Geoffrey V Plantagenet, Count of Anjou

Geoffrey V Plantagenet was a French nobleman who became the founder of the House of Plantagenet that ruled England for over three centuries. He was born in 1113 as the eldest son of Fulk V, King of Jerusalem and Ermengarde of Maine. He inherited the titles of Count of Anjou, Touraine and Maine from his father in 1129. He married Matilda, the daughter and heiress of Henry I of England and widow of Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1128. The marriage was meant to secure a lasting peace between England, Normandy and Anjou. However, when Henry I died in 1135, his nephew Stephen usurped the throne and claimed both England and Normandy. Geoffrey and Matilda fought for their rights and launched a series of invasions in Normandy and England. Geoffrey managed to conquer most of Normandy by 1144 and assumed the title of Duke of Normandy. He also supported his wife's claim to England and their son Henry's succession. He was a skilled warrior and a capable administrator who reformed the administration and justice system in his domains. He was also known for his good looks and his nickname Plantagenet, derived from the broom flower (planta genista) he wore in his hat. He died in 1151 at the age of 38 after suffering from abdominal pain. He was buried at Le Mans Cathedral in France. His son Henry succeeded him as Duke of Normandy and later became King of England as Henry II, the first Plantagenet monarch.