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Godfrey of Bouillon (French: Godefroy, Dutch: Godfried, German: Gottfri e d , L a t in: Godefridus Bullionensis; 1060 - 18 July 1100) was a preemine n t l e a d er of the First Crusade, and the first ruler of the Kingdom of J e r u s a lem from 1099 to 1100. Although initially reluctant to take the ti t l e o f k i ng, he agreed to rule as prince (princeps) under the title Adv o c a t u s Sancti Sepulchri, or Advocate of the Holy Sepulchre.
He was the second son of Eustace II, Count of Boulogne in France. He re c e i v e d an inheritance from his mother's family in 1076 when he became L o r d o f B o uillon, which is now in Belgium. In 1087 Emperor Henry IV also c o n f i r med him as Duke of Lower Lorraine, in reward for his support durin g t h e G r e at Saxon Revolt.
Along with his brothers Eustace III and Baldwin of Boulogne, Godfrey jo i n e d t h e First Crusade in 1096. He took part in actions at Nicaea, Dory l a e u m , and Antioch, before playing a key role during the capture of Jer u s a l e m in 1099. When Raymond IV, Count of Toulouse declined the offer t o b e c o m e ruler of the new kingdom, Godfrey accepted the role and secure d h i s k i n gdom by defeating the Fatimids at Ascalon a month later, bring in g t h e F i rst Crusade to an end. He died in July 1100 and was succeeded b y h i s b r o ther Baldwin as King of Jerusalem.
Early life
Godfrey of Bouillon was born around 1060, second son of Eustace II, Cou n t o f B o u logne and Ida, daughter of the Lotharingian duke Godfrey the B e a rd e d a nd his first wife, Doda.[4] He was probably born in Boulogne-su r - M e r , although one 13th-century chronicler cites Baisy, a town in what i s n o w W a l loon Brabant, Belgium.[5] As second son, he had fewer opportun it i e s t h an his older brother. However his maternal uncle, Godfrey the H u n c h b ack, died childless and named his nephew, Godfrey of Bouillon, as h i s h e i r a nd next in line to his Duchy of Lower Lorraine.[6] This duchy w a s a n i m p ortant one at the time, serving as a buffer between the French k i n g d o m and the German lands.
In fact, Lower Lorraine was so important to the Holy Roman Empire that i n 1 0 7 6 H e nry IV (reigned 1056-1105), then King of the Romans and future e m p e r o r, decided to place it in the hands of his own son and give Godfre y o n l y B o uillon and the Margraviate of Antwerp, allegedly as a test of h i s l o y a lty. Godfrey supported Henry even during his struggle with Pope G r e g o r y VII during the Investiture Controversy. Godfrey fought alongside H e n r y a n d his forces against Rudolf of Swabia and in Italy when Henry ca p t u r e d Rome itself.
A major test of Godfrey's leadership skills was shown in his battles to d e f e n d h is inheritance against a significant array of enemies. In 1076 h e h a d s u c ceeded as designated heir to the Lotharingian lands of his unc le , G o d f rey the Hunchback, and Godfrey was struggling to maintain contr o l o v e r t he lands that Henry IV had not taken away from him. Claims wer e r a i s e d by his aunt Margravine Matilda of Tuscany, cousin Count Albert I I I o f N a m ur, and Count Theoderic of Veluwe. This coalition was joined b y B i s h o p Theoderic of Verdun, and two minor counts attempting to share i n t h e s p o ils, Waleran I of Limburg and Arnold I of Chiny.
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1065 - 1100 (35 years)
