[Illustration: _Arthur’s rescue of the Jew_ (Page 51)] _Life Stories for Young People_ THE DUKE OF BRITTANY _Translated from the German of Henriette Jeanrenaud_ BY GEORGE P. UPTON _Translator of “Memories,” etc._ WITH TWO ILLUSTRATIONS [Illustration: A · C · M^cCLURG] CHICAGO A. C. McCLURG & CO. 1908 Copyright A. C. McClurg & Co. 1908 Published August 22, 1908 The University Press, Cambridge, U. S. A. Translator’s Preface “The Duke of Brittany” is the story of the brief but eventful career of Arthur, son of Geoffrey Plantagenet and Constance of Brittany. Geoffrey was the fourth son of Henry the Second of England and Eleanor, Duchess of Guienne. Upon the death of his brother Henry, Richard, surnamed the Lion-hearted, became the heir apparent and succeeded to the throne after the death of his father in 1189. Richard shortly afterward became one of the leaders of the Third Crusade, which ended disastrously. After being taken prisoner in Austria by Duke Leopold he was ransomed and returned to England, where he suppressed the rebellion of his brother John. He then invaded France to punish Philip the Second, John’s ally, but was mortally wounded while besieging the fortress of Chalus, near Limoges. On Richard’s death, John, surnamed Lackland, ascended the throne, ignoring the rightful claim of Duke Arthur, Geoffrey’s son. Almost his first act was the murder of Arthur, who, with the encouragement of Philip Augustus of France, was prepared to defend his claim as the son of an elder brother. By John’s foul deed England lost its French fiefs.