Geoffrey I (c. 980 – 20 November 1008), also known as Geoffrey of Rennes and Geoffrey Berengar, was
Duke of Brittany
This is a list of rulers of Brittany. In different epochs the rulers of Brittany were kings, princes, and dukes. The Breton ruler was sometimes elected, sometimes attained the position by conquest or intrigue, or by hereditary right. Hereditary ...
from 992 until his death, and also
Count of Rennes
The Count of Rennes was originally the ruler of the Romano- Frankish ''civitas'' of Rennes. From the middle of the ninth century these counts were Bretons with close ties to the Duchy of Brittany, which they often vied to rule. From 990 the Coun ...
(ruler of the Romano-Frankish ''civitas'' of Rennes) by right of succession. The eldest son of Duke
Conan I of Brittany, he assumed the title of Duke of Brittany upon his father's death in 992. Brittany had long been an independent state, but he had little control over much of
Lower Brittany
Lower Brittany (; ) denotes the parts of Brittany west of Ploërmel, where the Breton language has been traditionally spoken, and where the culture associated with this language is most prolific. The name is in distinction to Upper Brittany, th ...
.
Life
Geoffrey was the son of Duke Conan I, by his marriage to
Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou
Ermengarde of Anjou ( - )She is called Ermengarde in northern renchsources however at least one early southern source calls her Gerberga. Angevins were known to give daughters two names as evidenced by her aunt, called Adelaide-Blanche. See: B ...
. He was the grandson of
Judicael Berengar, Count of Rennes.
When Geoffrey succeeded to Brittany he had several problems:
*
Blois
Blois ( ; ) is a commune and the capital city of Loir-et-Cher Departments of France, department, in Centre-Val de Loire, France, on the banks of the lower Loire river between Orléans and Tours.
With 45,898 inhabitants by 2019, Blois is the mos ...
was encroaching on his territory,
*Vikings were threatening his shores, and
*He had to decide whether to accept the protection offered by
Anjou.
Norman alliance
In 996, at about the age of sixteen, Geoffrey entered into a dynastic alliance with
Richard II, Duke of Normandy
Richard II (died 28 August 1026), called the Good (French: ''Le Bon''), was the duke of Normandy from 996 until 1026.
Life
Richard was the eldest surviving son and heir of Richard the Fearless and Gunnor. He succeeded his father as the ruler o ...
, with a diplomatic double marriage between the two houses. The church-sanctioned marriage ceremonies were held at
Mont Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel (; Norman: ''Mont Saint Miché''; ) is a tidal island and mainland commune in Normandy, France.
The island lies approximately off France's north-western coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches and is i ...
, on the Breton-Norman border, and while Geoffrey married
Hawise of Normandy, daughter of
Richard I of Normandy
Richard I (28 August 932 – 20 November 996), also known as Richard the Fearless (French: ''Richard Sans-Peur''; Old Norse: ''Jarl Rikard''), was the count of Rouen from 942 to 996.Detlev Schwennicke, ''Europäische Stammtafeln, Europäische S ...
and sister of Richard II. Richard married
Judith of Brittany, Geoffrey's sister.
Geoffrey and Hawise had four children:
*
Alan III of Brittany (997-1040)
* Evenus (born c. 998, died after 1037)
*
Odo, Count of Penthièvre (died 1079)
* Adela, Abbess of Saint-Georges
Death
Geoffrey died on 20 November 1008 while travelling on a pilgrimage to Rome.
Notes
References
Sources
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See also
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Dukes of Brittany family tree
This is a list of rulers of Brittany. In different epochs the rulers of Brittany were kings, princes, and dukes. The Breton ruler was sometimes elected, sometimes attained the position by conquest or intrigue, or by hereditary right. Hereditary ...
980s births
1008 deaths
10th-century dukes of Brittany
11th-century dukes of Brittany
Counts of Rennes
Dukes of Brittany
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