Who Was Godfrey of Bouillon?

The First Crusade was called by Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont in November 1095 and the main expedition departed the following year. There was no one meeting or starting point and various contingents made their way to the Holy Land at different times and via different routes. Far from one homogeneous group, differing leaders emerged, and some of the leaders seemingly took charge of the expedition at differing points along the journey. Many of these individuals squabbled amongst each other in the quest for dominance. In this post, I will discuss one such First Crusade leader, Godfrey of Bouillon who is one of the most famous of the leaders of this colossal expedition.

Origins

Godfrey of Bouillon was born around 1060 and was the son of Count Eustace II of Boulogne and Ida daughter of Godfrey the Bearded, Duke of Lorraine. The Duchy of Lower Lorraine eventually passed to Ida’s brother, Godfrey the Hunchback and when he died childless in 1076, he designated Godfrey as his heir. Godfrey struggled to acquire his inheritance as Matilda of Tuscany, one of the most powerful women on the Continent was the former wife of Godfrey’s Uncle and she also laid claim to the ducal lands.

In an effort to bolster his claim, Godfrey entered the service to the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV. Henry was famously embroiled in a long-standing dispute with the papacy and Godfrey supported the Emperor in his attempts to assert his dominance over the clergy in secular matters. It wasn’t until the age of 27 in 1087 that Godfrey finally acquired his rightful inheritance. Spending most of his early adult life fighting for what was rightfully his must have affected the young Godfrey and made him a rather hardy man who was no stranger to the perils of war.

Responding to Urban’s Call

Godfrey answered Urban’s call enthusiastically and departed for the Holy Land in August 1096. Like many others, Godfrey sold or mortgaged his lands to raise the funds for the expedition. Some have argued that Godfrey’s eagerness to go on Crusade solved a number of issues he faced at home – in selling his lands, he could rid himself of his troublesome inheritance and also exhibit some piety and loyalty to the Papacy against whom he had quarrelled with in support of the Holy Roman Emperor. He was joined by his elder brother, Eustace III of Boulogne and his younger brother, Baldwin of Boulogne.

Godfrey passed through Byzantine lands and swore an oath to the Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus to return any formerly held Byzantine lands to the Emperor. In passing the Bosphorus in February 1097, Godfrey met up with several other crusade leaders and they began to plan their route through the hostile lands of Asia Minor.

Godfrey’s Heroic Deeds

Godfrey was credited with several remarkable feats as the First Crusaders encountered their foe on their way towards Jerusalem. The most notable of these occurred at Dorylaeum in July 1097. A poor pilgrim wandered too far from camp and encountered a bear. Godfrey responded without hesitation to the screams and fought off the bear, killing it and receiving a significant wound.

Another noteworthy event took place at the siege of Antioch (October 1097-June 1098). At a struggle close to a bridge towards which the enemy were fleeing, according to William of Tyre, Godfrey had already decapitated many mailed knights and then ‘…boldly perused another knight and, although the latter was protected by a breastplate, clove him through the middle.’[1] As told by William, the sight of the man whose lower body remained seated on the horse struck fear into the enemy as the horse galloped into the city. According to the author this deed ‘…rendered him illustrious in the eyes of the entire army.’[2] So on the course of the First Crusade, stories were already circulating about Godfrey’s heroic deeds, many of these were strongly associated with him and became a fundamental aspect of his narrative when William of Tyre was writing his account some 80 years later.

Advocate of the Holy Sepulchre

When the First Crusade took Jerusalem and claimed it for Christendom on 15th July 1099, a leader was required to rule this new kingdom. It does not appear that anything was arranged regarding this matter prior to their departure and the selection of a leader seems to have been something only discussed and considered once Jerusalem had been captured. Godfrey’s name was put forward as the ruler of the Holy Land. Godfrey agreed to accept the nomination but refused to accept the title of king or to wear a crown in the city where Christ had worn a Crown of Thorns. He opted instead to be referred to as ‘Advocate of the Holy Sepulchre.’

Godfrey the Legend

Godfrey’s reign would be short lived for he died on 18th July 1099 yet despite fate giving him a mere year in post, Godfrey did manage to secure Jerusalem and consolidate his position. He campaigned alongside other Crusade leaders into Acre, Arsuf and Caesarea and furthered the territories of the newly established Levant. Dying at the age of 40, probably of illness rather than from a wound inflicted in battle, Godfrey’s reputation endured throughout the 12th Century. He was commemorated as one of the nine worthies in the 14th century and is still acknowledged as a hero by many including in his homeland, now modern-day Belgium.

Godfrey of Bouillon never married nor had any known children. Following his death, his brother and heir, Baldwin of Boulogne became the ruler of the kingdom of Jerusalem. Godfrey had a reputation for piety and humility. He was celebrated by his contemporaries and near contemporaries for his heroic deeds during the course of the First Crusade. His premature death no doubt helped the development of his reputation. In dying so young, a mere year after becoming ruler of Jerusalem, Godfrey had little opportunity to make any real mistakes. In dying in the prime of his life, Godfrey of Bouillon will forever remain a heroic warrior and one of the most celebrated leaders of the First Crusade.

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[1] William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea, Babcock, E.A. and Krey, A.C. (eds. and trans.), Vol 1, (New York, 1943). p. 234.

[2] Ibid, p. 234.

Featured image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.