Godfrey of Bouillon: His Life, His Legend

This video deals with Godfrey of Bouillon, one of the great leaders of fhe First Crusade, who led an army of Lotharingian and Walloon knights to the holy land along with his brothers Baldwin and Eustace.

[@somebodysomewhere5571]

13 years ago this amazing channel begun

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Thank you!

[@GNBcorporal]

i live in belgium and his statue is one of the most impressive i have ever seen

[@simonclasse9435]

I was born in Baisy-Thy where I was raised.

[@kisame21]

Thinking of Godfrey and all his fellow crusaders makes me shed a tear. What bravery

[@gwendiffenbacher1695]

Dang: I bet you are totally torn up today with what is happening in Europe. Thank goodness we in the states have Trump.

[@MetalHeadViking]

We need a new Godfrey!

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Yeah, Godfrey was considered to be a handesome guy for his time. I imagine all of the great Crusades leaders were considered to be pretty hot by women of the time. During the siege of Antioch in 1098, Armenian women practically swooned watching the Crusaders butcher the Turkish guards who had been abusing them for so long. It must've been great for those women to have these handesome, valiant heroes show up and slay the Turkish villains!

[@ashrafulislam256]

You stubborn crusader! We will take revenge upon you!!!

[@jamesguy3428]

@@ashrafulislam256 By what revenge?? Carbomb and suicide bomb?? Lol.

[@AndrewTheMandrew531]

Freudian Slip?

[@BinaryzeroNYC]

Man, you opened my eyes historically. You should talk about my people ( Bavarian ) sometime ^^!

[@last1standing00]

I was privileged to write my college thesis on the First Crusade and specifically on Godfrey de Bouillon. My opinions are to much to write but without doubt one of my biggest idols throughout history. Honorable, devout, strong, humble, and courageous.

[@Jo70964s]

thankyou G. what a legendary channel

[@LuizGuilherme-zt3kd]

Godfrey was able to cuts a sarracen in half with a single sword strike. Once the saracens doubted the Godfrey's strength saying that his sword was cursed, so Godfrey said "bring me your sword and a camel". He cut the camel with a sigle blow, the sarracens asked him where all this strengh come from and he said "come from those hands that do not sin against God, the true God"

[@LuizGuilherme-zt3kd]

Sorry if i missed something, im brazilian and my english is terrible

[@jayhache5609]

⁠@@LuizGuilherme-zt3kdThat was great! No problems with your English!

[@gaudiotv]

Godfrey of Bouillon is my cousin. Great man. Great video!

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Sarah Sarver that is very interesting! Your red hair and fair coloring certainly bear similarities to Godfrey's family! That means you are also related to Baldwin I of Jerusalem. Congratulations!

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Excellent list! Yes, Godfrey was a badass. I think my top 5 are as follows: 1) Godfrey of Bouillon 2) Robert II of Flanders 3) Raymond IV of Toulouse 4) Richard the Lionheart 5) King Baldwin IV

[@karenwalkeden6030]

Thank you for your videos.

[@Poederhandschoen]

As a Belgian, i appriciate this doc.. Thanks!! greetz

[@MrJobaadshah]

Thanks brother.. awesome job done..

[@s.soisson7233]

great video

[@primordialpouch1139]

I didnt know you've been making videos for this long!! Mad respect sir

[@Webcrusader007]

Very good indeed

[@grimnavyseal]

wonderful, keep up the great video making!!!!

[@khaosme]

Great video. Thanks very much.

[@Cojpe]

nice video tx for post

[@MrCassowary]

I love real crusade history. Thanks for posting.

[@darkrathamantis]

I enjoy your vids alot!

[@johnboyx63]

Great work!!!

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

+PapaJohnx63 Thank you!

[@jordangallagher4374]

Great,my friend,keep up the great work,you are magnificent just like the Crusaders!†Godfrey was a man of virtue and honor,peace be upon his soul†

[@RikkiMMA]

When he took the title of "the defender of the Holy Sepulchre" he started a corresponding knighthood, that still exists today. Of which, Im being knighted into in January

[@swordofdracula]

Well done!

[@TheAceReviews]

Really nice vid

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

I agree my friend! I have always envisioned a beautiful movie about the First Crusade.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@deathmarch5]

Thanks for covering my ancestor quite well.🤙✌

[@mikewalker5147]

Hey did the Armenians mix deeply with the French? I heard 30% of Armenia's Y-DNA is R1b which is French, German and English..etc.Is that a result of a constant 250 year mixing with the Crusaders, French Nobility, House of Savoy, The Lusignans and The Bouillons?

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

My intelligence so thoroughly eclipses yours that you could never even begin to comprehend the level of understanding and insight that I possess.

[@madisontherrien7283]

This video is amazing 😉

[@saxonhaste]

5/5 star im going to buy thos books you have recommended

[@palatindecorcelles]

Hughes Michaud de Corcelles one of our most iconic ancestor was Charles Quint Champion and Palatin knight of empire...no one could beat him...in Bruxelles Charles quint in a letter said of him that he served him with strategic hability and **zèle** zealous conviction to god ...

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Well, he came from what is now Belgium. There wasn't really a Belgium at the time. But the people of Belgium today certainly should claim him as a great national hero. He was an outstanding man, one to be deeply admired by us today.

[@triumphant39]

And they had this man portrayed as having a countryman knight murdered for no good reason, in kingdom of heaven? Sigh

[@DukeofLorraine]

thank you now i know more abot my ancestor

[@PrincipledNaturalLaw]

Good day RCH, in your research of Geoffrey, Hugh & other prominent knights did you come across any mention of discoveries of information/knowledge, ranging from that which could be used as leverage against the popes/papacy/that which undermines fundamental claims of Christianity to methods of architecture previously unknown in Christendom &/or other 'esoteric' information? Thanks for sharing your hard work 🙏

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

@last1standing00 Excellent! I did my undergrad thesis on the First Crusade, which involved a lot of research into Godfrey's life. Thanks for sharing your insights! Although honestly, the rivers of blood thing was just hyperbole. Rivers of blood are in fact an impossibility. Godfrey did, however, brag to the Pope about all the Muslims he killed in Jerusalem.

[@unapologetic7900]

I would have too.

[@guilhermedias2074]

Please make a video about BOEMUNDO DE TARANTO. thks

[@lionelhutz5137]

Bohemond was the most feared and merciless of the crusader commanders. That man had no scruples in killing anybody.

[@elizemarais9275]

He was my mother's ancestor... she was as formidable and pious...

[@thecajuncutthroat]

He was born in Boulogne. In France today... His Borther, first king of Jerusalem was Baudoin of Boulogne.

[@jannoottenburghs5121]

Yeah but he went to Bouillon (modern day Belgium) at a young age and he was asked to be the first king but he refused

[@seanfernandolopez9139]

Holy sh-- grail! You uploaded 13 years ago.

[@last1standing00]

@RealCrusadeHistory nice, it's truely a great subject of history, my favorite course out of all my history classes taken for my major. I think a must read for anyone interested specifically in Godfrey is John C. Andresson's "The Ancestry and Life of Godfrey of Bouillon," and I also enjoyed Thomas Asbridge's "The First Crusade," which was a good overview of the all the main characters in the First Crusade. I believe the subject will always be relevant for east/west relations.

[@crammy7]

You can see his castle ruïnes in Bouillon, a town in the south of Belgium, partly in the Ardennes

[@johnlackland3434]

What you think about the channel extra credits? Is there serie about the first crusade accurate?

[@Retarior]

Good and brave man. A good exemplar of medieval knight. Peace with him.

[@sarahsage2159]

This video is very intriguing. I just returned from a genealogy research trip and found out that my bloodline goes back to Godfrey De Boullion!!! Exciting!!

[@CyberTribalism]

The two brothers that first got over the walls where Flemish, Dutch.. Godfrey was a Frankish Duke, Dutch is derived from old Frankish language. Notice also how the only non "French" grandmaster of the Templar's was a Flemish man, Gerard de Roquefort, born as Geraard Van Ruddervoorde (great Frankish worrier, but very controversial figure also). The Templar's where dominated by Frankish knights, who often still spoke (besides old French) the Germanic language of their ancestors.

[@SirBojo4]

French royalty was Frankish for a long time if you wanna know.

[@jayhache5609]

Very interesting. Thanks!

[@swisstorture8450]

Listen to the New York interview on inothernewsradio nov.17 2017.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

That, that was a common tactic used by the swift, light Turkish cavalry. There goal was always to break up the Crusader formation so they could cause confusion and sweep in quickly for a frenzeid assault.

[@MrFlossinlawson]

i feel like you need to be using more maps in your videos.

[@jamespowell_km_kchs]

Why nothing on the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre? Godfrey founded these knights and we exist today still under protection of the Holy See.

[@palatindecorcelles]

my ancestors fought alongside him...

[@bruhmcchaddeus413]

6:19 dangggggggg, people back then definitely were physically stronger on average. Not only Godfrey risked his own life but also damaged opposing army while trapped on tower which was about to fall

[@last1standing00]

I majored in History and wrote my final paper (30+ pages) on Godfrey of Bouillon. Nice vid there are other interesting things written about him as well, such as Albert of Aachen's story of Godfrey rescueing a Christian Pilgrim from a bear, and Godfrey cutting a enormous Turk in half from the waist with a stroke of his sword during the Antioch siege. Another interesting fact, is when Jerusalem was taken, rivers of blood flowed from Solomons temple, Godfrey was the first to cease killing and pray.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

There is no reason to doubt that Godfrey had the strength to hold part of a siege tower together while conitnuing to fire his crossbow. Historians have never presented this as fiction, it comes to us from Albert of Aix, who's account was assembled from writings and witnesses from Lower Lorraine where Godfrey ruled.

[@MattSVK1]

@TheJEANFB Godfrey of Bouillon was born around 1060 in either Boulogne-sur-Mer in France or Baisy, a city in the region of Brabant (part of present-day Belgium). During Godfrey's lifetime this region was part of the Holy Roman Empire.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

The sources indicate that Godfrey was a handesome fellow. There are eyewitness accounts which describes Armenian women watching joyfully from the balconies of Antioch as the Crusaders killed the Muslim garrison. It's only natural that these Christian women, having lived under Muslim occupation for so long, would be glad to see some handesome Christian warriors liberating their city. A lot of Crusaders married Armenian women. This is just how it is, my friend. The sources speak to us.

[@Bomstep]

You said Godfrey was chosen unanimously by the crusaders, but wasn't Raymond chosen first, but after having refused it (expecting them to ask a second time) they asked Godfrey?

[@lionelhutz5137]

Yes, Raymond of Toulouse was elected by the crusaders first but refused it because he believed no mortal man should hold such a sacred title.

[@svenw777]

Another GREAT BELGIAN !

[@BobGolob]

Belgian ? He is French !

[@lionelhutz5137]

There was no Belgium at the time as it was known as Flanders which was a fief of the French crown.

[@Gliese380]

Frankish, not French. There also was no France at that time, and both the city of Bouillon and his castle are in Belgium.

[@mazirsoufik258]

@@Gliese380 France = treaty of Verdun 843...

[@skanderbegkrumkhan8902]

Godfrey of Bouillon reportedly killed 150 Turks with only 12 knights. Later that year, he cut a Turk in half with a single, downward swipe of his sword

[@lionelhutz5137]

He also sliced a camel in half as well

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

@kissfan7 Well, he didn't really hold the whole thing together with one arm, it was probably more like he helped hold part of it together while continuing to fight. There's definitely some legend in that story, but the point is he was very brave at that siege.

[@TheJEANFB]

@MattSVK1 Godfrey of Bouillon is a descendant of Charlemagne. He is the second son of three children of St. Ide d'Ardenne, heiress of the Dukes of Lower Lorraine and Eustache II, Count of Boulogne . His education was made a knight by his uncle Godfrey the Hunchback III in Bouillon. At his death, he inherited his titles. It is a mixture of French, German and certainly Norman. But no Italian ^ ^

[@EquineDreams]

So why did my grandma (who lived to be 99 and died mid 80s) use to say "Godfrey!" as an exclamation instead of "Oh God". She NEVER said "Damn" or GD just "Godfrey!" How did his name come to be used this way? My grandmother was of British heritage.

[@UrielOmega]

Possibly from a few things, though I'm only guessing. Godfrey is comes comes from the Germanic name Godafrid, which meant "peace of god" from the Germanic elements god "god" and frid "peace". The Normans brought this name to England, where it became common during the Middle Ages. Maybe it was used for a while for its meaning, "Peace of God" similar to "For the love of God". Also maybe it was for how it sounded like god free? Or do to the reverence for him as an upright man his name was used in said manner. There are many reasons possible. Tell me if you find out for fact what it is please.

[@michelvds1128]

It just replaces the curse 'Godverdomme' by an innocent 'Godfr ... ied van Bouillon', So if you started to curse and you stopped in time you just changed Godverdomme in Godfried v.B and so you didn't curse at al.

[@MattSVK1]

@TheJEANFB That is true. By Italians, I have meant Normans. Sorry for my mistake.

[@MattSVK1]

@TheJEANFB Well, its hard to say what nationality he had, but he was duke of Lorraine, he fought for Holy Roman emperor Henry IV... I guess, even though he was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer and had the "of Bouillon" title, he probably lived in Holy Roman Empire most of his life. Judging by the names in his family (Matilda of Tuscany, Eustace, Baldwin), he was probably mixture of German, French and Italian, but German as dominating.

[@TheJEANFB]

@MattSVK1 Godfrey of Bouillon (1058 ° to Boulogne-sur-Mer, France-+ 18 July 1100 in Jerusalem) is a knight frank^^

[@josephkonwinski3577]

Hey Brother...well done...in re your essay regarding Christopher Columbus: if memory serves, Mr Bill Warner (most definitely worth your good consideration) cites source documents which hold that Columbus sought a trade route to the Far East by navigating westward because Mahometan piracy, robbery, slave-taking, and terrorism had made the ancient trade routes to the Far East from Western Europe too dangerous. Mr Warner cites modern Marine Archaeological research of the Mediterranean sea bed which proves that maritime trade at the time was destroyed by Mahometan piracy, slave-taking and terrorism. Mr Warner quotes a Mahometan document from the time boasting (para- phrase) '...the Christians are unable to float so much as a plank on the Mediterranean...'

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Eastern Christians served in the Crusader forces throughout the Middle Ages. Armenian knights helped throughout the early conquests because they did not want to live under Muslim rule. Plenty of Armenian princesses married Western rulers, and men like Baldwin IV had Armenian as well as Western heritages. So the Crusades were a reaction by both Western and Eastern Christians against Muslim expansion.

[@NBA2K1198]

I Came Here Because Of The Movie , Kingdoms Of Heaven

[@TheJEANFB]

@MattSVK1In 1830, Belgium eagerly sought the roots, thus the newly created State was seized by the frenzy of praise "their" past glories. Thus, the Belgian historians of the nineteenth century will take ownership of Godfrey of Bouillon . It should be noted that at that time the Belgian history book is empty

[@claudemaassen2963]

I visited his castle in Belgium a few years ago. Godfroid was over 6 feet tall, very tall for those days. They had a replica of his armour which was very impressive. By the way, I read that he was actually poisoned by Muslim spies.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

There is no evidence that he was poisoned. We only know that he fell ill and died.

[@claudemaassen2963]

That is your contention. I grew up in Belgium and the history version learned in school was that he more than likely was poisoned and they actually pinpointed that fact to eating fruits offered to him in a local market in Jerusalem and fell ill immediately after.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Actually no, it's what the sources tell us. Fulcher of Chartres says nothing about him being poisoned. Albert of Aachen says he fell ill and died, again, no mention of poisoning. Even William of Tyre says nothing about poisoning, he just says that he fell ill and died. Ibn al-Qalanisi, a Muslim source, says he was struck by an arrow during a siege and died that way, but that surely is wrong, since al-Qalanisi was very remote from Godfrey and didn't have detailed information about him, and such a death would've been recorded by the Christian sources that were closer to him. There is nothing in our primary sources for his life about poisoning.

[@claudemaassen2963]

Real Crusades History+ Maybe there are other sources from which Belgian educators obtained their facts. I would question sources used and quoted by American educators considering the lack of world - historical knowledge of Americans. You may consider the fact that Europeans have a much more sophisticated education system when it comes to world history. In Belgium elementary schools, we are immersed with full European history and Asian history whilst in America you concentrate only in the History of the USA up to University level. Permit me therefore to question your facts. Considering that Godefrois de Bouillon was closely connected to the Papacy, perhaps their archives were also sources. I'm just saying!

[@swisstorture8450]

See "Peyrassol Templar Commandery" film and all the Templar films on channels giureh and chatzefratz.

[@davidorbach5406]

The first King of the Belgians, Léopold I, built a very big Statue of Godfroid de Bouillon in Brussels. The royal Dynasty in Belgium consider they are all descendants of Godfroid de Bouillon. Baudouin I, II, II, IV . The French took the power after them and it was a catastroph, they killed Saladin's sister and all the caravans. They were defeated by Saladin and had to leave the the Holy Land

[@harrybeaver9854]

Please explain to my how im wrong....

[@askeldouglas421]

Godfrey of buillon his life his legend,year a go i was liveing in harlesden london i receive a pack true the post it was from godfrey ,it was a a templar cross with stuff a bout knight .and a round seal in the pack ,it said it was the last templar seal.so i never tell and one .i start to wear the cross i was feeling strange .so i put it back in the pack and put it a way.but in 2011 i become homeless so i hide it in the garden were i was liveing in harlesden it is still there in the garden ,i am now longer live in harlesden london i now live in othe part of london,but when i was homeless i never stop thinking about the seal and cross i hide in the garden in harleasden london .i hope one day i can go and get i hope.but a sceret the i read in the note the come in the pack i receive true the post said the godfrey was liveing in a montan in europ some were but it never say were.something about those how wear the templar will see the templar sceret hiden behine sceret.yes huge sceret at rennes-le-chateau in france so i made note about it .something to do my ancestor build the little castle church.so i have the right to it ,pia andersen send me the seal,then. Yes it is there in the garden in harlesden ,as i said i now longer live at the address.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

The Armenian people in Edessa didn't like their ruler because he didn't provide protection for them against the Turks, so they brought in Baldwin to take his place, which he was willing to do. The only reason Baldwin even went to Edessa was because a group of his Armenian friends insisted that he do so.

[@palatindecorcelles]

we are Saint Mikhâ'êl chosen familly...we have our heraldry coat of war from the heraldry institute of rome

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Yes, the massacre at Jerusalem does strike us today as disturbing, but all cities that resisted besiegers were usually sacked. Actually, the sack of Jerusalem in 1099 probably wasn't as bad as the Christian sources made it out to be. The Muslim sources from the time seem to indicate that it wasn't nearly as bloody as is often believed. This is what Jonathan Riley-Smith believes, anyway.

[@tupactip]

Was he the founder of the knights Templar?

[@unzuccable]

it's Hugh de payens who founded the knights templar

[@glendelio]

he was one of the founding members. They were with 4 . For a long time the night templars had only 8 members but it has grown in to a big european order ;)

[@tupactip]

How do you know this where is the Is information available thanks

[@brenner7250]

It's me.

[@brenner7250]

If you study the monastic organization it's quite interesting they have a rich history and belong highly in the Crusades.

[@Webcrusader007]

The socalled 4th Crusade was in fact not a crusade: the Venetians wrongly used the crusading army to their own benefits. It was a simple intra- European war like many others.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

I'm not sure what you were trying to say with this post, it was very broken and grammatically incorrect. If you're questioning my research, I suppose the PhD program I am attending begs to differ with you, since they seem to have a lot of confidence in my work. Look at my sources. They are the best available. Remember, you are in the minority here. Most of my viewers greatly appreciate what I'm doing and enjoy learning about this exciting period of history.

[@MrCassowary]

Godfrey and other Crusaders had to make sacrificies to go on Crusades. Godfrey sold his land.

[@TemplarX2]

Same thing. French is from Frencisc meaning "of the Franks".

[@MetalHeadViking]

I like the first and third crusades. The third crusade would have gone well if Barbarossa didnt drown and put an end to the german campaigne, and if the french and the english werent qwarreling. Otherwise it was like the crusaders All-Star Team.

[@lavish_1717]

😍 I think I like Godfrey better than Richard

[@gwendiffenbacher1695]

Dang: with a name like yours: your ancestors may have been Crusaders.

[@peroperic7107]

Girl you look good

[@dijin456]

Or William Marshall..rock stars of there day..

[@euvicgomba8047]

Because Godfrey is the father of balian of ibelen

[@FeltDownHard]

I've been to his castle. It not big but cool. They showed us the torture rooms :P pretty freaked out when i was a kid

[@MattSVK1]

@AuxaneD Frank is not same as French... For example, the Muslims called all the crusaders "Franks" (except participants of the Third Crusade, where they recognized Richard I as the "King of England") , although there were many Germans(meaning people from the Holy Roman Empire) and Italians among them

[@SirBojo4]

"France" back then was the kingdom of Franks before being called kingdom of France because IT WAS founded by the Franks, the French are those Franks who evolved to become French. On the same tangent, Normans aren't French because neither the French language as the language of France existed and even less for the identity, there was regional identity with regional language and norman was one of them.

[@onceuponthecross1]

one of the few "legit" knights of the time.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

The idea that the West was vastly inferior to the East culturally has been challenged by historians. The difference is that the Muslims initiated the violence by taking Christian lands, and Godfrey was acting in defense of Christendom by reclaiming what belonged to Christian people. Look at the help the Crusaders received from Armenians, Syrians, and Greeks in their struggle to repel the Turk. In addition, Muslims ended up living more prosperously under Crusader rule! (see Ibn Jubayr)

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

No one is exactly sure how Godfrey died, but it's not very likely that he was poisoned. Some of the Muslim sources claim he died in battle, but they are incorrect, of course. He died of an illness in Jerusalem during his first year of reign. The Jews and Muslims in the conquered cities were allowed to practice their religion and lived peacefully under Crusader rule. In fact, the Muslims preferred living in Christian held lands because the Crusaders were more just than the Muslim sultans.

[@TheLoyalOfficer]

Prove what exactly? Please try to respond faster than 2 months. The context of your comment is lost in its late response.

[@palatindecorcelles]

if Di savoïa Duche still has a kingdom it is because of our familly

[@MattSVK1]

@NasriTheNewKing you should read the posts you respond to and think about what you post, too... "lol"

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Your conception of the First Crusade is so entirely incorrect that it would take much more than a youtube comment. Please, read Jonathan Riley-Smiths' The First Crusaders, and then read Thomas Madden's New Concise History of the Crusades. After that, you will need to continue your reading to fully understand the First Crusade.

[@larrydouglas2820]

How can you say he didn't do any of this for personal gain? Can you elaborate on his reasons for seizing Jerusalem as you see them? I don't have any evidence that he wasn't acting selflessly, but trying to infer his motivations from his behavior, they seem to me as motivated by personal gain as any other feudal leader of the time. Even assuming the most "pious" reason for undertaking an invasion, the motivation of taking land from muslims, and giving it to christians is just wanting people that are similar to yourself in a position of advantage (preferably paying taxes). Or if it's to enforce your religion on people living in an area, that already believe in a different faith, that is just enforcing your beliefs on others, which most would consider selfish. Even if it was merely missionary work (which I wouldn't consider selfless) it's happening at the point of a sword.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Wrong again. That's not what happened. You're simply ignorant of the period and the events.