Name Godfrey Duke | ||
Godfrey II (965–1023), 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 (Brabant).
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 (daughter of Herman of Ename, count in the shire of Brabant) and succeeded his father-in-law in the southern part of the shire Brabant (later on part of county of Hainault).
Later, Godfrey fell into combat with Gerard, count of Metz. On 27 August 1017, he defeated him despite numerical inferiority. He was the leader of the imperial army which was defeated at Vlaardingen by Dirk III of Holland in 1018. He was succeeded by his younger brother Gothelo.