Background
He was the son of Duke Alan IV and Ermengarde of Anjou.
He was the son of Duke Alan IV and Ermengarde of Anjou.
Conan III allied himself with Stephen of England in Stephen"s war against the dispossessed Empress Matilda. Conan and Maud had three children that are known:
Hoel – disinherited from the Ducal crown. Count of Nantes;
Bertha (bc 1114) – married Alan of Penthièvre.
Upon Alan"s death in 1146, she returned to Brittany.
And
Constance (bc1110) - married Alan de la Zouche
On his death-bed in 1148, Conan III disinherited Hoel from succession to the Duchy, stating that he was illegitimate and no son of his. By this surprise move Bertha became his heiress and successor.
However, Hoel was to retain the county of Nantes.