GODFREY OF BOUILLON, duke of Lower Lorraine, b. about 1061, at Baisv, a village of Belgian Brabant, was the eldest son of count Eustace II. of Boulogne, and Ida, sister to Gottfried or Godfrey, the hunchback, duke of Lower Lorraine and Bouillon, whom lie succeeded in the government of the latter duchy in 1076. He served with great gal lantry in the armies of the emperor Henry IV., both in Germany and Italy; and it was from his hand that the competitor for the imperial crown, Bodolf of Swabia, received his death-blow at the battle of Merseburg. When the first crusade was set on foot, the fame exploits caused him to be elected due of the principal commanders. In order to defray the expenses of the crusade of 1005, lie mortgaged Bouillon to the bishop of Liege, and set out, accompanied by his brothers Eustace and Baldwin, in the spring of 1096. Fdr a detailed account of his career up till the taking of Jerusalem, see CRU SADES. Eight days after the taking of Jerusalem, Godfrey was proclaimed king by the unanimous voice of the crusading army; hut the piety and humility of the conqueror forbade him to "wear a crown of gold where his Savior had worn one of thorns. ' IIe
declined the-regal title, contenting himself with that of defender and guardian of the holy sepulcher. The sultan of Egypt, learning that the army of 300,000 crusaders who had taken Antioch had dwindled away to 20,000, advanced against them with an army Said to have amounted to 400,000 men; but Godfrey gave him battle in the plain of Ascalon, and the victory gained on this occasion put him in possession of the whole of Palestine, a few fortified towns only excepted. He now directed his endeavors to the organization of the new state; he installed a patriarch, founded two cathedral chapters, built a monastery in the valley of Jelioshaphat, and drew up laws. He died in 1100, and his body was interred on Mt. Calvary, near the holy sepulcher. History represents this prince as a model of piety, valor, and all kingly virtues; and his praises have been worthily sung in his Jerusalem Delivered.