Geoffroy III of Anjou

Geoffroy III of Anjou , known as Bearded the , born in 1040, died in 1096 or 1097, was count of Gâtinais of 1056 with 1068, of Anjou and of Turns of 1060 with 1068. It was of the family of the Ingelgeriens and oldest son of Geoffroy II Ironwood, count of Gâtinais and Ermengarde of Anjou.

It succeeds his father towards 1045, then division with his brother Foulque the goods of his uncle Geoffroy Martel: it had Anjou and Touraine, while his/her brother accepted the Saintonge and the seigniory of Vihiers.

Very quickly, Geoffroy the Bearded one scrambled himself with the clergy, invades the abbey of Marmoutier and is opposed to the archbishop Turns in connection with the election of the bishop of Mans. Besides he loses the control of Maine, occupied by William the Conqueror. In 1067, Geoffroy is excommunicated by the pope.

During this time, his/her Foulque brother, overcome by Guy-Geoffroy-Guillaume VIII, duke of Aquitaine which had to him took Saintonge in 1062, could not be satisfied with its seigniory of Vihiers and took the head of the opposition baronniale. It seizes Saumur the February 25th 1067, then of Angers, the April 4th 1067, captures his/her brother and imprisons it.

Foulque Réchin had gained with its cause some of most powerful vassal of Geoffroy the Bearded one, his brother, had given up already by the clergy and had excommunicated. Sure of their contest, it went on Angers the Wednesday-saint April 4th 1067 and, thanks to the treason of Geoffroy de Preuilly, Renaud II of Castle-Gontier, Giraud de Montreuil and the provost of Angers, named Robert, seized the person of Geoffroy and threw it in prison. The punishment of the traitors was not made wait. Foulque Réchin could not or did not want to preserve its trustworthy popular revenge. The following day Thursday-saint, a terrible riot raised the city: Renaud of Castle-Gontier, Geoffroy de Preuilly, Giraud de Montreuil, were massacred; the provost, apprehended in his turn, had soon after a similar fate.

After a short reconciliation, they are scrambled again, and Geoffroy is beaten by Foulque with Brissac in the month of April 1068. Geoffroy is then imprisoned with Chinon during more than twenty years, during which it became insane, and neither the king of France, nor the count of Blois succeeded in with couvaincre Foulque to release it.

He had married before 1060 Julienne, girl of Hamelin, lord of Langeais, but had not had children.

Sources

FranceBalade
Geoffroy, count off Gâtinais

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