Geoffrey III of Anjou (in French ''Geoffroy III d' Anjou'') (c. 1040–1096), called ''le Barbu'' ("the Bearded"), was the Count of Anjou 1060–68.

Early life

Geoffrey, born , was the eldest son of Geoffrey II, Count of Gâtinais and Ermengarde of Anjou, the daughter of Fulk III of Anjou.Detlev Schwennicke, '' Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten'', Neue Folge, Band II (Marburg, Germany: J. A. Stargardt, 1984), Tafel 82Jim Bradbury, 'Fulk le Réchin and the Origin of the Plantagenets', ''Studies in Medieval History Presented to R. Allen Brown'', Ed. Christopher Harper-Bill, Christopher J. Holdsworth, Janet L. Nelson (The Boydell Press, 1989), p. 27 Both he and his younger brother Fulk, called ''le Réchin'', were taken under the wing of their uncle, Geoffrey Martel and both were knighted by him in 1060. Although well treated by his uncle, it is thought that Geoffrey Martel preferred his younger nephew, Fulk, but nonetheless left the countship to Geoffrey. Geoffrey III would serve as Count of Anjou until the Countship was taken from him by his brother, Fulk.

Military career

He succeeded his uncle Geoffrey Martel in 1060, but it shortly became clear to his vassals he was not nearly as competent as his uncle had been. He had given his younger brother Fulk Saintonge as an

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but in 1062, when it was attacked by Count Guy-Geoffrey of Poitou (aka William VIII), Geoffrey failed to come to Fulk's support and Saintonge was lost.Henk Teunis, ''The Appeal to the Original Status: Social Justice in Anjou in the Eleventh Century'' (Hilversum: Uitgeverij Verloren, 2006), p. 75 In 1063 the county of

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was lost to Anjou as well. In 1064 Geoffrey failed to come to the aid of one of his vassals, Rainaldus of Chateau-Gontier,See Renaud Ier de Château-Gontier (French Wikipedia) who was captured by the Bretons.These were the bretons who comprised the army of

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, who died at Château-Gontier after the battle, possibly due to poisoning. In 1065 Geoffrey alienated Archbishop Barthelemy by trying to force his own choice for Bishop of Le Mans on the church.W. Scott Jesse, ''Robert the Burgundian and the Counts of Anjou, c.1025-1098'' (Catholic University of America Press, 2000), p. 61 In turn the archbishop

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Geoffrey. As the situation in Anjou deteriorated Fulk IV quarreled with his brother Geoffrey. In 1067 Fulk rebelled and took the county from Geoffrey, briefly imprisoning him. In 1068 Geoffrey attacked Fulk, and once again was defeated. This time Geoffrey was imprisoned where he remained for 28 years. He was finally freed by the intervention of

Pope Urban II Pope Urban II (; – 29 July 1099), otherwise known as Odo of Châtillon or Otho de Lagery, was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 12 March 1088 to his death. He is best known for convening the Council of Clermon ...

in 1096, but died soon after.

Family

He married Julienne de Langeais before 1060. She died after 7 August 1067. They had no issue. Geoffrey and Fulk's sister, Hildegarde married Joscelin I, Lord of Courtenay and had issue.Detlev Schwennicke, ''Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten'', Neue Folge, Band III Teilband 4 (Marburg, Germany: J. A. Stargardt, 1989), Tafel 629

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geoffrey 03 1040s births 1096 deaths Counts of Anjou