Godfrey of Bouillon

leader of the first crusade, son of Bustace IL, Count of Boulogne; born near Nivelles, in 1061. He distinguished himself while fighting for the Emperor Henry IV. in Germany and Italy, and was made Duke of Bouillon. In order to expiate his sin of fighting against the Pope, he took the cro for the Holy Land in 1095, and Jed 80,000 men to the East by way of Constantinople. The town of Antioch fell into their hands in 1098, and in the following year Godfrey took Jerusalem itself, after five weeks’ siege. ‘The leaders of the army elected him king of the city and the territory; but Godfrey would not wear a crown in the place where Christ was crowned with thorns; and contented himself with the title of Duke and Guardian of the Holy Sepulcher. The defeat of the Godfrey of Stra burg. a eR AA as Egyptians at Ascalon — him in po e ion of all the Holy Land, excepting two or three places. Godfrey.now turned his attention to the organization of his newly-established government, and promulgated a code of feudal laws called the A ize of Jerusalem. Godfrey was a favorite subject of medieval poetry, and is the central figure of Ta o’s “ Jerusalem Delivered.” He died in Jerusalem, July 18, 1100.