The Breton Rebellion and the Battle of Messac (843): The Rise of an Independent Brittany
The Armorican peninsula—modern-day Brittany—had long been inhabited by Gallic tribes, known in Latin as the Armorici, before falling under Roman rule. By the 4th to 7th centuries, waves of Britonnes migrants from Roman Britain arrived, blending with the local population to form the Bretons.
Carolingian Conquest and the Rise of Nominoe
- The Carolingian Empire conquered Brittany between 748 and 799, integrating it into its administrative framework, centering on Rennes, Nantes, and Vannes.
- Despite Frankish efforts, their hold on Brittany remained weak, as local rulers retained autonomy.
- Carolingian technology, culture, and Church structures began influencing Brittany.
- In 831, Emperor Louis the Pious appointed Nominoe, Count of Vannes, as ruler of the Bretons and imperial missus (royal envoy), an attempt to secure loyalty.
Brittany’s Rebellion Against West Francia
- Following the breakup of the Carolingian Empire, Nominoe rebels against the rule of Charles the Bald, seeking to expand Breton autonomy into Frankish lands.
- Charles appoints Renaud as Count of Nantes to secure the border, which angers Lambert II of Nantes, who sees himself as the rightful heir.
- Lambert aligns with Nominoe and his son Erispoe, creating a Frankish-Breton alliance against Charles.
The Battle of Messac (May 24, 843)
- Renaud, believing Nominoe is incapacitated by illness, marches from Nantes to strike a preemptive blowagainst Erispoe’s army near the Vilaine River.
- Erispoe’s forces, caught mid-crossing at Messac, are routed, suffering heavy casualties.
The Arrival of Lambert and the Breton Counterattack
Sources differ on the exact events that follow:
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Version One (Messac Counterattack):
- Lambert, having raised troops in Anjou, arrives in time to reinforce Erispoe at Messac.
- The combined Breton and Frankish rebel army counterattacks, encircling and destroying Renaud’s army.
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Version Two (Ambush at Blain):
- Believing he has defeated the Bretons, Renaud withdraws to Blain to rest.
- Erispoe and Lambert pursue him, launching a surprise attack on resting Frankish forces at the Isac River, massacring them.
Regardless of the version, Renaud is killed, and the Frankish army is annihilated.
Possible Viking Involvement
- A Viking force under Hastein may have joined the Bretons, though some sources suggest they arrived later to raid the battlefield.
- This marks an early instance of Viking-Breton cooperation, foreshadowing future alliances against West Francia.
Aftermath and the Strengthening of Brittany
- Charles the Bald replaces Renaud with Amaury as Count of Nantes.
- Nominoe strengthens Breton independence, laying the foundation for the emergence of a unified Kingdom of Brittany.
- The victory at Messac solidifies Erispoe’s leadership, allowing him to later secure recognition of Breton independence at the Treaty of Angers (851).
The Battle of Messac (843) is a pivotal moment in Breton resistance against Carolingian rule, signaling the decline of Frankish influence and the rise of an independent Brittany.
Lambert’s Struggle for Nantes and the Viking Sack of the City (843–845)
After the Battle of Messac (843), Lambert II of Nantes seizes control of Nantes, aligning himself with Nominoe and the Bretons against West Francia. However, his rule proves tenuous, as the city soon faces external threats, particularly from Viking raiders.
The Viking Sack of Nantes (845)
- Lambert struggles to maintain control, as political instability and weakened defenses leave Nantes vulnerable.
- In 845, a Viking force attacks and plunders the city, taking advantage of the ongoing Frankish-Breton conflict.
- The Vikings kill Bishop Gohard of Nantes, who reportedly dies while leading prayers inside his cathedral, refusing to abandon his flock.
Consequences of the Attack
- The destruction of Nantes weakens Frankish influence in the region, allowing Breton expansion to continue unchecked.
- Viking presence along the Loire River intensifies, as they establish raiding bases for further inland incursions into West Francia.
- Lambert’s failure to defend Nantes contributes to his declining power, eventually leading to his loss of authority in the region.
The fall of Nantes in 845 highlights the growing Viking threat to Carolingian rule and marks another turning point in the rise of an independent Brittany.