Godfrey II, Duke of Lower Lorraine

Who was Godfrey II, Duke of Lower Lorraine?

Godfrey II, called the Childless, son of Godfrey I, Count of Verdun, was the count of Verdun from his father's death in 1002 and duke of Lower Lorraine after the death in 1012 of the Carolingian Otto, who left no sons.

He was appointed duke by Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor, on the advice of Gerard of Florennes, bishop of Cambrai. His selection was based on the need for a strong military hand to pacify the duchy and stabilise the French border. It also benefitted that Godfrey was from Upper Lorraine and thus had no stake in the feudal strife of the baronage, he was loyal to the Ottonians. He also had the support of his brothers: Gothelo, margrave of Antwerp, and Herman, margrave of Ename.

In 1012, he gave Verdun to his brother Frederick. He had to combat several opponents to his ducal claim, however: Lambert I, Count of Leuven, brother-in-law of Otto, and Reginar IV, count of Mons. At Florennes, on 12 September 1015, Godfrey defeated both of them, killing Lambert and forcing Reginar to make peace. Reginar later married Godfrey's niece Matilda and succeeded his father-in-law in the southern part of the shire Brabant.