LE COMTE ALAIN LE NOIR.

Alain Le Noir was the brother of Alain Le Roux and succeeded him as earl of Richmond. He received as his reward for participation at Senlac, 120 manors, principally in Suffolk and Norfolk. Lobineau affirms that he had an elder brother, Brient or Brian of Brittany, comte de Vannes, who attended his brothers at the conquest. This Brian accompanied William Fitz Osberne in 1068 to relieve Exeter, which was being besieged by the Welsh and disaffected men of Cheshire, Devonshire and Cornwall, under Edric the Wild. The rebels were defeated and nearly all put to the sword. Brian also is reported to have defeated twice in one day (24th June 1069) two sons of Harold with great slaughter, when they landed at the north of the river Tivy with a large force from Ireland. The Norman Chronicle declares the comte de Vannes (Brian) with Odo, bishop of Bayeux, after the battle of Cardiff, in which the Normans were victorious but suffered great loss, retired with the remainder of the forces to Caerleon. Count Brian was quite probably the father of Brian FitzCount, by Lucie, sister of Hamelin de Balon.

--(This name appears on the Falaise Roll).