Geoffrey Plantagenet, Duke of Brittany

    Geoffrey, the fourth son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, was born on the 23 September 1158, and named after his paternal uncle.  Since his birth took place at the time of Henry's gain of lower Brittany, he was designated as the Duke of Brittany.  Geoffrey was married to Constance, rightful heir to the duchy of Brittany in 1181 to legitimize his title.  Physically, Geoffrey was shorter than his elder brothers and had darker coloring, like his brother John.  He was considered highly intelligent, but was also "daring, bold, decisive...shameless, crafty, full of excuses" (Kelly, 174), the "son of perdition" (Warren, 592).

    Perhaps because he resented his inferior status, Geoffrey was always willing to engage in rebellion against his father or undermine the positions of his brothers.  He willingly participated in the Rebellion of 1173 with his other family members against Henry II.  Later, when his father sent him into Aquitaine to suppress the barons who were threatening to rise up against Richard, Geoffrey joined forces with them and encouraged their revolt, though it was ultimately unsuccessful.  It was while he was in Paris engaged in another plot against his family with friend King Phillip Augustus of France, enemy of the Angevins, that he was killed during a tournament.  King Phillip was reportedly devastated by Geoffrey's death and "could only with difficulty be restrained from throwing himself into the open grave" (Warren, 611).          

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Last modified: 12/08/02