Lambert II (died 852) was the
Breton March between 843 and 851. Lambert ruled the county in opposition to Amaury, the puppet count installed by
Charles the Bald, King of
West Francia. At his death, the county was effectively in Breton control. Lambert was the son of
Lambert I and his wife Itta.
Defeat of Renaud
Lambert initially served Charles the Bald, fighting with him at the
Renaud d'Herbauges was made Count of Nantes in place of him. Disappointed in his ambitions, Lambert II broke with Charles the Bald and turned to
Nominoe, Duke of Brittany, who was then in almost open revolt against the Franks. Lambert gathered soldiers on the borders of the Anjou, intending to advance on the river
Vilaine to join his forces with Nominoe.
Renaud fortified Nantes, but learning of a serious illness that had temporarily incapacitated Nominoe, he decided to strike first. Renaud invaded Breton territory at the junction of the
Battle of Messac, Erispoe was initially defeated by Renaud.
[1] Shortly afterwards, however, the timely arrival of Lambert's troops allowed Erispoe to counter-attack in force, defeating Renaud. Renaud himself was killed the day afterwards, during the pursuit. The allies may also have been assisted by the Viking warlord
Hastein, who is said to have personally killed Renaud.
[2] However, other sources assert that Lambert killed Renaud and that the Viking force arrived shortly afterwards, looking for plunder.
Lambert occupied Nantes, but was unable to hold it. The Vikings sacked the town and killed its bishop.[3] Charles the Bald appointed Amaury to replace Renaud.
In the following year
Bernard of Poitiers formed an alliance with Renaud's son Hervé, Count of Herbauges against Lambert. Lambert and the Bretons ambushed and killed them both in
Maine.
[3]
Reconciliation and renewed rebellion
Lambert became a consistent ally of Nominoe and Erispoe, fighting with Nominoe against Charles at the
Chronicon Fontanellense. In August, Charles marched on Rennes, but avoided fighting. Instead he garrisoned the town and installed Amaury as new Count of Nantes. Immediately after he left, Lambert and Nominoe defeated the garrisons and captured the new Count.
[4]
Nominoe died shortly thereafter and Charles attempted once more to reassert his authority. Lambert once again defected to the Breton side and fought with Erispoe in the decisive Battle of Jengland in 851, in which Charles was defeated. Their victory led to the absorption of Nantes into Erispoe's sphere of influence, though Lambert remained count.
After Jengland Lambert sought to carve out territory between
Gauzbert of Maine
in the following year.
Family
He married Rotrude, a daughter of
Lothar I
,
References
- ), p 55
- ^ André Chédeville & Hubert Guillotel, La Bretagne des saints et des rois Ve-Xe siècle, Ouest France, Université Rennes, (1984)
- ^
Janet L. Nelson
, The Annals of St-Bertin, Manchester University Press, 1991, p.55, 58
- ^ Smith, Julia M. H. Province and Empire: Brittany and the Carolingians. Cambridge University Press: 1992, p.98
Titles of nobility
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Preceded by
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Count of Nantes 843–846
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Succeeded by
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