General Notes

REFN: 1386AN
REFN: P1386
Geoffrey V (August 24, 1113 – September 7, 1151), Count of Anjou and Main
e, and later Duke of Normandy, called Le Bel ("The Fair") or "Geoffrey Pla
ntagenet", was the father of King Henry II of England, and thus the forefa
ther of the Plantagenet dynasty of English kings.
Geoffrey was the eldest son of Fulk, Count of Anjou and King-Consort of Je
rusalem. Geoffrey's mother was Eremburge of La Flèche, heiress of Maine. G
eoffrey received his nickname for the sprig of broom (= genêt plant, in Fr
ench) he wore in his hat as a badge.
King Henry I of England, having heard good reports on Geoffrey's talents a
nd prowess, sent his royal legates to Anjou to negotiate a marriage betwe
en Geoffrey and his own daughter, Matilda. Consent was obtained from bo
th parties, and the fifteen-year-old Geoffrey was knighted in Rouen by Ki
ng Henry in preparation for the wedding.
During Pentecost 1127, Geoffrey married Empress Matilda, the daughter a
nd heiress of King Henry I of England, by his first wife, Edith of Scotla
nd and widow of Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor. The marriage was meant to se
al a peace between England/Normandy and Anjou. She was eleven years old
er than Geoffrey, and their marriage was a stormy one, but she survived hi
m.
The year after the marriage Geoffrey's father left for Jerusalem (whe
re he was to become king), leaving Geoffrey behind as count of Anjou. Jo
hn of Marmoutier describes Geoffrey as handsome, red-headed, jovial, a
nd a great warrior; however, Ralph of Diceto alleges that his charm concea
led his cold and selfish character.
When King Henry I died in 1135, Matilda at once entered Normandy to cla
im her inheritance. The border districts submitted to her, but England cho
se her cousin Stephen of Blois for its king, and Normandy soon followed su
it. The following year, Geoffrey gave Ambrieres, Gorron, and Chatilon-sur-
Colmont to Juhel De Mayenne, on condition that he help obtain the inherita
nce of Geoffrey's wife. In 1139 Matilda landed in England with 140 knight
s, where she was besieged at Arundel Castle by King Stephen. In the "Anarc
hy" which ensued, Stephen was captured at Lincoln in February, 1141, and i
mprisoned at Bristol. A legatine council of the English church held at Win
chester in April 1141 declared Stephen deposed and proclaimed Matilda "La
dy of the English". Stephen was subsequently released from prison and h
ad himself recrowned on the anniversary of his first coronation.
During 1142 and 1143, Geoffrey secured all of Normandy west and south of t
he Seine, and, on 14 January 1144, he crossed the Seine and entered Roue
n. He assumed the title of Duke of Normandy in the summer of 1144. In 114
4, he founded an Augustine priory at Chateau-l'Ermitage in Anjou. Geoffr
ey held the duchy until 1149, when he and Matilda conjointly ceded it to t
heir son, Henry, which cession was formally ratified by King Louis V
II of France the following year.
Geoffrey also put down three baronial rebellions in Anjou, in 1129, 113
5, and 1145-1151. He was often at odds with his younger brother, Elias, wh
om he had imprisoned until 1151. The threat of rebellion slowed his progre
ss in Normandy, and is one reason he could not intervene in England. In 11
53, the Treaty of Westminster allowed Stephen should remain King of Engla
nd for life and that Henry, the son of Geoffrey and Matilda should succe
ed him.
Geoffrey died suddenly on September 7, 1151, aged forty-one. Accordi
ng to John of Marmoutier, Geoffrey was returning from a royal council wh
en he was stricken with fever. He arrived at Château-du-Loir, collaps
ed on a couch, made bequests of gifts and charities, and died. He was buri
ed at St. Julien's in Le Mans France. Geoffrey and Matilda's children were
:
Henry II of England (1133-1189)
Geoffrey, Count of Nantes (1134-1158)
William, Count of Poitou (1136-1164)
Geoffrey also had illegitimate children by an unknown mistress (or mi