John of Brittany, Earl of Richmond

John of Brittany, called in French Jean de Bretagne (c. 1266 – 17 January 1334), 4th Earl of Richmond, was an English nobleman and a member of the Ducal house of Brittany, the House of Dreux. He entered royal service in England under his uncle Edward I, and also served Edward II. On 15 October 1306 he received his father's title of Earl of Richmond. He was named Guardian of Scotland in the midst of England's conflicts with Scotland, and in 1311 Lord Ordainer during the baronial rebellion against Edward II.

John of Brittany served England as a soldier and as a diplomat but was otherwise politically inactive in comparison to other Earls of his time. He was a capable diplomat, valued by both Edward I and Edward II for his negotiating skills. John was never married, and upon his death his title and estates fell to his nephew, John III, Duke of Brittany. Although he was generally loyal to his first cousin Edward II during the times of baronial rebellion, he eventually supported the coup of Isabella and Mortimer. After Edward II abdicated in favour of his son Edward III, John retired to his estates in France and died in his native Brittany in 1334 with no known issue.

John of Brittany in "Clash of Arms"
During their contest to identify heraldic symbols, Stephen de Windesore asked Niccolo dello Bosco to name the one English coat of arms that had no charge upon the shield. Bosco thought on it, before correctly naming John of Brittany, the Earl of Richmond, whose coat bore simply "ermine."