Geoffrey I of Villehardouin

Geoffrey I of Villehardouin (c. 1169 – c. 1229) was a French knight from the County of Champagne who joined the Fourth Crusade. He participated in the conquest of the Peloponnese and became the second prince of Achaea (1209/1210–c. 1229). He extended the borders of his principality.

Early years and the Fourth Crusade

Geoffrey was the eldest son of Céline of Briel and John of Villehardouin. a scion of a fellow crusader family, an identification rejected by Longnon.

Conquest of the Peloponnese

William of Champlitte was prince of Achaea (1205–1209) under the suzerainty of the king of Thessalonica. Geoffrey received Kalamata and Messenia as a fief from the new prince. However, both the first prince of Achaea and his nephew died.

The Chronicle of the Morea narrates that Geoffrey only became prince of Achaea some time later.

Next the papal legate Cardinal Giovanni Colonna in 1218 excommunicated Geoffrey I. Upon the request of the local high clergy, it was confirmed during 1219.

Geoffrey died sometime between 1228 and 1230. He was buried in the Church of St James in Andravida.

Footnotes