Hoël was the son of Count
Alan Canhiart of Cornouaille and his wife,
Judith of Nantes, granddaughter of the illegitimate son of Duke
Alan II of Brittany. Hoël started the House of Cornouaille of Brittany, which ruled the duchy until 1156. Hoël became
count of Nantes in 1054. The title came to him from his maternal cousin, Count
Matthew I of Nantes, who died in 1050. Alan Canhiart seize the county in Hoël's name in 1050, and ruled it as regent for his son until 1054. Duke
Conan II of Brittany attempted to seize Nantes in 1054 but was defeated. Conan died childless in December 1066 and the
duchy passed to Hawise and Hoël, but their marriage may have further strengthened Brittany at a time when external interference was attempted by
William the Conqueror. Hawise died in 1072. During his reign Hoël faced several rebellions from Breton nobles. Geoffrey Grenonat of Rennes (an illegitimate son of Duke
Alan III of Brittany and half-brother of Hawise) led a revolt and was joined by
Ralph de Gael who had returned to Brittany from England after the failure of the previous year's
Revolt of the Earls. In 1076, Ralph having plotted against Hoël, was besieged at Dol. William the Conqueror came to Hoël's aid, after which Hoël finally made peace with Ralph. ==Marriage and children==