I Godfrey of Bouillon,Protector of Jerusalem
„Duke Godfrey was born in the French kingdom, in the province of Reims, in the city of Boulogne by the English Sea. He descended from illustrious and religious forebears. His father was the elder Lord Eustace (III), the famous and splendid Count of that region, whose many and memorable works are still recalled by the old men of the neighboring provinces“
„Duke Godfrey's mother“ (Ida of Lorraine ca. 1040-13th April 1113,later referenced as „Blessed Ida of Boulogne“,founder of seven monasteries * daughter of Godfrey III.,Duke of Lower Lorraine) „was well known among the noble matrons of the West, as much for her way of life as for her noble generosity.“
„„His body was tall and although he was shorter than the very tall, yet he was taller than men of average height. He was a man of incomparable strength, with stout limbs, a manly chest, and a handsome face. His hair and beard were a medium blond.““
(William of Tyre:Godfrey Of Bouillon Becomes "Defender Of The Holy Sepulcher-William of Tyre, Historia rerum in partibus transmarinis gestarum, IX, 1-2, 5, Patrologia Latina 201, 433-35, 437-38, Translated by James Brundage, The Crusades: A Documentary History, (Milwaukee, WI: Marquette University Press, 1962), 70-73)
In the history of Lorraine,we find close at hand,in the midle ages,the strikes of two Godfrey’s against two Henry’s.While the first two being mere counts,albeit of places of most importance,the other being the Holly Emperor’s of the Empire not quite Roman and surely not Holy.The diference between theese two men,Godfrey the grandfather and Godfrey the grandson was that while Godfrey of Bouillon suported his Emperor even against the pope in the investiture strugle,Godfrey III. of Lower Lorraine rather sacked his own inherited city of Verdun,then take Henry’s „pills“ .It is of note that after his defeat,deposition and imprisonment,his son died and he joined Baldwin V. of Flanders in his strugle.What followed was very ironical-the grandfather of the „Protector of the Holy City of Jerusalem“,bearing his name,and being related to him by his saint daughter,sacked Verdun and burnt its Cathedral.
After his defeat and reconsiliation with the Emperor,he however went as far as punishing the rebeling Baldwin V.,his former ally,by devastating Flanders,finaly proving that virtues are not a hereditery possesion.If his subsequent entering of the Lateran and expeling of antipope Benedict X. can be marked a sign of repentence,or furthering of one’s own „unholy“ conduct remains to be told to us,like so many things,by the historians of the „unfalible“ church.Whatever the cause,he was stil given „the honor“ to die on Christmass eve 1069,in Bouillon.
Fast forward,skiping the reign of Godfrey the hunchback,Godfrey of Bouillon is „given“ the inheritence of Lower Lorraine by his childless uncle.However,Henry IV. does not see this as such a great idea and only leaves Godfrey with Bouilon and Antverp Mark.
Strugling for his lands with the Emperor,his aunt and other enemies,he finaly seized his dominions fully in 1087.
Striking as it is,after years of reconstructing his lands,when the time of the first crusade came,in order to acquire money for soldiers,he SOLD IT to the Bishop’s of Liège and Verdun.
Being nigh the oldest,he traveled with one of the armies Feisting of the Byzantine emperor’s offer to thwart the Seljuk’s,however the course was set for the Holy Land. Taking Antioch in 1098,and defeating Kerbogha,they moved on,their course uncertain. Bohemond catered to his own newly acquired royal designs,Baldwin,Godfrey’s brother,following suit in Edessa and the bishop of Puy being no more then cadaver.
Also adding to concerns were the asaults of a new force,the Fatimid soldiers. Regardless, Godfrey and his own finaly came to Jerusalem in 1099.
Following is an acount preceeding the legend of the siege,from the Gesta Francorum:
„Thereupon, when the siege had been set, it happened one day that some of the leaders of the army met a hermit on the mount of Olives, who said to them, 'If you will attack the city tomorrow till the ninth hour, the Lord will deliver it into your hands." They replied, "But we do not have the necessary machinery for storming the walls." The hermit replied: "God is all powerful. If he wills, He will storm the walls even with one ladder. The Lord aids those who labor for the Truth."“
Regardless of this prophesy,once the knights entered the city,they began a murdering rampage,killing many,saracens and Jews alike.
Finaly,Godfrey recieved compensation for the lands he land he gave up.However he-
„reigned but one year, for, because men's sins, the Kingdom was deprived of the continued consolation of such a prince. He refreshed the newly planted Kingdom and gave it protection against the molestations of attacker He was wrenched away in midcareer, lest his heart be affected by evil; as it is written: "The men of mercy are taken away and there is none that understandeth."',“
(William of Tyre:Godfrey Of Bouillon Becomes "Defender Of The Holy Sepulcher-William of Tyre, Historia rerum in partibus transmarinis gestarum, IX, 1-2, 5, Patrologia Latina 201, 433-35, 437-38, Translated by James Brundage, The Crusades: A Documentary History, (Milwaukee, WI: Marquette University Press, 1962), 70-73)
During that one year,the glory of his prestigious victory forced Acre, Ascalon, Arsuf, Jaffa, and Caesarea to become his tributaries,when he was unable to expand his dominions through militairy conquest.
Regardles,his star was waning,and it went out completely,when,on 18th July,he was killed by an arrow.This „pious“ man,who slaughtered in Christ’s name ,and who did not wish to be called a „king“ in the city of the Iesus‘ death,was succeeded by his brother Baldwin, who had less fear of the lord for impiety and had himself crowned King of Jerusalem.
* Saint-Wulmer in Boulogne
Our Lady of the Chapel, Calais
Saint-Bertin
Abbey of Cappelle
Abbey of Le Wast