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Historical Title: Godfrey de Bouillon Godfrey de Bouillon (b.1058-d.1100), the French Duke of Lower Lorraine, was among the most important leaders of the First Crusade. Although Godfrey had fought on the side of Henry IV against Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy, he later set out in 1096 for the Holy Land with other French knights, including his brother Baldwin, in response to Pope Urban II’s calling of the First Crusade. In doing so, Godfrey reportedly mortgaged his Duchy to pay for the tens of thousands of knights and foot soldiers he brought with him, which were primarily comprised of Germans, Flemings, and Walloons. Godfrey was the first of the crusade leaders to reach the city of Constantinople and meet with the Byzantine Emperor Alexius I Comnenus. As a result, Godfrey was also the first of the crusade leaders to deal with the unexpected request of Alexius to take an oath of allegiance to the Emperor. As a member of the western nobility Godfrey and the other leaders of the crusade who followed him were reportedly uncomfortable with taking an oath to an eastern emperor. Yet Godfrey ultimately realized such an oath was necessary for continued support for the expedition. As a result he set the pattern for those who followed by taking an oath that in exchange for proper Byzantine support for the crusaders efforts, the crusaders would newly captured lands that had once been under the authority of the Byzantine Empire to the control of Alexius. Godfrey was active in the successful crusader conquests of Nicaea and Antioch, but is perhaps most noteworthy for his efforts during the siege and capture of Jerusalem in 1099. His troops were the first to break through the city walls and reportedly began a massacre of the Jewish and Muslim inhabitants. During the massacre Godfrey allegedly stripped off his armor and cast down his arms as he made his way barefoot through the mayhem to pray in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in fulfillment of his crusading vow. In the wake of the conquest of Jerusalem Godfrey was chosen by the crusaders as ruler of the holy city. The support Godfrey received from the other leaders for his new position was quite an accomplishment in light of the earlier rivalries that existed among the crusading princes, as well as between the lay lords and the clergy. Yet Godfrey had fought well in the conquest of Jerusalem and he also had the support of his powerful brother Baldwin I who by then controlled the county of Edessa. While Godfrey declined the title of King of Jerusalem, even if he ultimately held an equal authority, he did accept the title of Defender of the Holy Sepulcher. During Godfrey’s reign he expanded his authority, as well as the overall successes of the crusaders, by bring several surrounding towns under his control including the conquest of Ascalon in 1099. Godfrey also rebuilt the city of Jaffa, making it a port of arrival for crusaders. Among his final acts, Godfrey made an agreement with the Venetians to besiege Acre, but came down with plague before he could take part. His illness led to his death in Jerusalem in July of 1100. Upon Godfrey’s death, he was succeeded by his brother Baldwin, who unlike Godfrey was willing to accept the title of King of Jerusalem. Godfrey was buried in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where his tomb remained until it was destroyed in nineteenth century. As the first Latin Ruler of Jerusalem, Godfrey was assured of a prominent place in the histories of his contemporaries, we well as the popular literature of the Chanson de Geste. First Crusade- Crusades-Encyclopedia Primary Sources of the First Crusade- Crusades-Encyclopedia Pope Gregory VII- Crusades-Encyclopedia Pope Urban II- Crusades-Encyclopedia Byzantine Empire- Crusades-Encyclopedia Baldwin I of Jerusalem- Crusades-Encyclopedia Ascalon- Crusades-Encyclopedia Holy Sepulcher- Crusades-Encyclopedia Alexius I Comnenus- Crusades-Encyclopedia Godfrey of Bouillon- Catholic Encyclopedia
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