Godfather

[A.S. god and fæder.] A man who becomes sponsor for a child at baptism. -v. a. To act as a godfather. God'frey, OF BOUILLON, duke of Lorraine and first Christian king of Jerusalem, was B. at Bézy, near Nivelle. He served while young with high distinction in the armies of the emperor Henry IV.; and when near the close of the Ilth cent. all W. Europe was roused to the rescue of the Holy Land from the infidels, the fame of G. was high throughout Christen dom for piety and moral excellence, as well as for knightly prowe . He entered fervently into the great movement of his age, and was confe edly the first in rank and worth among the chiefs of the first crusade. He not only signalized himself by valor among the valorous, and by enthusiasm among the Fig. 1171. - ARMOR OF GOD enthusiastic, but he show ed also disinterestedne , FREY OF BOUILLON. his enemies, and reduced their number to some extent by exile; but he was compelled to resign office in March, 1798. He was soon reinstated, and then married, from political motives, Donna Maria The rez a de Bourbon, although he was already secretly married to Donna Josefa Tudo, who retained his affection through life. ID 1800 he commanded an expedition against Portugal, at the close of which he received further title and rewards. He published in 1806 a stirring appeal to the people, calling them to arms, without naming the foe; but after the battle of Jena he disavowed his proclamation. The insurrection of Aranjuez, in March, 1808, prevented his escape as purposed with the royal family, and on the abdication of Charles he was imprisoned. He was present at Bayonne on the signature of the new abdication, and he accompanied the royal family to Marseilles and Rome. He had lost everything, and lived only on the bounty of his friends. On his wife's death he avowed his marriage with Josefa Tudo; settled at Paris in 1835, and D. there 1851.