Hoel II, Duke of Brittany

Who was Hoel II, Duke of Brittany?

Hoel II of Cornouaille was Count of Kernev, from 1058 as Hoel V, and after his marriage to Hawise, Duchess of Brittany, in 1066, he became duke of Brittany jure uxoris, i.e. as the Duchess's Consort. Hoel started the House of Kernev of Brittany, which ruled the Duchy until 1156.

Little is known of the lives of Hawise and Hoel. However this political marriage between the House of Rennes in the east and the House of Cornouaille in the west may have further strengthened Brittany at a time when external interference was attempted by William the Conqueror. After Hawise's death in 1072, Hoel acted as Regent for his son, Alan, until the latter reached his majority at the age of 18 in 1084.

During his reign he faced several rebellions from Breton nobles. Geoffrey Grenonat of Rennes led a revolt and was joined by Ralph de Gael who had returned to Brittany from England after the failure of the previous year's Revolt of the Earls. In 1076, Ralph having plotted against Hoel, was besieged at Dol, and the Conqueror came to Hoel's aid, after which Hoel finally made peace with Ralph.