Editing Arthur I, Duke of Brittany (section)

==Imprisonment and disappearance==
Arthur was guarded by [[Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent|Hubert de Burgh]] at the Chateau de Falaise. According to contemporaneous chronicler [[Ralph of Coggeshall]], John ordered two of his servants to blind and castrate the duke. De Burgh could not bring himself to let Arthur be mutilated. Fearful of John, de Burgh leaked news that Arthur had died of natural causes. This news infuriated Brittany, who suspected that Arthur had been murdered.{{sfn|Jones|2014|p=164}} The following year Arthur was transferred to [[Rouen]], under the charge of [[William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber|William de Braose]].{{sfn|Jones|2014|p=166}} Arthur vanished in April 1203, in the background of several military victories by [[Philip II of France]] against King John.{{sfn|Jones|2014|p=166}}

Arthur's disappearance gave rise to various stories. One account was that Arthur's gaolers feared to harm him, and so he was murdered by John directly and his body dumped in the [[Seine]]. The ''[[Margam Abbey|Margam]] Annals'' provide the following account of Arthur's death:

{{quote|After King John had captured Arthur and kept him alive in prison for some time, at length, in the castle of Rouen, after dinner on the Thursday before Easter, when he was drunk and possessed by the devil ['ebrius et daemonio plenus'], he slew him with his own hand, and tying a heavy stone to the body cast it into the Seine. It was discovered by a fisherman in his net, and being dragged to the bank and recognized, was taken for secret burial, in fear of the tyrant, to the [[Bec Abbey|priory of Bec]], which is called St Mary of the Meadow.{{sfn|Jones|2014|p=166-167}}{{sfn|Luard|1864|p=27}}}}

William de Braose is also rumoured to have murdered Arthur. After the young man's disappearance, he rose high in John's favour receiving new lands and titles in the [[Welsh Marches]]. Many years after Arthur's disappearance, and just prior to a conflict with King John, de Braose's wife [[Maud de Braose]] accused the king of murdering Arthur.{{sfn|Jones|2014|p=192}} 

Not only the Bretons, but even Philip II, were ignorant of what actually happened, and whether Arthur was alive or dead. Whatever his fate, Arthur left no known issue. William promised to direct the attack of Mirebeau on condition he was consulted on the fate of Arthur,{{sfn|Warren|1961|p=77}} but John broke the promise,{{sfn|Carpenter|2003|p=265}} causing him to leave John along with Aimeri of Thouars and siege Angers.{{sfn|Warren|1961|p=80}}