Arthur I (29 March 1187 –April 1203) was Duke of Brittany between 1194 and 1202. The posthumous son of Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany (d. 1186) and Constance, Duchess of Brittany. In 1191 he was designated heir to the throne of England, by Richard I; the intent being that Arthur would succeed Richard —in preference over Richard's younger brother John Lackland.
Richard, Geoffrey and John were sons —third, fourth and fifth, respectively— of King Hen...
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Arthur I (29 March 1187 –April 1203) was Duke of Brittany between 1194 and 1202. The posthumous son of Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany (d. 1186) and Constance, Duchess of Brittany. In 1191 he was designated heir to the throne of England, by Richard I; the intent being that Arthur would succeed Richard —in preference over Richard's younger brother John Lackland.
Richard, Geoffrey and John were sons —third, fourth and fifth, respectively— of King Henry II of England and Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine.
While Richard I was away on the Third Crusade, Constance took more independence for Brittany, and in 1194 had the young Arthur proclaimed its duke as a child of seven years.
When Richard I died in 1199, on his deathbed he proclaimed his brother John as his heir, fearing Arthur was too young to look after the throne. Arthur was after all only about 12 at the time. John immediately claimed the throne of England, but much of the French nobility were resentful at recognizing him as their overlord...
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