Geoffrey I (Gauzfred I) (d. after 985), possibly the son of Geoffroy, Viscount of Chartres, is the first

Viscount of Châteaudun A viscount ( , for male) or viscountess (, for female) is a title used in certain European countries for a noble of varying status. The status and any domain held by a viscount is a viscounty. In the case of French viscounts, the title is so ...

and thus regarded as the founder of the

House of Châteaudun A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condit ...

, vassal of the

House of Blois The House of Blois () was a noble family that arose in the West Francia, Kingdom of West Francia in the early 10th century, and whose prominent members were often named Theobald (''Thibaud'', ''Thibault'', ''Thibaut'' in French language, French). ...

. It is assumed that Geoffrey descended from

Rorgon I, Count of Maine Rorgon I or Rorico(n) I (also ''Rorgo'' or ''Rorich''; died 16 June 839 or 840) was the first count of Maine and progenitor of the Rorgonid dynasty, which is named for him. He was count of Rennes from 819 and of Maine from 832 until his death. ...

, and therefore part of the Rogonid/Rorgonid dynasty. Little is known about Geoffrey, other than he was closely associated with Hardouin,

Archbishop of Tours The Archdiocese of Tours (; ) is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. The archdiocese has roots that go back to the 3rd century, while the formal erection of the diocese dates from the 5th century. The ecclesiastical pro ...

. Geoffrey married Ermengarde of an unknown family and had one child: *

Hugues Hugues is a masculine given name most often found in francophone countries, a variant of the originally Germanic name " Hugo" or " Hugh". The final ''s'' marks the nominative case in Old French, but is not retained by modern pronunciation (such as ...

, Viscount of Châteaudun Geoffrey was succeeded by his son as Viscount of Châteaudun upon his death. There are differing accounts about Geoffrey and his offspring. One prominent theory is that Geoffrey and Hughes were the same person, and that Ermengarde was Geoffrey’s first wife, and Hildegard, the wife of Hughes, was his second.

References

Sources

Boussard, Jacques, ''L'origine des familles seigneuriales dans la région de la Loire moyenne'', Cahiers de Civilisation Médiévale 5, 1962 Phalle, Édouard de Saint, ''Comtes de Troyes et de Poitiers au IXe siècle: histoire d’un double échec''. In Christian Settipani and Katharine S. B. Keats-Rohan, ''Onomastique et Parenté dans l'Occident médiéva''l. 2000. Kerrebrouck, Patrick van., Nouvelle histoire généalogique de l'auguste maison de France, vol. 1: La Préhistoire des Capétiens. 1993. Tout, Thomas Frederick, ''The Empire and the Papacy: 918-1273, Periods of European History'', London: Rivingtons, 1928 {{DEFAULTSORT:Geoffrey I, Viscount of Chateaudun 10th-century French nobility Viscounts of Châteaudun