Geoffrey I of Villehardouin (French: Geoffroi Ier de 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).
Under his reign, the Principality of Achaea became the direct vassal of the Latin Empire of Constantinople. He extended the borders of his principality.
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Early years and the Fourth Crusade
Geoffrey was the eldest son of Céline of Briel and John of Villehardouin. He married one Elisabeth, who may be Elisabeth of Chappes, 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.
Reign in Achaea
In 1208 William I of Achaea sought to claim an inheritance his brother had left to him. 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.
