General Notes

Richmond, previous creations: The next holder of the Earldom of Richmond to be recognized as such was the husband of his niece of the half-blood, Piers de Braine. The latter had married Alice, daughter of Constance by her third husband Guy de Thouars, and had seisin of the Richmond property from January 1218/9, thus becoming its fully fledged Earl, the 1st such of this creation. Not that he enjoyed uninterrupted tenure. He was deprived of his lands (hence the Eardom too according to the system then in force) in 1224, from 1227 to 1229 and again in early 1235. [Burke's Peerage, p. 2402]

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EARLDOM OF RICHMOND (V, 1)

PIERS DE BRAINE, styled Mauclerc, 2nd son of Robert II, COUNT OF DREUX AND BRAINE, by his 2nd wife, Yolande, 1st daughter of Ralph DE COUCI, LORD OF COUCI, was born circa 1187-90. He was knighted by the King of France 17 May 1209. By his marriage with Alice of Brittany he became DUKE OF BRITTANY in February 1212/3. In 1213 he served in Flanders under the King of France, and helped the French to defend Touraine against King John, whom he defeated in 1214 before Nantes. On 12 August 1215 John offered him the honor of Richmond, if he would come to his aid in England; but Piers took the other side and helped Prince Louis. However, on 16 January 1218/9 Henry III ordered seisin of the lands of the Earldom of Richmond to be given to Piers, whereupon he became EARL OF RICHMOND. In 1219 he joined in the Crusade against the Albigenses. On 3 March 1222/3 he defeated Amaury de Craon at Châteaubriant. In November 1224 he was deprived for a few months of the honor of Richmond. He returned to the Crusade against the Albigenses in 1226. On 19 October 1226 Henry III undertook to marry his daughter Yolande, but the project broke down; in March 1226/7 Piers concluded the Treaty of Vendôme with Louis IX, and in April 1227 Henry ordered his lands to be seized. In October 1229 he did homage to Henry III, and he was restored to the Earldom of Richmond. In June 1230 the French barons declared his forfeiture, and on 23 September he concIuded a new treaty with Henry III. With the Earl of Chester he negotiated a 3 years' truce between the rival Kings on 4 July 1231; but after this expired he was compelled to submit to Louis, and in January 1234/5 his English lands were confiscated. He was included in the 5 years' Anglo-French truce of 3 February 1235/6. In November 1237 he surrendered the Duchy to his son, after which he styled himself Piers de Braine. In 1239 he led a Crusade to Palestine, and in 1249 he went on Crusade with St. Louis. He was wounded in the face at the battle of Mansourah, and surrendered with the King at Faraskur, 6 April 1250. On being released he sailed from Damietta, 7 May 1250, but died at sea. During his rule in Brittany he was constantly engaged in quarrels with the bishops, and more than once he was excommunicated. He was a bencfactor to many monastic foundations and, to the Templars in Brittany.

He married, 1stly, in February 1212/3, Alice, elder daughter and coheir of Guy DE THOUARS, sometime DUKE OF BRITTANY, by Constance, DUCHESS OF BRITTANY. She died 21 October 1221, and was buried in the convent of the Cordeliers at Nantes. He married, 2ndly, about January 1234/5, Margaret, LADY OF MONTAIGU and LA GARNACHE, widow of Hugh DE THOUARS, VICOMTE OF THOUARS, next brother of Guy abovenamed, who died s.p., 1230 (before May), and daughter and heir of Maurice DE MONTAIGU, LORD OF MONTAIGU, by Chaboce (parentage unknown). She died about the end of 1241. Charter, as an act of last will, dated 27 November 1241. Piers married, 3rdly, Joan, LADY OF CRIEL, younger daughter of Ralph D'EXOUDUN, COUNT OF EU, by Alice, COUNTESS OF EU, daughter and heir of Henry, COUNT 0F EU. Piers died probably circa 28 May 1250, at sea, and was buried in the abbey of St. Yved-de-Braine, near Laon. Will made circa August 1248. His widow died 3 October 1252, in the Hospital of Brackley, Northants, and was buried in the abbey of Foucarmont. [Complete Peerage X:800-5, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]