Geoffrey I of Anjou
| Geoffrey Grey Gown | |
|---|---|
Anjou and surrounding territories.
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| Spouse(s) | Adele of Meaux |
| Noble family | House of Ingelger |
| Father | Fulk II of Anjou |
| Mother | Gerberge |
| Born | c. 938/940 |
| Died | 21 July 987 Marçon |
Geoffrey I of Anjou (c. 938/940 – July 21, 987), known as Grisegonelle ("Grey Gown" or "Greymantle"), was count of Anjou from 960 to 987.
Geoffrey was the eldest son of Fulk II, Count of Anjou and his first wife Gerberga. He succeeded his father as Count of Anjou about 960,at the age of 20. 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. Through this marriage the Angevins joined the highest ranks of western French nobility.
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. The lands of the abbeys of Saint-Aubin and Saint-Serge in Angers provided the beneficium for his most faithful adherents. 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." 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 the widowed countess and Geoffrey continued this by making Count Guerech 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 Geoffrey secured the see of Le Mans for his ally Bishop Seinfroy. In 973 Geoffrey had married his daughter Ermengarde-Gerberga to Conan I of Rennes but Conan began to oppose Geoffrey and in 982 the two met at the first battle of Conquereuil with Geoffrey defeating Conan.
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