Biography of Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy 1113-1151

Paternal Family Tree: Anjou aka Plantagenet

Maternal Family Tree: Matilda Chateau Du Loir Countess Maine

1127 Oath of Allegiance to Empress Matilda

On 14 Apr 1109 [his grandfather] Fulk "Réchin" Anjou 4th Count Anjou (age 66) died. In 1109 His son [his father] Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem (age 20) succeeded V Count Anjou.

In 1110 [his father] Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem (age 21) and [his mother] Ermengarde La Flèche De Baugency Countess Anjou were married. She by marriage Countess Anjou. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Elias La Flèche De Baugency I Count Maine and [his grandmother] Matilda Chateau Du Loir Countess Maine. He the son of [his grandfather] Fulk "Réchin" Anjou 4th Count Anjou and [his grandmother] Bertrade Montfort Queen Consort France (age 40).

On 24 Aug 1113 Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy was born to Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem (age 24) and Ermengarde La Flèche De Baugency Countess Anjou.

On 07 Jan 1114 Henry V Holy Roman Emperor (age 32) and [his future wife] Empress Matilda (age 11) were married. She by marriage Holy Roman Empress. The difference in their ages was 20 years. She the daughter of [his future father-in-law] King Henry I "Beauclerc" England (age 46) and Edith aka Matilda Dunkeld Queen Consort England (age 34).

In 1126 [his mother] Ermengarde La Flèche De Baugency Countess Anjou died.

1127 Oath of Allegiance to Empress Matilda

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1127. This year held the [his future father-in-law] King Henry (age 59) his court at Christmas in Windsor. There was David the king of the Scots (age 43), and all the head men that were in England, learned and lewd. And there he engaged the archbishops, and bishops, and abbots, and earls, and all the thanes that were there, to swear England and Normandy [Map] after his day into the hands of his daughter [his future wife] Athelicia (age 24), who was formerly the wife of the Emperor of Saxony. Afterwards he sent her to Normandy; and with her went her brother [his illegitimate brother-in-law] Robert, Earl of Glocester (age 28), and Brian, son of the Earl Alan Fergan (age 27);¹⁵⁴ and he let her wed the son (age 13) of the [his father] Earl of Anjou (age 38), whose name was Geoffry Martel. All the French and English, however, disapproved of this; but the king did it for to have the alliance of the Earl of Anjou, and for to have help against his nephew William (age 24).

Note 154. See an account of him in "Ord. Vit." 544. Conan, another son of this Alan, Earl of Brittany, married a daughter of Henry I.

On 10 Jun 1128 Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy (age 14) was knighted by [his future father-in-law] King Henry I "Beauclerc" England (age 60) in preparation for his wedding to Henry's daughter [his future wife] Empress Matilda (age 26).

On 17 Jun 1128 Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy (age 14) and Empress Matilda (age 26) were married. She the daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England (age 60) and Edith aka Matilda Dunkeld Queen Consort England. He the son of Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem (age 39) and Ermengarde La Flèche De Baugency Countess Anjou.

Around 1129 [his illegitimate son] Hamelin Warenne Earl of Surrey was born illegitimately to Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy (age 15) and Mistress Unknown.

On 02 Jun 1129 [his father] Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem (age 40) and [his step-mother] Melisende Queen of Jerusalem (age 24) were married at Jerusalem [Map]. She by marriage Countess Anjou. Her father (age 54) had written to Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem requesting the marriage since he had no mlae heirs. She the daughter of Baldwin II King Jerusalem. He the son of [his grandfather] Fulk "Réchin" Anjou 4th Count Anjou and [his grandmother] Bertrade Montfort Queen Consort France.

On 21 Aug 1131 Baldwin II King Jerusalem (age 56) died. [his father] Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem (age 42) succeeded King Jerusalem. [his step-mother] Melisende Queen of Jerusalem (age 26) by marriage Queen Consort Jerusalem.

On 05 Mar 1133 [his son] King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England was born to Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy (age 19) and [his wife] Empress Matilda (age 31) at Le Mans [Map]. He a grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

On 01 Jun 1134 [his son] Geoffrey Plantagenet Count Nantes was born to Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy (age 20) and [his wife] Empress Matilda (age 32) at Rouen, France [Map] or Argentan. He a grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

Death of King Henry I

                    The Chronicle of Henry of Huntingdon 1119. 01 Dec 1135In his thirty-fifth year [his father-in-law] King Henry (age 67) still continued in Normandy, though he often proposed to return to England, an intention which was never fulfilled. His [his wife] daughter (age 33) detained him on account of sundry disagreements, which had their origin in various causes, between the king and the Count of Anjou (age 22), and which were fomented by the arts of his daughter. These disputes irritated the king, and roused an ill feeling, which some have said resulted in a natural torpor, which was the cause of his death. For, returning from huntin at St.Denys in the "Wood of Lions," he partook of some lampreys, of which he was fond, though they always disagreed with him; and though his physician recommended him to abstain, the king would not submit to his salutary advice; according to what is written : 
                
                    "Men strive 'gainst rules, and seek forbidden things."
                
                    This repast bringing on ill humours, and violently exciting similar symptoms, caused a sudden and extreme disturbance, under which his aged frame simk into a deathly torpor; in the reaction against which, Nature in her struggles produced an acute fever, while endeavouring to throw off the oppressive load. But when all power of resistance fiEtiled, this great king died on the first day of December [1135], after a reign of thirty-five years and three months. And now, with the end of so great a king, I propose to end the present Book, entreating tlie Muse to furnish such a memorial of him as he deserved:
                
                    Hark! how unnnmber'd tongues lament
                
                    Henry, the wide world's ornament.
                
                    Olympus echoes back the groan,
                
                    And Gods themselves his fote bemoan.
                
                    Imperial Jove from his right hand
                
                    Might take the sceptre of command;
                
                    Mercury borrow winged words,
                
                    Mars share with him the dash of swords
                
                    Alcides' strength, Minerva's wit,
                
                    Apollo's wisdom, him befit:
                
                    Form'd like the Deities to shine.
                
                    He shar'd their attributes divine.
                
                    England, his cradle and his throne.
                
                    Mourns, in his glory lost, her own;
                
                    Her great duke, weeping,Normandy
                
                    Saw in her bosom lifeless lie.

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On 01 Dec 1135 [his father-in-law] King Henry I "Beauclerc" England (age 67) died at Lyons-la-Forêt, Normandy [Map]. The succession fell between Henrys daughter [his wife] Empress Matilda (age 33) and Henry's nephew King Stephen I England (age 41), son of Adela Normandy Countess Blois (age 68) daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England. The period from 1135 to 1153 during which the succession was fought over is known as The Anarchy.

On 22 Jul 1136 [his son] William Plantagenet was born to Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy (age 22) and [his wife] Empress Matilda (age 34) at Argentan or Angers [Map]. He a grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1140. And the earl stole out, and went after [his illegitimate brother-in-law] Robert, Earl of Glocester (age 41), and brought him thither with a large army. And they fought strenuously on Candlemas day against their lord, and took him; for his men forsook him and fled. And they led him to Bristol, and there put him into prison in close quarters. Then was all England stirred more than ere was, and all evil was in the land. Afterwards came the daughter of [his father-in-law] King Henry, who had been [his wife] Empress of Germany (age 37), and now was Countess of Anjou. She came to London; but the people of London attempted to take her, and she fled, losing many of her followers. After this the Bishop of Winchester, Henry (age 42), the brother of King Stephen (age 46), spake with Earl Robert, and with the empress, and swore them oaths, "that he never more would hold with the king, his brother," and cursed all the men that held with him, and told them, that he would give them up Winchester; and he caused them to come thither. When they were therein, then came the king's queen with all her strength, and beset them, so that there was great hunger therein. When they could no longer hold out, then stole they out, and fled; but those without were aware, and followed them, and took Robert, Earl of Glocester, and led him to Rochester, and put him there into prison; but the empress fled into a monastery. Then went the wise men between the king's friends and the earl's friends; and settled so that they should let the king out of prison for the earl, and the earl for the king; and so they did. After this settled the king and Earl Randolph at Stamford, and swore oaths, and plighted their troth, that neither should betray the other. But it availed nothing. For the king afterwards took him at Northampton, through wicked counsel, and put him into prison; and soon after he let him out again, through worse counsel, on the condition that he swore by the crucifix, and found hostages, that he would give up all his castles. Some he gave up, and some gave he not up; and did then worse than he otherwise would. Then was England very much divided. Some held with the king, and some with the empress; for when the king was in prison, the earls and the rich men supposed that he never more would come out: and they settled with the empress, and brought her into Oxford, and gave her the borough. When the king was out, he heard of this, and took his force, and beset her in the tower.¹⁶⁵ And they let her down in the night from the tower by ropes. And she stole out, and fled, and went on foot to Wallingford [Map]. Afterwards she went over sea; and those of Normandy turned all from the king to the Earl of Anjou (age 26); some willingly, and some against their will; for he beset them till they gave up their castles, and they had no help of the king. Then went Eustace, the king's son, to France, and took to wife the sister of the King of France. He thought to obtain Normandy thereby; but he sped little, and by good right; for he was an evil man. Wherever he was, he did more evil than good; he robbed the lands, and levied heavy guilds upon them. He brought his wife to England, and put her into the castle at…¹⁶⁶ Good woman she was; but she had little bliss with him; and Christ would not that he should long reign. He therefore soon died, and his mother also. And the Earl of Anjou died; and his son Henry took to the earldom. And the Queen of France parted from the king; and she came to the young Earl Henry; and he took her to wife, and all Poitou with her. Then went he with a large force into England, and won some castles; and the king went against him with a much larger force. Nevertheless, fought they not; but the archbishop and the wise men went between them, and made this settlement: That the king should be lord and king while he lived, and after his day Henry should be king: that Henry should take him for a father; and he him for a son: that peace and union should be betwixt them, and in all England. This and the other provisions that they made, swore the king and the earl to observe; and all the bishops, and the earls, and the rich men. Then was the earl received at Winchester, and at London, with great worship; and all did him homage, and swore to keep the peace. And there was soon so good a peace as never was there before. Then was the king stronger than he ever was before. And the earl went over sea; and all people loved him; for he did good justice, and made peace.

Note 165. The tower of the castle at Oxford, built by D'Oyley, which still remains.

Note 166. The MS. is here deficient.

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In 1141 William Mohun 1st Earl of Somerset (age 51) was created 1st Earl Somerset for life by [his wife] Empress Matilda (age 38).

In 1141 [his illegitimate brother-in-law] Reginald de Dunstanville Fitzroy 1st Earl Cornwall (age 31) was created 1st Earl Cornwall.

On 13 Nov 1143 Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy (age 30) was appointed Count Anjou.

On 13 Nov 1143 [his father] Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem (age 54) was killed whilst hunting.

In 1144 Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy (age 30) by conquest Duke Normandy. [his wife] Empress Matilda (age 41) by marriage Duchess Normandy.

On 31 Oct 1147 [his illegitimate brother-in-law] Robert Normandy 1st Earl Gloucester (age 48) died. His son William Fitzrobert 2nd Earl Gloucester succeeded 2nd Earl Gloucester.

On 07 Sep 1151 Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy (age 38) died at Château du Loir [Map]. He was buried at St Julien's Cathedral [Map].

On 10 Sep 1167 [his former wife] Empress Matilda (age 65) died. She was buried under the high alter at Bec Abbey [Map] during a service performed by Rotrou Newburgh Archbishop of Rouen. Her tomb's epitaph reads 'Great by birth, greater by marriage, greatest in her offspring: here lies Matilda, the daughter, wife, and mother of Henry'.

[his illegitimate daughter] Emma Plantagenet was born illegitimately to Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy and Mistress Unknown.

Archaeologia Volume 29 Section III. The volume of Monumental Effigies, drawn and engraved by Mr. Charles Alfred Stothard, F.S.A. the late draughtsman to the Society, is so generally known and so highly appreciated wherever known, that it is only necessary, in order to introduce the subject of the following remarks, to remind the reader that it was left imperfect, in consequence of the author's sudden death, from a lamentable accident which occurred in the pursuit of his congenial profession. It was a part of Mr. Stothard's plan to have included in his work a complete series of the effigies of the Kings and Queens of this country; and for that purpose he visited France, and brought from Fontevraud [Map] his drawings of the statues of [his son] Henry the Second and his Queen, of [his grandson] Richard the First, and of [his granddaughter-in-law] Isabella Queen of John; and from the Abbey of L'Espan, near le Mans, the effigy of [his granddaughter-in-law] Berengaria, Queen of Richard I., as well as the figure of Geoffrey, Comte of Anjou, from an enamelled Plate in the church of St. Julien at le Mans [Map]. There were others, however, and those by no means inferior to any in beauty or interest, which had been left, perhaps from the very reason of their being within immediate reach, until some convenient opportunity, which was frustrated by the premature close of the artist's career. I allude particularly to those^a of Queen Philippa, King Richard the Second, and his Queen Anne of Bohemia, all in Westminster Abbey.

Note a. Mr. Stothard also intended to have included in his work all the knightly effigies in the Temple church. Those he omitted will be given by the Messrs. Hollis.