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.
