Explanation: While ultimately connected to the Capetian dynasty through the House of Dreux, the House of Montfort-Brittany was a cadet branch, not a direct descendant of the main Capetian line.

Explanation: John of Montfort founded the House of Montfort-Brittany in 1322, but he inherited the title of Count of Montfort from his mother, Yolande of Dreux, not his father.

Explanation: The primary title held by the House of Montfort-Brittany was Duke of Brittany. While they held other titles like Count of Montfort and Earl of Richmond, Duke of Normandy was not their principal domain.

Explanation: This lineage demonstrates a clear hierarchical connection: Montfort-Brittany derived from Dreux, which in turn was a significant branch of the ruling Capetian dynasty of France.

Explanation: The House of Montfort-Brittany originated as a cadet branch of the House of Dreux, a lineage with strong ties to the ducal house of Brittany and the French monarchy.

Explanation: John of Montfort is credited with establishing the House of Montfort-Brittany, initiating its claim and eventual rule over the Duchy of Brittany.

Explanation: The House of Montfort-Brittany's principal domain and the seat of their ducal power was the Duchy of Brittany.

Explanation: Duke John III's death without a direct heir in 1341 initiated a complex succession dispute, which John of Montfort leveraged to assert his claim to the ducal throne.

Explanation: Charles of Blois and Joan of Dreux were the principal rivals and antagonists of the House of Montfort-Brittany during the War of Succession, supported by the French Crown.

Explanation: The English monarch, Edward III, offered crucial military and political support to John of Montfort, intertwining the Breton succession dispute with the broader Hundred Years' War.

Explanation: The Breton War of Succession became deeply entangled with the Hundred Years' War, with England backing the Montfort claim and France supporting the Blois-Penthièvre claim.

Explanation: Following John of Montfort's death, his wife, Joanna of Flanders, vigorously continued the struggle for the ducal title on behalf of their young son, John IV.

Explanation: The demise of Duke John III without a clear successor created a power vacuum and initiated the succession crisis that allowed John of Montfort to contend for the ducal title.

Explanation: John of Montfort's primary adversaries were Joan of Dreux, the niece of the late Duke John III, and her husband, Charles of Blois, who represented a competing claim supported by the French Crown.

Explanation: King Edward III of England provided crucial military and political backing to John of Montfort, integrating the Breton conflict into the larger Anglo-French struggle.

Explanation: The Breton War of Succession served as a proxy conflict within the Hundred Years' War, with England supporting the Montfort faction and France backing the Blois faction.

Explanation: The House of Montfort-Brittany governed the Duchy of Brittany throughout this period, marking a significant era in Breton history.

Explanation: The Estates of Brittany, formed during the War of Succession, evolved into a significant representative assembly that played a role in the duchy's governance.

Explanation: Despite acknowledging the French crown, the Montfort dukes largely maintained Brittany's autonomy, preserving its distinct status within the Kingdom of France.

Explanation: John IV faced significant internal opposition, leading to his nobles abandoning him and forcing his exile in 1373.

Explanation: The French Crown's direct attempt to absorb Brittany into its royal domain provoked the Breton nobility, who then invited John IV back from exile to defend their duchy's sovereignty.

Explanation: The second Treaty of Guérande established Brittany's neutrality in the conflict between England and France, rather than a full alliance with England.

Explanation: Duke John V was indeed kidnapped by Olivier de Blois, but his wife, Joan of France, orchestrated his rescue, leading to the confiscation of the Penthièvre family's holdings.

Explanation: Francis II consolidated ducal power by confiscating the county of Penthièvre from its heiress, Nicole de Bretagne-Blois, thereby diminishing the influence of the rival lineage.

Explanation: The House of Montfort-Brittany maintained continuous rule over the Duchy of Brittany from the mid-14th century until the early 16th century.

Explanation: Established during a period of turmoil, the Estates of Brittany developed into a representative body that contributed to the duchy's governance and administration.

Explanation: While acknowledging fealty to the French Crown, the Montfort dukes governed Brittany with a substantial degree of autonomy, preserving its distinct political identity.

Explanation: Internal political instability and the desertion of his own nobility compelled John IV to seek refuge in England in 1373.

Explanation: The French king's aggressive move to annex Brittany directly into the royal domain galvanized the Breton nobility, leading them to recall John IV to defend their duchy's autonomy.

Explanation: The second Treaty of Guérande formalized Brittany's neutral status in the ongoing Anglo-French conflict, although the Duke continued to pay homage to the French king.

Explanation: Duke John V was abducted by Olivier de Blois, but his wife, Joan of France, successfully orchestrated his liberation, leading to punitive measures against the Penthièvre family.

Explanation: Francis II consolidated ducal authority by confiscating the county of Penthièvre from its heiress, Nicole de Bretagne-Blois, thereby diminishing the power of this rival lineage.

Explanation: Francis II, the final male ruler of the Montfort line, designated his daughter, Anne of Brittany, as his successor, establishing the precedent for female ducal rule.

Explanation: Upon her ascension, Anne of Brittany's claim, supported by Breton law and custom, superseded the claims of the Penthièvre and Rohan families, consolidating her rule.

Explanation: The treaty signed in 1488, following military conflict, actually granted the King of France the right to determine Anne of Brittany's marriage, significantly impacting her agency.

Explanation: Anne's marriage to Charles VIII, while politically significant, marked a period of increasing French influence and a decline in Brittany's independent status.

Explanation: While Anne of Brittany did remarry Louis XII after Charles VIII's death, the primary motivation was to maintain the union of Brittany with the French crown, not necessarily to secure its autonomy, which was diminishing.

Explanation: This strategic marriage ensured that Brittany remained closely tied to the French monarchy, solidifying the political union between the duchy and the kingdom.

Explanation: The marriage of Claude of Brittany to Francis I of France was a pivotal event that further cemented the integration of Brittany into the French realm.

Explanation: Following Francis II's death, Jean de Brosse, a descendant of the rival Penthièvre line, put forth a claim to the ducal title.

Explanation: Anne of Brittany died in 1514, bequeathing the Duchy of Brittany to her elder daughter, Claude, who subsequently married Francis I of France.

Explanation: Following Anne of Brittany, the Montfort lineage continued primarily through the female line via her daughters and their descendants, with Brittany's independence gradually diminishing as it integrated into France.

Explanation: The Edict of Union, promulgated in 1532 and registered with the Estates of Brittany, legally formalized the integration of the Duchy into the Kingdom of France.

Explanation: Francis II, the final male Montfort duke, designated his daughter Anne as his successor, establishing a precedent for female ducal rule in Brittany.

Explanation: Anne's succession was significant as it superseded claims from rival families like the Penthièvre and Rohan, and it affirmed the principle of female inheritance within Brittany's legal framework.

Explanation: The treaty of 1488, imposed after military defeat, granted the French Crown considerable influence over Anne's marital choices, a critical factor in the union of Brittany and France.

Explanation: The union of Anne with Charles VIII, the French king, initiated a process that gradually diminished Brittany's autonomy and integrated it more closely with the French state.

Explanation: Anne's marriage to Louis XII was strategically arranged to ensure the continued political union of Brittany with the French Crown, preventing any potential resurgence of ducal independence.

Explanation: The Edict of Union, promulgated in 1532 and ratified by the Estates of Brittany, legally formalized the integration of the Duchy into the Kingdom of France.

Explanation: After Anne of Brittany, the direct male line of the Montforts effectively ended. The ducal succession continued through her daughters and their descendants, integrating the line into the French royal house.

Explanation: The Treaty of Guérande in 1365 stipulated that the Montfort branch would succeed in Brittany, but it also included a provision for the Blois-Penthièvre heirs to succeed in the event of the Montfort male line's extinction.

Explanation: Conversely, actions by Montfortine rulers, such as confiscations and political maneuvering, generally weakened the Penthièvre family's claim and influence over time.

Explanation: The Latin term 'suo jure' signifies ruling 'in one's own right,' indicating independent authority rather than ruling as a consort or by virtue of a spouse.

Explanation: An 'appanage' typically refers to lands and revenues granted to a ruler's younger children or other relatives to provide for their maintenance, not specifically for the main heir.

Explanation: Salic law, as historically applied, generally excluded females from inheriting or transmitting succession rights, particularly to thrones and duchies. John of Montfort invoked it to support his claim over Joan of Dreux.

Explanation: The principle of 'proximity of blood' favors the claimant who is most closely related by kinship to the deceased ancestor, not a distant relative.

Explanation: The Treaty of Guérande stipulated that in the absence of male Montfort heirs, the succession would pass to the descendants of Joanna of Penthièvre, acknowledging Breton succession customs.

Explanation: The succession of Duke Peter II by his uncle, Arthur de Richemont, rather than his sister Isabelle, highlights the intricate and sometimes contested nature of ducal succession within the Montfort line.

Explanation: The term 'suo jure' denotes that Anne of Brittany ruled the Duchy based on her own hereditary title and authority, independent of any husband or male figure.

Explanation: John of Montfort utilized both the principle of proximity of blood and Salic law to bolster his claim to the ducal title, arguing for his right to succeed over female claimants.

Explanation: While built by John V, the Solidor Tower's primary purpose was to assert ducal authority against the city of Saint-Malo, which did not recognize his rule, rather than solely for defense against English incursions.

Explanation: The heraldic symbols associated with Jean III de Bretagne represent the ducal authority and lineage of the House of Montfort-Brittany during their reign.

Explanation: The heraldic representations attributed to John of Montfort signify his role as the progenitor of the Montfort-Brittany ducal line.

Explanation: The construction of the Solidor Tower by John V was a strategic assertion of ducal power, particularly in areas like Saint-Malo where his authority was contested.

Explanation: The Solidor Tower served as a tangible symbol of ducal authority, erected by John V to reinforce his control over regions, such as Saint-Malo, where his sovereignty was contested.