Background
"Fer gant" in French means "Iron glove") Through his father, he was of the Breton House of Cornouaille dynasty (Breton: Kerne dynasty).
"Fer gant" in French means "Iron glove") Through his father, he was of the Breton House of Cornouaille dynasty (Breton: Kerne dynasty).
He was also Count of Nantes and Count of Rennes. He is also known as Alan Fergant. He was the last Breton-speaking Duke of Brittany.
A traditional rivalry between Brittany and Normandy continued at the close of the 11th century.
Hoel ruled as Regent of Brittany from Duchess Hawise"s death in 1072 until Alan reached his majority in 1084. The marriage ceremonies may have taken place in Bayeux in Normandy.
William of Malmesbury wrote that Constance was unpopular at the Breton court because of her "severe and conservative" manner. However, Orderic Vitalis wrote that as duchess Constance did all she could to further the welfare of the Bretons, who grieved deeply at her death in 1090.
In 1092 Alan IV donated property to the abbey of Redon by charter, and by 1093 married Ermengarde of Anjou, as a political alliance with Fulk IV of Anjou to counter Anglo-Norman influence.
Alan IV abdicated as Duke in 1112. The former Duke retired to the monastery of Redon, where he died in 1119. In 1098 Alan went on the First Crusade, leaving Ermengarde as his regent, and returned in 1101.
Alan IV married Constance in 1087.
Constance died in 1090. She had no issue. Alan"s second marriage was to Ermengarde of Anjou in 1093.
With Ermengarde he had three children:
Geoffrey - died young;
Conan - his successor as Duke of Brittany
They divorced and had no issue. Hawise remarried and had issue from this marriage with Geoffrey (1082-1141) - son of Odo I.
Alan and Ermengarde were separated upon his abdication as Duke in 1112.
He had an illegitimate son, Brian Fitzcount.
His only surviving son, Conan III succeeded him.