Geoffrey I, Duke of Brittany
Geoffrey I, also known as Geoffrey of Rennes and Geoffrey Berengar, was Duke of Brittany from 992 until his death, and also Count of Rennes by right of succession. The eldest son of Duke Conan I of Brittany, he assumed the title of Duke of Brittany upon his father's death in 992. Brittany had long been an independent state, but he had little control over much of Lower Brittany.
Life
Geoffrey was the son of Duke Conan I, by his marriage to Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou. He was the grandson of Judicael Berengar, Count of Rennes.When Geoffrey succeeded to Brittany he had several problems:
- Blois was encroaching on his territory,
- Vikings were threatening his shores, and
- He had to decide whether to accept the protection offered by Anjou.
Norman alliance
In 996, at about the age of sixteen, Geoffrey entered into a dynastic alliance with Richard II, Duke of Normandy, with a diplomatic double marriage between the two houses. The church-sanctioned marriage ceremonies were held at Mont Saint-Michel, on the Breton-Norman border, and while Geoffrey married Hawise of Normandy, daughter of Richard I of Normandy and sister of Richard II. Richard married Judith of Brittany, Geoffrey's sister.Geoffrey and Hawise had four children:
- Alan III of Brittany
- Evenus
- Odo, Count of Penthièvre
- Adela, Abbess of Saint-Georges