Godfrey III of Leuven
Encyclopedia
Godfrey III was count of Leuven (or Louvain), landgrave of Brabant
, margrave
of Antwerp, and duke of Lower Lorraine (as Godfrey VIII) from 1142 to his death.
He was the son of Godfrey II
and Lutgarde of Sulzbach. He was still an infant at his succession (therefore called dux in cunis) of which a few Brabantian vassals sought to take advantage to get independent from the duke (Wars of Grimbergen
, 1141–1159).
On 30 March 1147, Godfrey was present at the coronation of Henry Berengar
, son of Conrad III of Germany
, in Aachen
. When Conrad left on Crusade, war began anew in 1148. Peace was elusive until the election of Conrad's successor, Frederick Barbarossa. By marriage to Margaret, daughter of Henry II of Limburg
, Godfrey united two powerful and antagonistic houses in the region. Their son was Henry I, Duke of Brabant
In 1159 Godfrey ended the war with the Berthout, lords of Grimbergen
, by burning their impressive motte
at Grimbergen
.
In 1171, Godfrey was at war with Hainaut
, but was defeated. In 1179, he gave his son Henry
in marriage to a niece of Philip of Alsace, Count of Flanders
.
Between 1182 and 1184 Godfrey went on a Jerusalem campaign. In the interim, Barbarossa granted Henry
the title "Duke of Brabant
". Godfrey died in 1190, on 10 or 21 August. He left an increased territory and built the fortress of Nedelaer (near Vilvoorde
). The ducal title was transmitted to his son at the Diet
of Schwäbisch Hall
(September 1190).
and Lutgarde of Sulzbach.
Godfrey first married Margaret of Limburg, daughter of Henry II, Duke of Limburg, in 1158. Godfrey and Margaret had two children:
Godfrey took as his second wife Imagina of Loon, daughter of Louis I, Count of Loon
. Godfrey and Imagina had two children:
Duke of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was formally erected in 1183/1184. The title "Duke of Brabant" was created by the German Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in favor of Henry I, son of Godfrey III of Leuven . The Duchy of Brabant was a feudal elevation of the since 1085/1086 existing title of Landgrave of Brabant...
, margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
of Antwerp, and duke of Lower Lorraine (as Godfrey VIII) from 1142 to his death.
He was the son of Godfrey II
Godfrey II of Leuven
Godfrey II was the count of Leuven, landgrave of Brabant by inheritance from 23 January 1139. He was the son of Godfrey I and Ida of Chiny...
and Lutgarde of Sulzbach. He was still an infant at his succession (therefore called dux in cunis) of which a few Brabantian vassals sought to take advantage to get independent from the duke (Wars of Grimbergen
Grimbergen
Grimbergen is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the towns of Beigem, Grimbergen, Humbeek and Strombeek-Bever. On January 1, 2006 Grimbergen had a total population of 33,965. The total area is...
, 1141–1159).
On 30 March 1147, Godfrey was present at the coronation of Henry Berengar
Henry Berengar
Henry Berengar was the eldest legitimate son of Conrad III of Germany and his second wife Gertrude von Sulzbach.He is sometimes numbered as Henry VI, the numeral he would have had had he succeeded to the kingship in full...
, son of Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III was the first King of Germany of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He was the son of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, and Agnes, a daughter of the Salian Emperor Henry IV.-Life and reign:...
, in Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
. When Conrad left on Crusade, war began anew in 1148. Peace was elusive until the election of Conrad's successor, Frederick Barbarossa. By marriage to Margaret, daughter of Henry II of Limburg
Henry II of Limburg
Henry II was the duke of Limburg from 1139 and count of Arlon from 1147 to his death. He was the son of Waleran, Duke of Lower Lorraine, and Jutta of Guelders, daughter of Gerard I of Guelders. He succeeded his father in Limburg with the title of duke, but Conrad III refused to grant him Lower...
, Godfrey united two powerful and antagonistic houses in the region. Their son was Henry I, Duke of Brabant
Henry I, Duke of Brabant
Henry I of Brabant , named "The Courageous" Duke of Brabant and Duke of Lower Lotharingia until his death.-Biography:...
In 1159 Godfrey ended the war with the Berthout, lords of Grimbergen
Grimbergen
Grimbergen is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the towns of Beigem, Grimbergen, Humbeek and Strombeek-Bever. On January 1, 2006 Grimbergen had a total population of 33,965. The total area is...
, by burning their impressive motte
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
at Grimbergen
Grimbergen
Grimbergen is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the towns of Beigem, Grimbergen, Humbeek and Strombeek-Bever. On January 1, 2006 Grimbergen had a total population of 33,965. The total area is...
.
In 1171, Godfrey was at war with Hainaut
County of Hainaut
The County of Hainaut was a historical region in the Low Countries with its capital at Mons . In English sources it is often given the archaic spelling Hainault....
, but was defeated. In 1179, he gave his son Henry
Henry I, Duke of Brabant
Henry I of Brabant , named "The Courageous" Duke of Brabant and Duke of Lower Lotharingia until his death.-Biography:...
in marriage to a niece of Philip of Alsace, Count of Flanders
Count of Flanders
The Count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders from the 9th century until the abolition of the position by the French revolutionaries in 1790....
.
Between 1182 and 1184 Godfrey went on a Jerusalem campaign. In the interim, Barbarossa granted Henry
Henry I, Duke of Brabant
Henry I of Brabant , named "The Courageous" Duke of Brabant and Duke of Lower Lotharingia until his death.-Biography:...
the title "Duke of Brabant
Duke of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was formally erected in 1183/1184. The title "Duke of Brabant" was created by the German Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in favor of Henry I, son of Godfrey III of Leuven . The Duchy of Brabant was a feudal elevation of the since 1085/1086 existing title of Landgrave of Brabant...
". Godfrey died in 1190, on 10 or 21 August. He left an increased territory and built the fortress of Nedelaer (near Vilvoorde
Vilvoorde
Vilvoorde is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the city of Vilvoorde proper with its two outlying quarters of Koningslo and Houtem and the small town of Peutie...
). The ducal title was transmitted to his son at the Diet
Diet (assembly)
In politics, a diet is a formal deliberative assembly. The term is mainly used historically for the Imperial Diet, the general assembly of the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire, and for the legislative bodies of certain countries.-Etymology:...
of Schwäbisch Hall
Schwäbisch Hall
Schwäbisch Hall is a town in the German state of Baden-Württemberg and capital of the district of Schwäbisch Hall. The town is located in the valley of the river Kocher in the north-eastern part of Baden-Württemberg....
(September 1190).
Family
Godfrey was the son of Godfrey IIGodfrey II of Leuven
Godfrey II was the count of Leuven, landgrave of Brabant by inheritance from 23 January 1139. He was the son of Godfrey I and Ida of Chiny...
and Lutgarde of Sulzbach.
Godfrey first married Margaret of Limburg, daughter of Henry II, Duke of Limburg, in 1158. Godfrey and Margaret had two children:
- Henry I, Duke of BrabantHenry I, Duke of BrabantHenry I of Brabant , named "The Courageous" Duke of Brabant and Duke of Lower Lotharingia until his death.-Biography:...
(1165- 5 Sep 1235). Henry was installed in 1180 as duke of Lower Lorraine until 1222. He was made count of Leuven in 1183, until 1198. He was installed as Duke of Brabant in 1191. - Albert de Louvain (1166-24 Nov 1192). Albert was elected Bishop of Louvain (Liege) in 1191, but assassinated in Reims in 1192.
Godfrey took as his second wife Imagina of Loon, daughter of Louis I, Count of Loon
County of Loon
The County of Loon was a state of the Holy Roman Empire, lying west of the Meuse river in present-day Flemish-speaking Belgium, and east of the old Duchy of Brabant. The most important cities of the county were Beringen, Bilzen, Borgloon, Bree, Hamont, Hasselt, Herk-de-Stad, Maaseik, Peer and...
. Godfrey and Imagina had two children:
- William of Louvain. Lord of PerwezPerwezPerwez is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 7,487 inhabitants. The total area is 50.81 km², giving a population density of 147 inhabitants per km²....
en Ruysbroek. Married Marie of Orbais, daughter of Enguerrand of Orbais. - Godfrey of Louvain. He went to England in 1196. Married Alice of Hastings, daughter of Robert of Hastings.
Sources
- Chronique des Ducs de Brabant, Adrian van Baerland, Antwerp (1612). Available at the online library of Geneanet. http://www.geneanet.org