Count Geoffrey of Anjou I

  General Notes:

He cultivated the loyal support of a group of magnates, some of whom he inherited from his father,[2] others whom he recruited: men such as Alberic of Vihiers, Cadilo of Blaison, Roger I (le "vieux") of Loudon, Joscelin of Rennes, castellan of Baugé, Suhard I of Craon, Tobert of Buzençais and members of the Bouchard clan, and encouraged them to see their own dynastic interests as tied to the success of the Angevin count.[3] He succeeded in establishing a group of fideles upon whom his son, Fulk called "Nerra", was able to depend in establishing Anjou as a cohesive regional power in an age of territorial disintegration.[4] In preparing the way, Geoffrey was the first count in the west of France to associate his son in the comital title.[5]

Geoffrey allied with the Count of Nantes against the Count of Rennes, and allied with Hugh Capet, fearing an invasion by the Count of Blois. He was one of the men responsible for bringing Hugh to the throne of France.

Geoffrey married Adele of Meaux, daughter of Robert of Vermandois and Adelaide of Burgundy. (Adele of Meaux was born circa 950 and died circa 980.)