Duchy of Brittany (1188-1532)

Last modified: 2004-07-31 by ivan sache
Keywords: ermine (black) | kroaz du | cross (black) | herminois plain | combat des trentes | iron cross (black) |
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by Ivan Sache

• The Kroaz Du (Black Cross)
• The plain ermine
• Origin of the ermine spot
• Flags used in the Combat des Trentes
• Dubious flags

See also:

• Brittany (Traditional province, France)
• Chronology of the dukes of Brittany
• Banners of the dukes of Brittany

The Kroaz Du (Black Cross)

Breton warriors used black shields, according to a Frankish chronicle from the IXth century. However, the origin of the Kroaz Du remains controversial. It is unlikely that the black cross appeared during the First Crusade (1095) since the use of banners with crosses by Crusaders is firmly attested only from 1188 (see W. Smith [1975] [smi75c], pp. 42-47).

In 1188, the duchy of Brittany was steeped in anarchy, and very few Breton barons joined the Crusade. It is therefore more conservative to consider that the Kroaz Du was given to Pierre Mauclerc by Pope Gregor IX in 1236 or 1237. The Kroaz Du was then used by Breton sailors and soldiers, and was probably the national flag of the independent state of Brittany until 1532.

The Kroaz Du has been attested in reliable sources only since the XVth century. It is reproduced as the Breton civil ensign in the Almanach de Trodec (XVth century), the Manuel de Pilotage de Brouscon (XVth century), and on Homan's map (1559).

The specifications of the Kroaz Du for modern use are proportions 2:3 and width of the cross equal to 1/5th of the flag width.

Sources:

• P. Rault. Les drapeaux bretons de 1188 à nos jours [rau98]
• D. Kervella. Review of P. Rault's book. Ar Banniel [arb] #7,

Ivan Sache, 5 January 1999

The plain ermine

by Michel Bolloré

In 1213, Philippe-Auguste, king of France, gave the duchy of Brittany to Pierre of Dreux Mauclerc, a Capetian prince. Pierre Mauclerc was the second son of Robert II of Dreux. For an unknown reason, he replaced the arms of duchess Alix with his own arms, although he was only prince consort. He used his father's arms, blue and yellow chequered with a red border, with an ermine canton as the brisure. Ermine was at that time used as a fur by clerks, and Pierre should have been clark instead of soldier (therefore his nickname Mauclerc, literally "Bad cl