449. COUNT GEOFFREY28 OF ANJOU Although well established, the surname Plantagenet has little historical justification. It seems to have originated as a nickname for Count Geoffrey and has been variously explained as referring to his practice of wearing a sprig of broom (genista) in his hat or, more probably, to his habit of planting brooms to improve his hunting covers. It was not, however, a hereditary surname, and Geoffrey's descendants in England remained without one for more than 250 years, although surnames became universal outside the royal family. Geoffrey claimed the Duchy of Normandy; he finally conquered it in 1144 and ruled there as duke until he gave it to his son Henry (later King Henry II of England) in 1150. Geoffrey was popular with the Normans, but he had to suppress a rebellion of malcontent Angevin nobles. After a short war with Louis VII of France, Geoffrey signed a treaty (August 1151) by which he surrendered the whole of Norman Vexin (the border area between Normandy and Īle-de-France) to Louis. He was also known as Geoffrey IV Plantanganet. Children of Count Geoffrey28 of Anjou and Matilda (see #450) were as follows:
450. MATILDA28 (Henry, #454) She was also known as Maud. 451. WILLIAM X28 DUKE OF AQUITANE (William, #456) In 1131 he recognized the antipope Anaclet and supported him until 1134. In 1136 he ravaged Normandy. The following year he went on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, where he died. His daughter, Eleanor of Aquitaine, inherited all his lands and, first, through her marriage to Louis VII of France, united Aquitaine with the Capetian line and, then, through her marriage to Duke Henry of Normandy (the future Henry II of England) united Aquitaine to the Plantagenet line. (Britannica). Children of William X28 Duke of Aquitane include:
452. HENRY II28 KING OF ENGLAND 1154-1189 (Geoffrey, #449) (see #444) 453. ELEANOR28 OF AQUITANE (William, #451) (see #445) |