Geoffrey I Comte d'Anjou Anjou

Abt 938 - 987  (~ 49 years)

• Name	Geoffrey I Comte d'Anjou Anjou  [1]
  Birth	Abt 938	Anjou, France
  Gender	Male
  Name	Geoffrey I Count of Anjou
  Death	21 Jul 987	Anjou, France
  Person ID	I7308	FelsingFam
  Last Modified	21 Dec 2024

  
  

  Family	Adelais d'Anjou Vermandois,   b. 950, France d. Aft 18 Oct 984, Anjou, France (Age > 34 years)
  Children	+ 1. Ermengarde de Bretagne Anjou,   b. Abt 965, Anjou Province, France  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F2337	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	21 Dec 2024

  
  

• Photos		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

  
  

• Notes

  https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Anjou-20 BIOGRAPHY FROM GENEALOGICS.ORG: Geoffrey was born about 950, the son of Foulques II 'the Good', comte d'Anjou, and Gerberge de Tours. The _Chronicle of the Counts of Anjou_ describes him as 'stout-hearted and strong and most successful in battle' and tells of his single-handed victory against Ethelulf the Dane, a Goliath-like figure. He was known as Greygown after a witness to the contest picked him out at the French court by the colour of his robes. He was count of Anjou from 958 to 987, succeeding his father. He allied with the county of Nantes against the county of Rennes, and allied with Hugues Capet, fearing an invasion by the count of Blois. He was one of the men responsible for bringing Hugues to the throne of France. About 965 he married Adelais de Vermandois, daughter of Robert de Vermandois, comte de Meaux et Troyes and Adelheid/Wera de Bourgogne. Geoffrey and Adelais had a daughter Ermengarde, also known as Gerberge, who would have progeny with both her husbands Conon I 'le Tort', duc de Bretagne, and Guillaume IV Taillefer, comte d'Angoulême, and two sons of whom Geoffrey died young and his heir Foulques III 'Nera' who would have progeny. By an unnamed second wife Geoffrey also had a son Maurice who is not recorded with progeny. Geoffrey started by making his power-base the citadel of Angers strategically placing his _fideles_ (close followers) in key areas surrounding the city to protect his territories. The lands of the abbeys of Saint-Aubin and Saint-Serge in Angers provided the _beneficium_ (landed estates granted in feudal tenure) for his most faithful adherents. On this subject, which became the family's theme, Geoffrey advised both his sons Foulques and Maurice: 'No house is weak that has many friends. Therefore I admonish you to hold dear those _fideles_ who have been friends.' Although one of the principal methods of Angevin expansion was by the creation of family connections. Geoffrey exerted his control through various methods. His father had controlled Nantes through his second marriage to Adelaide, the widow of Alain II, duke of Brittany, and Geoffrey continued this by making Alain's illegitimate son Guisle, comte de Nantes, accept him as overlord. With an eye towards Maine, Geoffrey took advantage of the rift that developed between the counts of Maine and the viscounts and bishops of Le Mans. About 971 Geoffroy secured the see of Le Mans for his ally Bishop Seinfroy. In 973 Geoffrey had married his daughter Ermengarde-Gerberge to Conon I 'le Tort', duc de Bretagne, but Conon began to oppose Geoffrey and in 982 the two met at the first battle of Conquereuil with Geoffrey defeating Conon. Geoffrey had influence in Aquitaine through his sister Adelaide dite Blanche d'Anjou's first marriage to the powerful baron Etienne I de Brioude, count of Gévaudan and Forez, and after his death the lands were ruled by Adelaide-Blanche. His nephews Pons and Bertrande succeeded as counts there and his niece Almodis married Boso II, comte de La Marche et Périgord. In 975 Geoffrey had his brother Guy appointed count and bishop of Le Puy. In 982 Geoffrey married his now widowed sister Adelaide-Blanche to the fifteen-year-old Louis V of France, the two being crowned king and queen in Aquitaine. But the marriage to a woman thirty years Louis' senior failed as did Geoffrey's plans to control Aquitaine through his son-in-law. Through his first wife Adelais, Geoffrey for nearly a decade exerted control over the county of Châlons. Through the marriage of his son Foulques III to Elisabeth, the heiress of Vendôme, Geoffrey brought that county into the Angevin sphere of influence. Fortunately at this same time Geoffrey made his son Foulques his co-ruler since he died shortly thereafter on 21 July 987 while besieging the fortress of Marcon. Biography from wikitree Disambiguation Adèle de Meaux is not Adélaïde de Châlons. Adèle married Geoffroy I Grisegonelle, d. 987, count of Anjou, while Adélaïde married Lambert, d. probably 978, count of Chalon. The confusion arises because after Adele's death, and after Lambert's death, Lambert's widow, Adélaïde did marry Geoffroy I Grisegonelle. [1] Name Geoffroi I Grisegonelle [2] Geoffrey I of Anjou (c. 938/940 - July 21, 987), known as Grisegonelle ("Greymantle"), was count of Anjou from 960 to 987. Geoffroy I “Grisegonelle” Comte d'Anjou, was son of Foulques II Comte d’Anjou & his first wife Gerberge [de Maine] (-21 Jul 987). [3] Geoffroy I "Grisegonelle" (Geoffrey Greycloak, Gaufridus/Gauzfredus Grisegonella) [1] Gaufridus, comes Andegavorum [1] Geoffrey Grey Gown [4] Titles Count of Anjou, 958/960-987 [2][1] Count of Chalon, 979-987 [2] Birth and Parents Geoffroi's date and place of birth are unknown. [1] Geoffroi was the son of Fulk II (Foulques II the Good), Count of Anjou, and his wife Gerberga, or Gerbage. [2] Geoffroi's father was Foulques II "le Bon", whose accession was after 941 and who died between 958 and 960, count of Anjou.[1] His mother was named Gerberge. Baldwin notes that in charters of March 966 and 19 June 966, Gaufridus, comes Andegavorum, mentions his brother abbot Widdo, father Fulco and mother Gerberga, and in a charter of 970, count Gaufridus mentions his father Fulco and mother Gerberga[1] Estimating a birth year for Geoffroi must first account for the dates of his father Fulk, born around 905 and died between 958 and 960. Geoffroi's birth would not likely have occurred earlier than 926, when his father Fulk became 21. Geoffroi's mother Gerberge's estimated birth was in the year 913 and her death in 952. Geoffroi's birth would not not likely have occurred earlier than 928, when Gerberge was 15. Cawley [3] estimates a birth year of 938, which would make Geoffroi aged 20 or 21 when he acceded to his rule. This is no different from the estimates of a century ago by Norgate. [5] 960 Succession Geoffroy succeeded his father Foulques II as count of Anjou sometime between September 958, when Foulques was still alive, and September 960, when a count Gausfredus signed a donation to the monastery of Saint-Florent de Saumur by a certain Éremburge. [1] Or as Bachrach put it, he succeeded his father as Count of Anjou about 960, at the age of 20. [6] He succeeded his father Fulk II. He cultivated the loyal support of a group of magnates, some of whom he inherited from his father, others whom he recruited; men such as Alberic of Vihiers, Cadilo of Blaison, Roger I (le "vieux") of Loudon, Joscelin of Rennes, castellan of Baugé, Suhard I of Craon, Tobert of Buzençais and members of the Bouchard clan, and encouraged them to see their own dynastic interests as tied to the success of the Angevin count. [7] He succeeded in establishing a group of fideles upon whom his son, Fulk called "Nerra", was able to depend in establishing Anjou as a cohesive regional power in an age of territorial disintegration. [7] In preparing the way, Geoffrey was the first count in the west of France to associate his son in the comital title. [7] 965 First Marriage to Adele of Troyes He married Adele of Meaux. He was the son of Fulk II of Anjou and his wife Gergerge.[4] He married Adele of Meaux (934-982), daughter of Robert of Vermandois. On her mother's side she was a granddaughter of king Robert I of France and on her father's side a direct descendant of Charlemagne. [6] Through this marriage the Angevins joined the highest ranks of western French nobility. [6] Geoffrey maried first Adele of Troyes, daughter of Robert, Count of Meaux and his wife Adelais. [2] Richardson dates the marriage as "about 965" while Cawley [3] dates it "before 965". Baldwin simply notes that Geoffroi's first wife, Adèle de Troyes, daughter of Robert I, count of Troyes. was living on 6 March 974. On that day Adela, wife of count Gauzfredus, donated land which she had inherited to Saint-Aubin d'Angers, in a charter witnessed by, among others, count Gauzfredus, his sons Fulco and Gauzfredus, and count Heribertus. [1] The Saint-Aubin genealogies make Adèle a daughter of count Robert I of Troyes. Baldwin notes that although some have placed her instead as a sister of Robert and a daughter of Herbert II of Vermandois, there is no early authority for this. [1] On her mother's side she was a granddaughter of king Robert I of France and on her father's side a direct descendant of Charlemagne. Through this marriage the Angevins joined the highest ranks of western French nobility. [7] Adela died at some time after the 974 charter. 971 See of Le Mans About 971 Geoffrey secured the see of Le Mans for his ally Bishop Seinfroy.[8] [4] 973 Marriage of Ermengarde to Conan In 973 Geoffrey had married his daughter Ermengarde-Gerberga to Conan I of Rennes[9] [4] but Conan began to oppose Geoffrey and in 982 the two met at the first battle of Conquereuil with Geoffrey defeating Conan.[10][4] Conquests Geoffrey allied with the Count of Nantes against the Count of Rennes, and allied with Hugh Capet, fearing an invasion by the Count of Blois. He was one of the men responsible for bringing Hugh to the throne of France.[7] Geoffrey started by making his power-base the citadel of Angers strategically placing his fideles in key areas surrounding the city to protect his territories.[4] [4] The lands of the abbeys of Saint-Aubin and Saint-Serge in Angers provided the beneficium for his most faithful adherents.[4] [4] On this subject which became this family's theme, Geoffrey advised both his sons, Fulk and Maurice: "No house is weak that has many friends. Therefore I admonish you to hold dear those fideles who have been friends."[5] [4] Although one of the principal methods of Angevin expansion was by the creation of family connections Geoffrey exerted his control through various methods.[6] [4] His father had controlled Nantes through his second marriage to the widowed countess and Geoffrey continued this by making Count Guerech accept him as overlord.[6] [4] With an eye towards Maine, Geoffrey took advantage of the rift that developed between the Counts of Maine and the viscounts and Bishops of Le Mans.[7] [4] 975 Brother Guy Appointed to Le Puy His nephews Pons and Bertrand succeeded as counts there and his niece Adalmode married Adelbert, Count of Marche and Périgord. In 975 Geoffrey had his brother Guy appointed Count and Bishop of Le Puy.[11] [4] 979 Second Marriage to Adelais de Chalon, widow of Lambert After the death of his first wife Adele, Geoffrey married secondly Adelaise de Châlon. [8] Adelaise, sometimes also referred to as Adele, was the widow of Lambert I, Count of Chalon-sur-Saone (died 22 Feb 978). [2] Cawley places the date of this second marriage of Adelais as 2 or 9 Mar 979. [9] Cawley and Baldwin [1] both discuss a number of disputes as to the actual parentage of Adelais. Cawley notes that none appears to be based on any primary documentation and Bouchard concludes that she prefers "to leave Adelais's origins unknown". [9] As a result of this marriage, Geoffroi I "Grisegonelle" Comte d'Anjou, who acted as Comte de Chalon until his death in 987.[9] and for nearly a decade exerted control over the county of Châlons. [8] Adelaide, widow of Lambert, count of Chalon was living in 999. [9] 982 Marriage of Sister to Young King Louis V In 982 Geoffrey married his now widowed sister Adelaide-Blanche to the fifteen-year-old Louis V of France, the two being crowned King and Queen of Aquitaine. [10] But the marriage to a woman thirty years his senior failed as did Geoffrey's plans to control Aquitaine through his young son-in-law. [10] 987 Accession of Fulk Through the marriage of his son, Fulk III, to Elisabeth the heiress of Vendôme Geoffrey brought that county into the Angevin sphere of influence.[12][4] Fortunately it was at this same time Geoffrey made his son Fulk Nerra his co-ruler since he died shortly thereafter while besieging the fortress of Marcon on 21 July 987.[13][4] Seneschal of France Geoffrey I received in requital of his gallant services against the Emperor Otto, a grant from King Robert, of the dignified office of Seneschal of France.[7] 987 Death Geoffroi I, Count of Anjou, was slain in battle at Marcon (near Chateau-du-Loir) 21 July 987, and was buried at Saint-Martin de Tours. Geoffroy was killed on 21 July 987 while besieging a certain Odo Rufinus at Marçon, near Château-du-Loir [1] 999 Widow His widow, the second Adele, was living in 999. [2] Issue Documented Children Geoffroi and Adele had two sons and two daughters [2] Geoffroi and his second wife Adelais had a son, Maurice. Foulques d'Anjou , or Foulques III Nerra, Count of Anjou, son of Geoffroi and Adele [1], was born between 965 and 972. [2] Historiæ Andegavensis names his birth year as 970, and his death at Metz on 21 Jun 1040 with burial at Beaulieu-lez-Loche, Abbaye de Saint-Pierre).[11] Geoffrey d'Anjou or Geoffroi, son of Geoffroi and Adele, born between 965 and 974 [2] Geoffrey ("Gauzfredi filii eius") is named by his mother "Adela" in the 6 March 974 charter by which she donated property to Saint-Aubin d'Angers [3] and is living at that time [1] Geoffrey of Anjou (971-977), died young. [12] Ermengarde de Bretagne, daughter of Geoffroi and Adele, was born between 965 and 974 [2] and married Conan I of Rennes, who died in 992. Baldwin notes that (1) Rodulfus Glaber states that Conan married a sister of count Foulques of Anjou; (2) the Chronicle of S. Florent says that Geoffrey was son of Conan by a sister of Foulques; and (3) the Angevin genealogical collection states that Judith, wife of Richard of Normandy, was the daughter of Conan by his wife Ermengarde, daughter of Geoffroy of Anjou. [1] Baldwin further notes that chronological considerations place Ermengarde as a child of Geoffroy's first marriage to Adèle de Troyes. Sometimes Ermengarde and her sister Gerberge are conflated into one person, "Ermengarde-Gerberga" [13] Baldwin, however, notes that "there is no good reason to identify Geoffroy's daughters Ermengarde (wife of count Conan of Rennes) and Gerberge (wife of count Guillaume IV of Angoulême) as the same person, as is sometimes done [1] Gerberga d'Anjou, daughter of Geoffroi and Adele, was born between 965 and 974., and married Guillaume IV, Count of Angouleme. [2] She died after 988. [3] Ademar de Chabannes states that count Guillaume (IV) was married to Gerberge, sister of count Foulques ["Andegavensis" in one manuscript], who must chronologically be Foulques III. Depoin cites a charter which gives the name of Guillaume's wife as Girberga. [1] Maurice, son of Geoffroi and his second wife Adelais, d. in or before 1039. He was mentioned as a brother of count Fulco in a charter of 1003 He was killed in combat by a certain Gautier, son of Hamelin de Lange

  
  

• Sources

  [S945] Genealogics.org.