Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou facts for kids
Geoffrey V (born 1113, died 1151) was also known as the Handsome and Plantagenet. He was a powerful ruler in France, holding the titles of Count of Anjou, Touraine, and Maine starting in 1129. Later, in 1144, he also became the Duke of Normandy. Geoffrey married the Empress Matilda, who was the daughter and main heir of Henry I of England. Their son, Henry Curtmantle, later became King of England. Geoffrey is famous for starting the House of Plantagenet, a very important royal family in England, which got its name from his own nickname.
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Early Life and Nickname
Geoffrey was born on August 24, 1113. His father was Fulk V, King of Jerusalem, and his mother was Ermengarde of Maine. He was named after his great-grandfather, Geoffrey II, Count of Gâtinais.
Geoffrey got his nickname, "Plantagenet," because he often wore a yellow sprig of broom blossom in his hat. The French word for this plant is genêt, which comes from the Latin planta genista.
When Geoffrey was fifteen, King Henry I of England wanted him to marry his daughter, Matilda. Both families agreed to the marriage. On June 10, 1128, King Henry I made Geoffrey a knight.
Marriage to Empress Matilda
In 1128, Geoffrey married Empress Matilda. She was the daughter of King Henry I of England and had previously been married to the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry V. This marriage was planned to create peace between England and Anjou.
Matilda was about eleven years older than Geoffrey. She was very proud of her title as an Empress. Their marriage had many disagreements, and they often spent time apart. However, they had three sons together. Matilda outlived Geoffrey.
Becoming a Ruler
The year after Geoffrey's marriage, his father left to become king in Jerusalem. This made Geoffrey the sole count of Anjou.
When King Henry I of England died in 1135, Matilda tried to claim her right to rule Normandy. Some areas supported her, but England chose her cousin, Stephen of Blois, as king. Normandy soon followed.
Geoffrey worked to help his wife gain her inheritance. In 1139, Matilda went to England with knights. A big fight for the throne, known as "the Anarchy," began. King Stephen was captured in 1141. For a short time, Matilda was called "Lady of the English." However, Stephen was later released and became king again.
While this was happening in England, Geoffrey was busy in Normandy. By 1144, he had taken control of most of Normandy and officially became the Duke of Normandy. He held this title until 1149. Then, he and Matilda gave the duchy to their son, Henry. The French king, Louis VII of France, agreed to this the next year.
Geoffrey also had to deal with three rebellions by powerful lords in Anjou. These rebellions slowed down his progress in Normandy and stopped him from helping Matilda more in England. He even had disagreements with his younger brother, Elias, whom he kept in prison for a time.
Later, in 1153, the Treaty of Wallingford was signed. This agreement said that Stephen would remain King of England for his lifetime, and then Geoffrey and Matilda's son, Henry, would become king after him.
Death
Geoffrey died suddenly on September 7, 1151. He was returning from a meeting when he became ill with a fever. He reached Château-du-Loir, collapsed, and died. He was buried at St. Julien's Cathedral in Le Mans, France.
Children
Geoffrey and Matilda had three sons:
- Henry II of England (1133–1189)
- Geoffrey, Count of Nantes (born June 1, 1134, in Rouen; died July 26, 1158, in Nantes). He never married.
- William X, Count of Poitou (1136–1164). He also never married.
Geoffrey also had other children. These included Hamelin; Emme, who married a Welsh prince named Dafydd Ab Owain Gwynedd; and Mary, who became a nun and later the leader of Shaftesbury Abbey. Some people believe Mary might have been the famous poetess Marie de France.
Images for kids
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A map showing North West France in 1150, during Geoffrey's time.
See also
In Spanish: Godofredo V de Anjou para niños
