Notes
Per Stuart's "Royalty For Commoners" (405:40), he became Duke of Brittanyin 851, when his father died.
Extracted from the Book, "The Bretons", by Galliou and Jones:
"The death of NOMENOE raised CHARLES THE BALD's (RIN 1620) hopes that hemight re-impose mastery over the Bretons. In the summer of 851 helaunched a major attack on Erispoe only to be defeated at Jengland-Besle(L-A), a bridging point over the Vilaine, in a battle which lasted overthree days. It was an even more humiliating defeat than that at Bllon andCHARLES fled from the field leaving his camp to be pillaged. Theconsequences were momentous for the future of Brittany. For reasons aboutwhich we can only speculate, shortly after this startling victory,Erispoe agreed peace-terms in a statesmanlike move. In return for thecounties of Rennes and Nantes and the vicaria of Retz (which the Bretonshad already overrun) in NOMENOE's last campaigns) and a present of royalinsignia, he acknowledged fealty to CHARLES . For the first time anon-Carolingian was recognized as ruler of a regnum within the empire. In856, as a further mark of esteem, Erispoe's daughter was betrothed toLOUIS THE STAMMERER (RIN 1619). Until his death in Novembcr 857 Erispoeremained loyal to the EMPORER. The acquisition of Britannia nova, as thelands conceded in 851 were sometimes called, completely transformed theeconomic and social as well as the political basis of Erispoe'sauthority. It also smoothed the way for further significant advances inCarolingian influence. Rennes and Nantes had passed into Frankish handsin the sixth cetltury; for almost four centuries they had been advanceoutposts of Frankish culture and society.
Very few documents relate to the rule of Erispoe: just seven acta survivethat were issued in his name, together with one charter decliveredjointly With his cousin Salomon. Analysis of the witness lists revealsthe presence of Erispoe's close relations (his wife MARMOHEC,
his son Conan, his uncle Rivallon), the bishops whom Nominoe had promotedin 849 (Courantgen of Vannes, Retwalatr of Alet, Anaweten of
Quimper, Clotwoion of Saint-Pol) and a large group of laymen (nobiles)who are not otherwise distinguished by rank or office. Refercnce to
counts reflects growing Carolingian administrative influence as does thefact that Salomon, like Erispoe, became an imperinl fiidelis. Possiby in852 (though much remains mysterious about what happened and when),CHARLES THE BALD granted Salomon 'a third of Brittany', a portion that hemay have held under the suzerainty of Erispoe. It may have included thecounties of Rennes and Nantes. Whether it was because of this territorialdivision or some other matter like Erispoe's continuing good relationswith CHARLES THE BALD and the marriage treaty of 856, after sharing theirauthority for some years, the cousins came to blows. Between 2 and 12November 857 Salomon murdered Erispoe. The first serious Viking raids inEngland and Francia occured at the end of the 8th century. In 843, theytook advantage of the feud between NOMENOE, his ally, Lambert, and Renaudto sack the city of Nantes. In the next few years the Loire valley becamea major theatre of warfare as Viking bands, Carolingiam aristocrats, andBreton princes struggled for dominance in a confusing series ofalliances.
