GODEFROI, son of GOZELON I Duke of Lower Lotharingia and Upper Lotharingia & his wife --- ([1000/1020]-Verdun 30 Dec 1069, bur Verdun Cathedral). Herimannus names "Gotefridus alter filius eius [=Gozzilo dux Lotharingorum]" when recording his being passed over in the succession to his father[258]. The Genealogica ex Stirpe Sancti Arnulfi names "Godefridum ducem, Odam et Regelindam" as children of "Gozelo, frater Arnulphi et Godefridi"[259]. His birth date range is estimated on the basis of the estimated birth date of his father, and the more restricted birth date range of his sister Regelindis, although the absence of any information relating to his career before [1040] suggests that he may have been born in the later part of this period. "Adelaydis comitissa uxor quondam…Ludouici comitis" donated property "per manum Gozelonis ducis atque Godefridi…et pro eius amore Dominique Frederici prefati ducis fratris" to Verdun Saint-Vanne by charter dated to [1038/40], subscribed by "dux Gozelo et eius filius Godefridus"[260]. His father appointed him as Comte de Verdun in [1040]. Heinrich III King of Germany installed him as GODEFROI II "le Barbu" Duke of Upper Lotharingia in 1044 in succession to his father, while appointing his younger brother as Duke of Lower Lotharingia. Duke Godefroi objected to this partition of hisfather's territories, sought support from Henri I King of France, but was deprived of Upper Lotharingia in Sep 1044 by King Heinrich. The emperor alsodeprived Godefroi of the county of Verdun, giving it to Richard Bishop of Verdun and ordering him to make a re-grant. Duke Godefroi was captured in Jul 1045 and imprisoned in Schloß Giebichstein, near Halle. He was released in Spring 1046, when he resumed his position as duke. He revolted again later in1046 after the emperor appointed Frédéric de Luxembourg to succeed his younger brother as Duke of Lower Lotharingia. Duke Godefroi allied himself with Dirk IV Count of Holland and Baudouin V Count of Flanders. Count Dirk attackedCambrai, Utrecht and Liège, while Duke Godefroi and Count Baudouin attacked and burned the royal palace of Nijmegen as well as the town of Verdun 25 Oct 1046. The emperor confiscated Upper Lotharingia for the second time in early 1047 and awarded it to Adalbert Graf von Metz, who was killed in battle by ex-Duke Godefroi the following year. Godefroi finally conceded in 1049 after Pope Leo IX excommunicated him and ordered him to surrender[261]. Theoderic Bishop of Verdun returned the county of Verdun to Godefroi II after he had done penance for his actions[262]. Ex-Duke Godefroi moved to Italy, where he acquired a position of power, especially after his second marriage. Count of Tusculum 1056. Emperor Heinrich III, angered at his second marriage, fomented a rebellion against him in Florence. Godefroi was obliged to flee Italy and find temporary refuge in Lotharingia[263]. After the death of Emperor Heinrich III in 1056, Godefroi was able to extend his power even further in Italy. He procured the election of his brother as Pope Stephen IX in 1057, and even planned his own coronation as emperor. His plans were thwarted by his brother's death in 1058, but he was able to install his own candidate as his successor Pope Nicholas II 24 Jan 1059 who ruled briefly for two years[264]. Emperor Heinrich III installed him as GODEFROI II Duke of Lower Lotharingia in 1065, wishing to make an ally of such a powerful individual. "Dux et marchio Godefridus…uxoris mee Beatricis" confirmed the rights of the church of Verdun Saint-Vanne granted by "patre meo Gozelone", with the consent of "comitis Manasse", by charter dated [1065/66], subscribed by "comitis Manasse et filii eius Rainaldi, Hezelini comitis, comitis Arnulfi de Chisneio"[265]. Returning to Italy, he commanded the troops which blocked the advance on Rome of Robert "Guiscard" Dukeof Apulia. He retired to Verdun in 1069 due todeteriorating health[266]. The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines records the death of "dux Bullonii Godefridus Magnus…dictus…Barbatus" and his burial at Verdun[267]. The necrology of Liège Saint-Lambert records the death "XI Kal Jan" of "Godefridi ducis"[268].
m firstly DODA [Guota/Uoda], daughter of --- (bur Münsterbilsen). The Vita B. Idæ Boloniensis Comitissæ records that Ida was the daughter of "pater…Godefridus, mater…Doda"[269]. "Heinricus…rex" confirmed the foundation and possessions of the convent of Maria Magdalena atVerdun by charter dated 16 Jun 1040, on thepetition of "RicardiVirdunensis ecclesiæ presulis,…quodam suædioceseos clerico Ermenfrido,…tempore patris sui Heizelini comitis" which records donations by "…Guota per manus mariti sui Gotefrididucis…"[270]. The origin of Doda is not known. Murray suggests[271] that she was the daughter of Manassès [I] Comte de Rethel, her name resembling the name of Manassès's wife. This proposed origin is presumably inconsistent with Doda's daughter having been the wife of Manassès [II] Comte de Rethel (see below), as the couple would have been first cousins.
m secondly ([Mantua] mid-1054) as her second husband, BEATRIX of Upper Lotharingia, widow of BONIFAZIO Marchese of Tuscany, Signor di Canossa, daughter of FREDERIC II Duke [of Upper Lotharingia] & his wife Mathilde of Swabia ([1019]-18 Apr 1076, bur Pisa Cathedral). The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines records the second marriage of "Bonifacius…relictam Beatricem" with "Godefridus…cognomento Barbatus", specifying (incorrectly) that she was daughter of "Sigifridi de Brie filii ducis Theoderici"[272]. Regent of Tuscany 1054-1056. Having retired to Verdun with her husband in early 1069 due to his deteriorating health, she returned to Italy after his death and associated her daughter in the government of her Italian estates[273]. The Notæ de Beatrice ducissi Tusciæ et Gisla records the death "1076 XIV Kal Mai" of "Tuscie ductrix Italieque Beatrix"[274]. The Annales Pisani of Bernardo Marangoni record the death "IV Kal May" in 1077 of "comitissa Beatrix"[275].
Duke Godefroi II & his first wife had [five] children