LOTHARINGIA Godfried

1006 - 1069  (63 years)

• Name	LOTHARINGIA Godfried
  Birth	1006	Lotharingia, Holy Roman Empire
  Gender	Male
  Death	24 Dec 1069	Verdun, Upper Lotharingia, Holy Roman Empire
  Notes	Godefried / Godefroid (lat: Godefridus) de Lotharingia, Godefried II "le Barbu / the Bearded" Duke of Upper Lotharingia and later Duke of Lower Lotharingia was the son of Gozelon / Gothelon, Duke of Lower and Upper Lotharingia, and Margrave of Antwerp. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Nobility of Lotharingia Territories The medieval land of Lotharingia included the territory from the North Sea to Burgundy - which now comprises the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) - as well as the eastern portion of France that was part of the Duchy of Lorraine, and the Rhineland of western Germany. Europe after the Treaty of Prüm 855 Lotharingia arose as the northern half of Middle Francia, originally granted to Charlemagne's grandson Lothar (Lothair I) upon division of the Carolingian Empire by the Treaty of Verdun in 843. Before Lothar's death, he divided Middle Francia among his three sons by the Treaty of Prüm in 855: granting Italy and the imperial title to eldest son Louis; Provence and Burgundy to youngest son Charles; and the northern territories, which became known as Lotharingia, to middle son Lothair II. Lotharingia (lat: Regnum Lotharii or Lotharingia, fr: Lotharingie, de: Lothringen, nl: Lotharingen) formed part of the Holy Roman Empire but was the subject of frequent political and territorial conflict between West Francia, the kingdom of the Western Franks who would eventually establish France - and East Francia, the kingdom of he Eastern Franks who remained in the Holy Roman Empire and would eventually establish the Kingdom of Germany. Lower and Upper Lotharingia Lotharingia / Lotharingen / Lotharingie 10th century Lotharingia was partitioned in 959 into Lower Lotharingia (the lower Northern region that today comprises the Benelux countries) and Upper Lotharingia (the higher more Southern region that developed into the Duchy of Lorraine). While these became two separate duchies in 959, they remained closely related and in a number of cases were headed by members of the same Lotharingian noble family, and in some cases individuals who became the Duke of Lower Lotharingia also later succeeded as the Duke of Upper Lotharingia, or vice versa. Lotharingia was effectively a united duchy under Godfried's' father Gozelon I Duke of Lotharingia - who had become the Duke of Lower Lotharingia in 1023, and the Duke of Upper Lotharingia in 1033. [1] [2] [7] Languages and Names Latin was the principal written language in Lotharingia and in adjacent lands. The Franks who were migrating to the west, including in particular the nobility. increasingly adopted spoken ("vulgar" or popular) versions of Latin that would become Lorrain roman, Walloon and Old French (all of which introduced Germanic words into the Latin) - while the Eastern Franks generally continued to speak more purely Germanic tongues (although these also introduced words of Latin origin) - which in Lotharingia would develop into Dutch, Flemish and Luxembourgish. The resulting countries such as Belgium continue to reflect both French and Germanic influences - concentrated in Wallonia and Flanders, respectively - and Belgian place names generally have counterparts in both languages, e.g. Bruxelles et Louvain (fr), Brussel en Leuven (fl/nl). [8] Among French speakers, the Old French terms Loherigne and Loherainc were increasingly used for the territories and people - which later developed into the word and regional name of Lorraine in French. Father's Roles in Lotharingia Gozelon I (Gothelon) (Duke of Lotharingia) Godfried's father Gozelon I Duke of Lotharingia held several key positions within the Holy Roman Empire. - Margrave / Marquis of Antwerp The Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich II installed Gozelon as Count in the March (Margravate) of Antwerp in 1008: [9] "Henricus…rex" granted property "inter flumina…Nitæ…Thila…Wauerwald in comitatu Gotizonis comitis qui Antwerk dicitur situm" to "nostrum bestiarum Baldrico sanctæ Leodicensis ecclesiæ presul nec non Baldrico comiti" by charter dated 12 Sep 1008. - Duke of Lower Lotharingia ("Duke of the Ripuarians") In 1023, Gozelon succeeded his elder brother Godefried who had been the Duke of Lower Lotharingia but died without an heir: [1] "Ducis Godefridi eiusque fratris…marchionis Gozelonis" are named as present with Adalbold bishop of Utrecht at Driel, in an undated charter dated to before 1023, relating to the donation of Wamel. The Annales Blandinienses record the death in 1023 of "Godefridus dux". The necrology of Liège Saint-Lambert records the death "VI Kal Oct" of "Godefridi pacifici ducis." In 1024 Gozelon attended the election of the King of Germany, who would a few laters become Konrad (Conrad) II, Holy Roman Emperor. Gozelon was referred to as "Duke of the Ripuarians" - referring to the Ripuarian Franks who had settled the area from the Rhineland westward into what became the Austrasian territory of Lotharingia: [1] [10] Wipo, in his description of the election of Konrad II King of Germany in 1024, names him "Gozilo Duke of the Ripuarians." - Duke of Upper Lotharingia In 1033, Gozelon was appointed by Konrad II to succeed Frederic III, the Duke of Upper Lotharingia. [1] [2] "Adelaydis comitissa uxor quondam…Ludouici comitis" donated property "per manum Gozelonis ducis atque Godefridi…et pro eius amore Dominique Frederici prefati ducis fratris" to Verdun Saint-Vanne by charter dated to [1038/40], subscribed by "dux Gozelo et eius filius Godefridus". - In personam Union of Lower and Upper Lotharingia As a result of his father's succession to both Lower and Upper Lotharingia, they effectively became a united duchy in personam under Gozelon - who controlled a territory stretching from the North Sea to Burgundy. They were to become separated again following his death (see below). [1] [2] Parents' Marriage and Family Gozelon may have married a daughter of Berengar II, Re d'Italia (King of Italy) by the name of Urraca or Junca of Ivrea, although it is considered uncertain. [1] Gozelon and his wife (whose name remains unknown) had six children - five of whom joined the Lotharingian nobility - and the remaining son eventually became the Pope: [1] Godefried (Godefroid), who succeeded his father as Duke of Upper Lotharingia, became the Marquis of Tuscany through marriage, and later in life succeeded Frederic of Luxembourg (who replaced his younger brother) to become Duke of Lower Lotharingia Mathilde, who married Heinrich Pfalzgraf of Lotharingia Gozelon (Gothelon), who was installed as Gozelon II Duke of Lower Lotharingia (to succeed his father) Frederic, who was elected as Pope Stephen IX Uda (Oda), who married Lambert II Comte de Louvain Regelindis, who married Albert II Comte de Namur Godfried's First Marriage and Family Godfried's first marriage was to a woman named Doda, whose family name remains unknown. Godfried and Doda had several children together: [1] Godfried, who would succeed his father as Godfried III Duke of Lower Lotharingia Ida, who married Eustache I Comte de Boulogne Wiltrudis, who married Adalbert Graf von Calw A son whose name is unknown who was held as a hostage by Emperor Heinrich III on Godfried's release in Spring 1046, and who died in captivity (1046/47) (Potentially a daughter Judith) Succession Conflicts in Lotharingia Although Lower and Upper Lotharingia remained technically partitioned, they were effectively united in personam under Godefried's father Gozelon, who had become the Duke of both the northern and southern territories (stretching from the North Sea to Burgundy). They were separated again following his death. [1] [2] [3] [4] - The New Holy Roman Emperor In 1039, Emperor Konrad II died and was succeeded by his son Heinrich (Henry) III, Holy Roman Emperor. Emperor Heinrich was keenly interested in enhancing the powers of the emperor over the various nobles practically controlling key parts of the empire. - Death of Father (Gozelon I) and Division of Lotharingia among his sons In 1044, the death of Godfried's father Gozelon I Duke of Lotharingia - who controlled both Lower and Upper Lotharingia as a united duchy - provided the emperor with an early opportunity to both enhance his powers and divide those of an important central duchy. Emperor Heinrich treated the ducal fief as a royal prerogative, and essentially prevented Gozelon's eldest son Godefried (Godefroid) II de Basse-Lotharingie - who had already effectively succeeded his father - from continuing to rule Lotharingia as a united duchy. Emperor Heinrich / Henri III authorized Godfried to succeed only as the Duke of Upper Lotharingia - even though Godefried was already co-ruler with his father in Lower Lotharingia. The Emperor thus refused Godefried's installation as Duke of Lower Lotharingia and instead had Godefried's younger brother (Gozelon / Gothelon II), who was regarded as potentially incompetent, become the duke of the important northern territories. Godefried not only rebelled against the emperor's plan but proceeded to devastate lands in Lower Lotharingia as well as the City of Verdun. Godefried was joined in protest by Baudouin V de Flandre (Baldwin V Count of Flanders). [1] [2] - Seizure of Upper Lotharingia and Transfer of Lower Lotharingia Emperor Heinrich responded to Godefried 's revolt by seizing control of Upper Lotharingia in Sep 1044 and also depriving him of Verdun, which the Emperor gave to the Bishop of Verdun. Godefried was finally captured in July 1045 and imprisoned in Schloß Giebichstein, near Halle. Godefried was released in 1046 and resumed his position as Duke of Upper Lotharingia - but later that year Emperor Heinrich deposed his younger brother Gothelon II in Lower Lotharingia, appointing Frédéric de Luxembourg, duc de Basse-Lotharingie to replace him. Godefried rebelled again, joined by Baudoin V of Flanders and this time also by Dirk IV Count of Holland, who led an attack against Cambrai, Utrecht and Liège. [1] [2] Emperor Heinrich again confiscated the Duchy of Upper Lotharingia, and this time awarded it to Adalbert comte de Metz / Adalbert Graf von Metz. In response, Duke Godefried attacked Upper Lotharingia - and Adalbert was killed in battle. Upper Lotharingia then passed to Adalbert's younger brother Gerard. [11] - Godfried's Establishment in Italy Godfried was ex-communicated by the Pope and surrendered in 1049 - following which he moved to Italy and acquired another position of power (as described below). [1] Second Marriage in Tuscany In 1054, Godefried married Beatrix (Beatrice) of Upper Lotharingia, who was the widow of Bonifazio di Canossa, Marchese di Toscana (Marchese of Tuscany). Beatrix was the daughter of Frederick II Duke of Upper Lotharingia and Mathilde von Schwaben (Mathilde of Swabia) [12] [13] Return to Lotharingia and Re-establishment as Duke In 1056, Emperor Heinrich III died and was succeeded by his young son as Heinrich (Henry) IV Holy Roman Emperor. After the death of Frédéric de Luxembourg, duc de Basse-Lotharingie in 1065, the new emperor recalled Godefried from Italy and installed him as the Duke of Lower Lotharingia. [1] [2] Marriage of Godfried's son to his step-daughter In 1055, Godfried's eldest son from his first marriage, Godfried de Lotharingia, was betrothed to his step-daughter Matilda di Toscana from his second marriage to Beatrix (Beatrice) of Upper Lotharingia, the widow of the Marchese di Toscana. The couple later married in 1069, at Verdun in Lower Lotharingia. [12] [1] Death and Successions in Lotharingia and Toscana Son's accession as Godfried III Duke of Lower Lotharingia Shortly after seeing the marriage of his son and his step-daughter, on 24 Dec 1069, Godfried II of Lotharingia died. His son Godfried succeeded him as Comte de Verdun and was later installed as his successor by the Holy Roman Emperor, becoming Godfried III Duke of Lower Lotharingia. [12] [1] Daughter-in-law's accession as Contessa di Toscana After the death of Godfried II, his widow Beatrix (Matilda's mother) returned to Toscana where she associated Matilda with her Italian estates. In 1076, Beatrix died and Matilda became the Contessa di Toscana. [12] Sources ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 Dukes of Lower Lotharingia 1012-23, 1046-65 (Family of Wigerich) by Cawley, Charles. Medieval Lands: A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families. Published by Charles Cawley and the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy (FMG) 2006-2021, including source citations and relevant texts; hosted online by FMG, accessed 2025; ; see also WikiTree's source page for MedLands) ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Dukes of Upper Lotharingia 1033-1046 by Cawley, Charles. Medieval Lands: A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families. Published by Charles Cawley and the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy (FMG) 2006-2021, including source citations and relevant texts; hosted online by FMG, accessed 2025; ; see also WikiTree's source page for MedLands) ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wikipedia (en) - Gothelo I, Duke of Lorraine ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wikipédia (fr) - Gothelon !er de Lotharingie ↑ Wikipedia (en) - Godfrey the Bearded ↑ Wikipédia (fr) - Godefroid de Basse-Lotharingie ↑ Wikipédia (fr) - Gothelon Ier de Lotharingie ↑ Wikipédia (fr) - Basse-Lotharingie ↑ March of Antwerp by Cawley, Charles. Medieval Lands: A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families. Published by Charles Cawley and the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy (FMG) 2006-2021, including source citations and relevant texts; hosted online by FMG, accessed 2025; see also WikiTree's source page for MedLands) ↑ Wipo, On the election and consecration of Conrad II (1024), from "The Deeds of Conrad II (Gesta Chuonradi II imperatoris)", translated by Mommsen, T. E. and Morrison, K. F. (1962) in Imperial Lives and Letters of the Eleventh Century (New York) ↑ Dukes of Upper Lotharingia 1047-1070 (Matfriede) by Cawley, Charles. Medieval Lands: A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families. Published by Charles Cawley and the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy (FMG) 2006-2021, including source citations and relevant texts; hosted online by FMG, accessed 2025; see also WikiTree's source page for MedLands) ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Marchesi of Tuscany by Cawley, Charles. Medieval Lands: A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families. Published by Charles Cawley and the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy (FMG) 2006-2021, including source citations and relevant texts; hosted online by FMG, accessed 2025; see also WikiTree's source page for MedLands) ↑ Dukes of Upper Lotharingia 959-1033 by Cawley, Charles. Medieval Lands: A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families. Published by Charles Cawley and the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy (FMG) 2006-2021, including source citations and relevant texts; hosted online by FMG, accessed 2025; see also WikiTree's source page for MedLands) Wikidata: Item Q552234, en:Wikipedia help.gif
  Person ID	I59944	Freeman-Smith
  Last Modified	27 Jan 2026

  
  

  Father	VERDUN Gozelo,   b. Abt 0967, Lotharingia, Holy Roman Empire d. 19 Apr 1044, Lotharingia, Holy Roman Empire (Age 77 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Family ID	F347578	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	UNKNOWN Doda,   b. France d. Bef 1053, France
  Marriage	1040	Lower Lorraine, France
  Children	1. LORRAINE Ida,   b. Abt 1020, Bass Lorraine, France d. 13 Apr 1113, Boulogne, Pas de Calais, France (Age 93 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F26613	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 Jan 2026