Geoffrey of Villehardouin facts for kids

Geoffrey of Villehardouin (born around 1150 – died around 1213) was a French knight and historian. He took part in the Fourth Crusade and wrote an important book about it. He is known for his eyewitness account called De la Conquête de Constantinople (which means On the Conquest of Constantinople). This book describes the battle for Constantinople on April 13, 1204. It was a fight between Christians from Western Europe and Christians from the East. His book is the oldest French history story written in prose (like a regular book, not poetry) that we still have today. His full title was "Geoffroi of Villehardouin, Marshal of Champagne and of Romania".

Geoffrey's Life and Adventures

Geoffrey was a soldier and a leader. He became the Marshal of Champagne in 1185. In 1199, he joined the Fourth Crusade during a big tournament. Count Thibaud III of Champagne chose him as one of the ambassadors to Venice. His job was to arrange for ships to take the Crusaders on their journey. When Thibaud died, Geoffrey helped choose Boniface of Montferrat as the new leader of the Crusade.

Even though Geoffrey didn't say it directly in his book, he likely supported the Crusaders' decision to go to Zara and then to Constantinople. While in Constantinople, he also served as an ambassador. He was part of the group that asked Isaac II Angelus to make Alexius IV a co-emperor.

After the Byzantine Empire was conquered in 1204, Geoffrey became a military leader. He led the retreat from the Battle of Adrianople in 1205. This happened after Baldwin I was captured by the forces of the Second Bulgarian Empire. Because of his good service, Boniface of Montferrat gave Geoffrey the city of Messinopolis in Thrace. After the Crusade, he was named Marshal of the Latin Empire.

Writing His Story

In 1207, Geoffrey started writing his book about the Crusade, On the Conquest of Constantinople. He wrote it in French, not Latin. This makes it one of the very first history books written in French prose. People often read Villehardouin's book along with other accounts. These include the story by Robert of Clari, another French knight, and Niketas Choniates, a high-ranking Byzantine official. There's also a story by Gunther of Pairis, a monk who wrote about Abbot Martin's experiences with the Crusaders.

Geoffrey's nephew, Geoffroi I of Villehardouin, later became the Prince of Achaea in Morea (which is the old name for the Peloponnesus) in 1209. Geoffrey himself seems to have died soon after this. His son Erard took over the title of seigneur de Villehardouin in 1213. There is also evidence that his children built memorials for him in 1218. This suggests he passed away around that time.

See also

• Chronicle of the Morea
• Henry of Valenciennes

Images for kids

• 

  1585 edition of Geoffrey's book, with the original text and a translation in 16th-century French.