Godfrey of Brabant (died July 11, 1302 in

Kortrijk Kortrijk ( , ; vls, Kortryk or ''Kortrik''; french: Courtrai ; la, Cortoriacum), sometimes known in English as Courtrai or Courtray ( ), is a Belgian City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Regio ...

), was Lord of Aarschot, between 1284 and his death in 1302, and Lord of Vierzon, between 1277 and 1302.

Biography

Godfrey was the third son of

Henry III, Duke of Brabant Henry III of Brabant ( 1230 – February 28, 1261, Leuven) was Duke of Brabant between 1248 and his death. He was the son of Henry II of Brabant and Marie of Hohenstaufen. He was also a trouvère. The disputed territory of Lothier, the for ...

and

Adelaide of Burgundy, Duchess of Brabant Adelaide of Burgundy (c. 1233 – 23 October 1273) was a daughter of Hugh IV, Duke of Burgundy by his first wife Yolande of Dreux. Alternatively, she was known as ''Alice'' (French) or ''Aleidis'' (Dutch). She was Duchess of Brabant as a result ...

. He was an able warrior and politician and supported his elder brother

John I, Duke of Brabant John I of Brabant, also called John the Victorious (1252/12533 May 1294) was Duke of Brabant (1267–1294), Lothier and Limburg (1288–1294). During the 13th century, John I was venerated as a folk hero. He has been painted as the perfect model o ...

in all his undertakings. He fought alongside his brother in the

Battle of Worringen The Battle of Worringen was fought on 5 June 1288 near the town of Worringen (also spelled Woeringen), which is now the northernmost borough of Cologne. It was the decisive battle of the War of the Limburg Succession, fought for the possession o ...

in 1288, where he captured

Reginald I, Count of Guelders Reginald I of Guelders (1255 – October 9, 1326 in Monfort) was Count of Guelders from January 10, 1271 until his death. He was the son of Otto II, Count of Guelders and Philippe of Dammartin. In 1276 he married Irmgard of Limburg, only daugh ...

. On October 29, 1284, his father made him Lord of Aarschot. This reestablished a dynasty that had been broken in 1172 when Godfried III, Count of Aarschot, sold his county and, as a result, his heritage, to Godfrey's great-grandfather

Godfrey III, Count of Louvain Godfrey III ( nl, Godfried; c. 1142 – 21 August 1190) was count of Louvain (or Leuven), landgrave of Brabant, margrave of Antwerp, and duke of Lower Lorraine (as Godfrey VIII) from 1142 to his death. Origins He was the son of Godfrey II and ...

. The transaction was for an unknown amount of money and an equally unknown reason. In 1292, he negotiated a peace between France and the

Count of Flanders The count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders, beginning in the 9th century. Later, the title would be held for a time, by the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire and Spain. During the French Revolution, in 1790, the co ...

. After the death of his brother, he supported his nephew

John II of Brabant John II (27 September 1275 – 27 October 1312), also called John the Peaceful, was Duke of Brabant, Lothier and Limburg (1294–1312). He was the son of John I of Brabant and Margaret of Flanders. John II succeeded his father in 1294 ...

against all internal and external opposition. In 1302, when Flanders revolted against King

Philip IV of France Philip IV (April–June 1268 – 29 November 1314), called Philip the Fair (french: Philippe le Bel), was King of France from 1285 to 1314. By virtue of his marriage with Joan I of Navarre, he was also King of Navarre as Philip I from 12 ...

, Godfrey and his only son joined the army of his French ally in the

Battle of the Golden Spurs The Battle of the Golden Spurs ( nl, Guldensporenslag; french: Bataille des éperons d'or) was a military confrontation between the royal army of France and rebellious forces of the County of Flanders on 11 July 1302 during the Franco-Flemis ...

. Both were killed, as were many more knights of Brabant. His estates were divided among his four married daughters.

Marriage and children

He married in 1277 Jeanne Isabeau dame de Vierzon (died 1296), daughter of Hervé IV, Lord of Vierzon, and Jeanne de Brenne. They had 1 son and 6 daughters : * Jean (1281–1302), killed in the

. * Marie (died 1332), married to

Walram, Count of Jülich Walram, Count of Jülich (1240/45 – c. August 1297, after Battle of Furnes) was the second son of William IV, Count of Jülich and Richardis of Guelders, daughter of Gerard III, Count of Guelders. Biography In 1278, Walram succeeded his father ...

(died 1297), and then to Robert of Beaumont. * Elisabeth (died 1350), married to

Gerhard V of Jülich Gerhard V of Jülich (before 1250 – 29 July 1328), Count of Jülich (1297–1328), was the youngest son of William IV, Count of Jülich and Richardis of Guelders, daughter of Gerard III, Count of Guelders.Walther Möller, ''Stammtafeln westdeuts ...

(died 1328). * Alix (died 1315), married in 1302 to

John III of Harcourt John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

(died 1329). * Blanche (died 1329), married to Jean Berthout, Lord of

Mechelen Mechelen (; french: Malines ; traditional English name: MechlinMechelen has been known in English as ''Mechlin'', from where the adjective ''Mechlinian'' is derived. This name may still be used, especially in a traditional or historical contex ...

(died 1304), and in 1307 to John I of Thouars (died 1332). * Marguerite, nun at Longchamps, Paris, died after 1318 * Jeanne, nun at Longchamps, Paris, died after 1318

Ancestry

Sources

Medieval Lands Project, Dukes of Brabant
{{DEFAULTSORT:Godfrey Of Brabant Belgian nobility 1302 deaths 1250 births