Geoffrey III of Anjou (c. 1040–96/7), called le Barbu ("the Bearded"), count of Anjou

Anjou

Anjou is a former county , duchy and province centred on the city of Angers in the lower Loire Valley of western France. It corresponds largely to the present-day département of Maine-et-Loire...

, was the eldest son of Ermengarde of Anjou, the daughter of Fulk III of Anjou

Fulk III of Anjou

Fulk III , called Nerra after his death, was Count of Anjou from 21 July 987 to his death. He was the son of Geoffrey Greymantle and Adelaide of Vermandois....

, and of the count of Gâtinais

Gâtinais

Gâtinais was a province of France, containing the area around the valley of the Loing, corresponding roughly to the northeastern part of the départment of Loiret, and the south of the present departments Seine-et-Marne. Under the Bourbons, the Gâtinais had already been divided between the...

.

He married before 1060 Julienne de Langeais, who died after 7 August 1067 and by whom he had no issue.

He succeeded his uncle Geoffrey II

Geoffrey II of Anjou

Geoffrey II, called Martel , was Count of Anjou from 1040 to 1060. He was the son of Fulk the Black. He was bellicose and fought against the Duke of Aquitaine, the Count of Blois, and the Duke of Normandy...

 in 1060, but his power was limited by attacks from his own brother Fulk IV

Fulk IV of Anjou

Fulk IV , called le Réchin, was the Count of Anjou from 1068 until his death. The nickname by which he is usually referred has no certain translation...

. A serious confrontation with the Church led to his condemnation by a council, then his deposition and imprisonment in 1068. He was freed by the intervention of Pope Urban II

Pope Urban II

Pope Urban II , born Otho de Lagery , was Pope from 12 March 1088 until his death on July 29 1099...

 in 1096, and died soon after.