Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany

Gottfried II (French: Geoffroy closely. Geoffrey; * September 23, 1158; † August 19, 1186 in Paris ), was from 1166 until his death, Duke of Brittany from the house of Plantagenet. He was the fifth child of King Henry II of England († 1189 ) and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine († 1204).

Godfrey's father reached in 1166 by Duke Conan IV of Brittany 's abdication in favor of Godfrey, but should only take over the regency in Brittany when reaching the maturity. In addition, he was betrothed to the heiress of Conan, however, the marriage drew addition, because the Pope the necessary dispensation - the couple was too closely related - at first refused. In 1181, finally, the marriage could be consummated with Konstanze and Gottfried was Duke of Brittany in the name of his wife.

From this marriage three children were born:

• Eleonore "Fair Maid of Brittany " (* 1184 † August 12, 1241 as a prisoner to Corfe Castle)
• Matilda (* 1186 † died young )
• Arthur I. (* April 13, 1187, † April 3, 1203 in Rouen )

Gottfried took in 1172 to the unsuccessful revolt of his brothers and his mother against the king ( his father ) in part, supported by King Louis VII of France and Count Philip I of Flanders. The uprising was crushed by King Henry II to 1174 and finished with a reconciliation of the Plantagenets in Gisors. On August 6, 1178, Gottfried was beaten by his father in Woodstock knighted. In 1183 he allied himself with his eldest brother Henry the Young King against her brother Richard the Lionheart, after he had refused to pay homage to the young Henry as requested. Supposedly Gottfried was the driving force of the fight, because he envied Richard to the rich Aquitaine. The two brothers received the support of King Philip II of France, who sent them mercenaries. The fight ended with the death of the young Henry in June 1183, whereupon Gottfried had to reconcile under the pressure of his father Richard in November 1184. Gottfried came to pass after the court of the French king, with whom he was acquainted, and from whom he received the office of seneschal of France.

In August 1186 Gottfried was trampled at a tournament in Paris by a horse to death; he was buried in the choir of Notre -Dame. According to Gerald of Wales, King Philip II to have been so heartbroken that he wanted to throw himself into the grave.

Gottfried's widow came upon the guardianship of their children with Richard the Lionheart in conflict, in the course of it to the court of King Philip II replied on the children, who as the guarantor of the independence of Brittany occurred against the Plantagenets ever since.