Godfrey of Bouillon (c. 1060 – 18 July 1100) was a preeminent leader of the First Crusade, and the first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem from 1099 to 1100. Although initially reluctant to take the title of king, he agreed to rule as prince (princeps) under the title Advocatus Sancti Sepulchri, or Advocate of the Holy Sepulchre.
He was the second son of Eustace II, Count of Boulogne in present day France. He received an inheritance from his mother's family in 1076 when he became Lord of Bouillon, which is now in Belgium. In 1087, Emperor Henry IV also confirmed him as Duke of Lower Lorraine, in reward for his support during the Great Saxon Revolt.
Along with his brothers Eustace III and Baldwin of Boulogne, Godfrey joined the First Crusade in 1096. He took part in actions at Nicaea, Dorylaeum, and Antioch, before playing a key role during the capture of Jerusalem in 1099. When Raymond IV, Count of Toulouse declined the offer to become ruler of the new kingdom, Godfrey accepted the role and secured his kingdom by defeating the Fatimids at Ascalon a month later, bringing the First Crusade to an end. He died in July 1100 and was succeeded by his brother Baldwin as King of Jerusalem.
Godfrey of Bouillon was born around 1060, probably in Boulogne-sur-Mer, although one 13th-century chronicler cites Baisy, a town in what is now Walloon Brabant, Belgium. He was the second son of Ida of Lorraine and Eustace II, Count of Boulogne, an important political figure at the time and a companion of William the Conqueror. Eustace was rewarded extensive lands in England after the Battle of Hastings, making him one of the wealthiest landowners in the country. Godfrey's mother, Ida of Lorraine, was the daughter of duke Godfrey III of Lower Lorraine and a sister of duke Godfrey the Hunchback. Ida was an educated woman who strongly influenced the upbringing of her sons. It is most likely that Godfrey started his military training before the age of ten, learning how to ride a horse and use a sword, shield, lance, and crossbow while mounted.
When Godfrey's uncle, Godfrey the Hunchback, died in February of 1076 without issue, he designated his nephew as his heir. The younger Godfrey probably had a bond with his uncle before this, and the contemporary chronicle of St Hubert suggests that he attended his burial in Verdun. Godfrey then spent several weeks at the monastery of St Hubert in the protection of his kinsman Henry of Verdun, bishop of Liège. Lampert of Hersfeld records that at this time, Godfrey was "an energetic young man, very eager for military action".
Godfrey's inheritance was challenged by several claimants in the years following his uncle's death. Henry IV, the future Holy Roman Emperor—wishing to strengthen his position—appointed his two-year-old son, Conrad, as the Duke of Lower Lorraine instead of Godfrey. Godfrey was instead given the Margraviate of Antwerp, held by his predecessors, and his appointment to this title implied that Henry considered giving Godfrey Lower Lorraine in the future. Conrad's title was merely symbolic; Henry installed Albert III of Namur, a loyal supporter of his, to rule the duchy as 'vice-duke'.
Almost immediately, Godfrey entered a conflict with Albert, who claimed Bouillon Castle from him; it is recorded that Albert left the aforementioned dispute feeling unfulfilled. Albert proceeded to forge an alliance with Godfrey the Hunchback's widow, Matilda of Tuscany, and Theoderic, the bishop of Verdun, to deprive Godfrey of his influence. Matilda—who already had extensive lands in Northern Italy—sought her late husband's lands in Lotharingia, while Theoderic wished to strengthen his influence in the diocese at Godfrey's expense. Matilda enlisted support from Pope Gregory VII in this pursuit, who sent archbishop Manasses I of Reims to arbitrate. The pope likely instructed Manasses to find in Matilda's favour instead of mediating neutrally, and he obliged to win papal favour. In around 1081, however, Theoderic renounced his alliance with Matilda in favour of Henry IV, who accused Matilda of treason and stripped her of her lands and property on both sides of the alps.
In 1081-2, Godfrey entered a conflict with Count Theoderic of Veluwe, whom he captured and imprisoned in Bouillon Castle. Since Theoderic had a close relationship with Henry IV, Godfrey ordered that the former be treated well, but the count died after six months in captivity. Theoderic's death enabled Godfrey to extend his influence around Bouillon. Later in 1082, Godfrey entered another conflict with Albert of Namur, who wished to restore Mirwart Castle and use it to wage war against Godfrey. Henry of Verdun—who "favoured Godfrey in all ways"—purchased the castle in order to prevent this and transferred it to St Hubert.
Godfrey supported Henry of Verdun's efforts to institute the Peace of God in his diocese, a movement already active in France to decrease endemic military activity by banning it during select times; those who violated the Peace risked excommunication along with losing their inheritance and belongings. Henry probably wanted to institute the Peace to alleviate the tensions caused by Godfrey the Hunchback's death. Henry became the first German bishop to institute the Peace during an assembly held in Easter of 1082 (which Godfrey likely attended), and in 1085, it was instituted throughout the entire Empire.
Godfrey supported Henry even during his struggle with Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy. Godfrey fought alongside Henry and his forces against Rudolf of Swabia and in Italy when Henry captured Rome itself. A major test of Godfrey's leadership skills was shown in his battles to defend his inheritance against a significant array of enemies. In 1076, he had succeeded as designated heir to the Lotharingian lands of his uncle, Godfrey the Hunchback, and Godfrey was struggling to maintain control over the lands that Henry IV had not taken away from him. Claims were raised by his aunt Margravine Matilda of Tuscany, cousin Count Albert III of Namur, and Count Theoderic of Veluwe. This coalition was joined by Bishop Theoderic of Verdun, and two minor counts attempting to share in the spoils, Waleran I of Limburg and Arnold I of Chiny.
As these enemies tried to take away portions of his land, Godfrey's brothers, Eustace and Baldwin, both came to his aid. Following these long struggles and proving that he was a loyal vassal to Henry IV, Godfrey finally gained Lower Lorraine in 1087.
In 1095, Pope Urban II called for military action in order to liberate Jerusalem and aid the Byzantine Empire, which in the years since 1071 had lost large swathes of territory to the Seljuk Empire. Godfrey either sold or mortgaged most of his estates to the bishops of Liège and Verdun and used the money to recruit an army of Crusaders. He was joined by his older brother, Eustace, and his younger brother, Baldwin, who had no lands in Europe and was seeking them in the Holy Land. Others did the same, the largest being that raised by Raymond IV, Count of Toulouse, who at 55 was the oldest and most experienced of the Crusader nobles. As a result, he expected to lead the expedition, a claim boosted by the presence of Adhemar of Le Puy, the papal legate who travelled with him. Significant forces also accompanied Bohemond of Taranto, a Norman knight from southern Italy, and Robert II, Count of Flanders.
Following advice provided by Pope Urban, most of these armies set out in mid-summer and headed for Constantinople where they could expect assistance from Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. Each travelled separately, since it was impossible for one region to feed and supply such large numbers on their own; the first to leave in spring 1096 was what became known as the People's Crusade, an army of 20,000 low ranking knights and peasants which journeyed through the Rhineland, then headed for Hungary. Most of those from southern and northern France sailed from Brindisi across the Adriatic Sea, while Godfrey and his two brothers, leading an army from Lorraine reportedly 40,000 strong, set out in August 1096 following the route taken by the People's Crusade.