To him alone of his race men gave the title of "the Good." [Sidenote: Fulk the Black] Hampered by revolt, himself in character little more than a bold, dashing soldier, Fulk's son, Geoffry Greygown, sank almost into a vassal of his powerful neighbours, the Counts of Blois and Champagne.

But this vassalage was roughly shaken off by his successor.

Fulk Nerra, Fulk the Black, is the greatest of the Angevins, the first in whom we can trace that marked type of character which their house was to preserve through two hundred years.

He was without natural affection.

In his youth he burnt a wife at the stake, and legend told how he led her to her doom decked out in his gayest attire.