GODFREY
of BOUILLON
c. 1058-1100
Duke of Lower Lorraine
'Defender',
'Advocate' or 'Baron'
of the Holy Sepulchre
French:
Godefroid or Godefroy
de Bouillon
German:
Gottfried von Bouillon
Dutch:
Godfried van Bouillon
The arms of Godefroy de
Bouillon
(Musée de Versailles)
external
links
CASTLE
of BOUILLON
The mighty castle of Bouillon overlooking
the small town with the same name (5000 inhabitants) and the river La
Semois.
With his brothers Eustace and Baldwin,
Godfrey was among those who set out (1096) for Jerusalem on the First
Crusade. On the way to Constantinople, he allowed his army to pillage
the countryside, but after his arrival he made peace (January, 1097)
with the Byzantine emperor, Alexius I. He played a minor role at Nicaea
and Antioch, but achieved prominence in the siege of Jerusalem (1099)
and was elected ruler of the
city after its capture. Having refused
the title of king on religious grounds, he was designated Defender
of the Holy Sepulchre. He won the
battle of Ascalon (1099) and brought several Syrian towns under tribute.
Godfrey was distinguished for his piety and simplicity. As the first
Latin ruler of Jerusalem, he became the central figure of various legends,
and his deeds were glorified in the Chansons
de Geste . His brother, Baldwin I,
succeeded him as ruler of Jerusalem and took the title king.
See: J. C. Andressohn,
The Ancestry and Life of Godfrey of Bouillon (1972).
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