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____ Geoffrey I "Grisgonelle"
Birth: ABT 11 Nov 938
Death: 21 Jul 987
Cause of Death: in battle
Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_I,_Count_of_Anjou
Geoffrey I of Anjou (c.?938/940 – July 21, 987), known as Grisegonelle ("Grey Gown"
or "Greymantle"),[1] was count of Anjou from 960 to 987.[a]
Geoffrey was the eldest son of Fulk II, Count of Anjou and his first wife Gerberga.[2]
He succeeded his father as Count of Anjou about 960,at the age of 20.[3] 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.[3] Through this marriage the Angevins joined the highest
ranks of western French nobility.[3]
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] The lands of
the abbeys of Saint-Aubin and Saint-Serge in Angers provided the beneficium for his
most faithful adherents.[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]
Although one of the principal methods of Angevin expansion was by the creation of
family connections Geoffrey exerted his control through various methods.[6] 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] 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] About 971 Geoffrey
secured the see of Le Mans for his ally Bishop Seinfroy.[8] In 973 Geoffrey had
married his daughter Ermengarde-Gerberga to Conan I of Rennes[9] but Conan began
to oppose Geoffrey and in 982 the two met at the first battle of Conquereuil with
Geoffrey defeating Conan.[10]
Geoffrey had influence in Aquitaine by way of his sister Adelaide-Blanche's first
marriage to the powerful baron Stephen, Count of Gevaudan and Forez, after whose
death the lands were ruled by Adelaide.[11] 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] 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] After the death
of his first wife Adele, Geoffrey married secondly Adelaise de Châlon and for nearly a
decade exerted control over the county of Châlons.[6] 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] 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]
He married Adele of Meaux (934–982), daughter of Robert of Vermandois and Adelais
de Vergy. Their children were:
Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou (b. 956),[3] married Conan I of Rennes.[9] She
secondly married William II of Angoulême.[14]
Fulk III of Anjou (970-1040), he succeeded his father as Count of Anjou.[15]
Geoffrey of Anjou (971-977), died young.[16]
He married, secondly, to Adelaise de Châlons[17] and had one child:
Maurice of Anjou, Count of Châlons.[6]
Parents
____ Fulk (Foulques) II "the Good" (ABT 905 - 11 Nov 960)
OF GASTINOIS Gerberge (ABT 913 - 952)
Siblings
____ Geoffrey I "Grisgonelle" (ABT 11 Nov 938 - 21 Jul 987)
D'ANJOU Agnes (ABT 940 - AFT 987)
D'ANJOU Adelaide (Blanche) (ABT 942 - 1026)
Marriage To OF MEAUX (VERMANDOIS) Adele (Adelaide) (ABT 934 - ABT 982)
m.
Notes
Parents
OF VERMANDOIS Robert (ABT 912 - Aug 967)
OF BURGUNDY Adelais (Wera) (Adelaide) (Adele) (ABT 912 - ABT 977)
Children by OF MEAUX (VERMANDOIS) Adele (Adelaide) ABT 934 - ABT 982
D'ANJOU Ermengarde-Gerberga (ABT 956 - ABT 1024)
____ Fulk (Foulques) III "the Black" ( 970 - 21 Jun 1040)
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