Geoffrey of Joinville

Geoffrey de Geneville, 1st Baron Geneville (c. 1226 – 21 October 1314) also known as Geoffrey de Joinville and Geoffroi de Joinville, was an Anglo-French noble, supporter of Henry III, who appointed him Baron of Trim, County Meath, and, subsequently, a staunch supporter of Edward I.

Family and marriage Geoffrey was Seigneur of Vaucouleurs in Champagne, second son of Simon of Joinville and Beatrix d'Auxonne (daughter of Stephen III of Auxonne), and younger brother of Jean de Joinville.

Geoffrey's mother, Beatrice of Auxonne had been previously married to Aymon de Faucigny by which they had a daughter, Agnes of Faucigny. Agnes was married to Peter II, Count of Savoy. This made Geoffrey a half-brother-in-law to Peter II, Count of Savoy This relationship explains the role played by Geoffrey de Joinville at the English court and their preferment in England. Geoffrey was thus one of the "Savoyards" who arrived in England in the retinue of Eleanor of Provence, whose mother was from Savoy, at the time of her marriage to King Henry III in 1236.

Some time between 1249 and 8 August 1252, Henry III arranged Geoffrey's marriage to Maud (or 'Mathilda') de Lacy, widow of another Savoyard, Pierre de Genève, himself also a relative of Queen Eleanor, who had died in 1249. Maud had been co-heiress to vast estates and lordships in Ireland, Herefordshire, and the Welsh Marches, and the marriage is considered typical of Henry's 'policy' of appointing such 'aliens' to retain control of the outlying regions of the kingdom. He died on 21 October 1314, and was buried there. Upon his death, Joan succeeded him as "suo jure" Baroness Geneville.