Noble family de Clare Parents Richard I of Normandy Father Richard I of Normandy | Name Geoffrey, of Died 1010 | |
Cousins John of Avranches, Emma of Ivry, Hugues de Bayeux, Raoul of Ivry Similar People Gunnora, William I Longsword, Emma of Normandy | ||
Grandchildren Richard fitz Gilbert Children Gilbert, Count of Brionne | ||
Geoffrey of Brionne (962 - 1015), also called Godfrey was Count of Eu and Brionne in the late tenth and early eleventh centuries.
Contents
Life
He was a son of Duke Richard I of Normandy, by an unnamed wife or concubine. The county of Eu was an appanage created for Geoffrey by his half-brother Richard II of Normandy in 996 as part of Richard's policy of granting honors and titles for cadet members of his family. The citadel of Eu played a critical part of the defense of Normandy; the castle and walled town were on the river Bresle, just two miles from the English Channel. It had long been an embarkation point for England and in time of war was often one of the first places attacked.
The castle of Brionne had been held by the Dukes of Normandy as one of their own homes but Richard II also made a gift of Brionne to his half-brother Geoffrey, who held it for life passing it to his son Gilbert and was only returned to the demesne of the Duke after his murder.
Both Geoffrey and his son Gilbert are styled counts in a diploma to Lisieux given by Duke Richard II, but without territorial designations. Geoffrey died c. 1010.
Issue
Geoffrey was married but the name of his wife is unknown. He was the father of:
Upon his death, Geoffrey was succeeded as Count of Eu and Count of Brionne by his son Gilbert.