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House of Ardenne–Verdun
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House of Ardenne–Verdun
The House of Ardenne–Verdun (French: Maison d'Ardenne-Verdun) was a branch of the House of Ardenne, one of the first documented medieval European noble families, centered on Verdun. The family dominated in the Duchy of Lotharingia (Lorraine) in the 10th and 11th centuries. All members descended from Cunigunda of France, a granddaughter of the West Frankish king Louis the Stammerer. She married twice but all or most of her children were children of her first husband, Count Palatine Wigeric of Lotharingia. The other main branches of the House of Ardennes were the House of Ardenne–Luxembourg, and the House of Ardenne–Bar.
Wigeric's son Gozlin (911–942/43) became the dynasty's ancestor when he succeeded his father as count in the Ardennes and about 930 married Oda (d. 963), a daughter of Count Gerhard I of Metz and niece of the East Frankish king Henry the Fowler. His brothers were
Gozelin's brother Frederick already acted as a ruler over Upper Lorraine during the reign of the Ottonian duke Bruno the Great, confirmed by Emperor Otto I after Bruno's death in 965. He was succeeded by his son Theodoric in 978.
Gozlin's sons were Godfrey, known as "the Captive", and Adalbero, Archbishop of Reims from 969. Godfrey succeeded his father in the Ardennes counties; he appeared as Count of Verdun about 960. He married Matilda, a daughter of the Saxon margrave Hermann Billung and widow of Count Baldwin III of Flanders. In 1012 his son Godfrey II was appointed Duke of Lower Lorraine by the East Frankish (German) king Henry II, in order to protect the lands against claims raised by West Francia (France). With Godfrey's uncle Duke Theodoric, both Lower and Upper Lorraine then were held by the House of Ardennes.
The line of Upper Lorraine dukes became extinct upon the death of Theodoric's grandson Duke Frederick III in 1033; whereafter his cousin Gothelo, son and heir of Duke Godfrey II of Lower Lorraine II could unite both duchies in his hands. After his death in 1044, however, King Henry III enfeoffed Lower Lorraine to his younger son Gothelo II and the elder, Godfrey III the Bearded, could only succeed in Upper Lorraine. When Gothelo II died two years later, Godfrey III claimed his rights but found Henry III unwilling to re-unite both duchies. He openly rebelled, campaigned the Lower Lorraine lands and was finally declared deposed by the emperor. Thereafter, Upper Lorraine was lost and passed to Count Adalbert of Metz, a son of late Theodoric's daughter Gisela, and his descendants of the Ardennes-Metz dynasty, ancestors of the later House of Lorraine.
Godfrey III could again strengthen his position, when in 1054 he married Beatrice, a sister of the later Upper Lorraine duke Frederick III, and ruled as Margrave of Tuscany from 1056. He reconciled with the emperor and in 1065 regained the Duchy of Lower Lorraine from the hands of King Henry IV.
However, the line of Lower Lorraine dukes became extinct upon the assassination of his son Duke Godfrey IV the Hunchback in 1076. Though he had designated his nephew Godfrey of Bouillon, son of his sister Ida his successor, his estates were seized by Emperor Henry IV in favour of his son Conrad. Not until 1088, Godfrey of Bouillon was appointed Lower Lorraine regent.
The County of Verdun was given to Godfrey by Emperor Otto I between 944 and 951, and was held by several dynasty members over the following four generations.
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House of Ardenne–Verdun
The House of Ardenne–Verdun (French: Maison d'Ardenne-Verdun) was a branch of the House of Ardenne, one of the first documented medieval European noble families, centered on Verdun. The family dominated in the Duchy of Lotharingia (Lorraine) in the 10th and 11th centuries. All members descended from Cunigunda of France, a granddaughter of the West Frankish king Louis the Stammerer. She married twice but all or most of her children were children of her first husband, Count Palatine Wigeric of Lotharingia. The other main branches of the House of Ardennes were the House of Ardenne–Luxembourg, and the House of Ardenne–Bar.
Wigeric's son Gozlin (911–942/43) became the dynasty's ancestor when he succeeded his father as count in the Ardennes and about 930 married Oda (d. 963), a daughter of Count Gerhard I of Metz and niece of the East Frankish king Henry the Fowler. His brothers were
Gozelin's brother Frederick already acted as a ruler over Upper Lorraine during the reign of the Ottonian duke Bruno the Great, confirmed by Emperor Otto I after Bruno's death in 965. He was succeeded by his son Theodoric in 978.
Gozlin's sons were Godfrey, known as "the Captive", and Adalbero, Archbishop of Reims from 969. Godfrey succeeded his father in the Ardennes counties; he appeared as Count of Verdun about 960. He married Matilda, a daughter of the Saxon margrave Hermann Billung and widow of Count Baldwin III of Flanders. In 1012 his son Godfrey II was appointed Duke of Lower Lorraine by the East Frankish (German) king Henry II, in order to protect the lands against claims raised by West Francia (France). With Godfrey's uncle Duke Theodoric, both Lower and Upper Lorraine then were held by the House of Ardennes.
The line of Upper Lorraine dukes became extinct upon the death of Theodoric's grandson Duke Frederick III in 1033; whereafter his cousin Gothelo, son and heir of Duke Godfrey II of Lower Lorraine II could unite both duchies in his hands. After his death in 1044, however, King Henry III enfeoffed Lower Lorraine to his younger son Gothelo II and the elder, Godfrey III the Bearded, could only succeed in Upper Lorraine. When Gothelo II died two years later, Godfrey III claimed his rights but found Henry III unwilling to re-unite both duchies. He openly rebelled, campaigned the Lower Lorraine lands and was finally declared deposed by the emperor. Thereafter, Upper Lorraine was lost and passed to Count Adalbert of Metz, a son of late Theodoric's daughter Gisela, and his descendants of the Ardennes-Metz dynasty, ancestors of the later House of Lorraine.
Godfrey III could again strengthen his position, when in 1054 he married Beatrice, a sister of the later Upper Lorraine duke Frederick III, and ruled as Margrave of Tuscany from 1056. He reconciled with the emperor and in 1065 regained the Duchy of Lower Lorraine from the hands of King Henry IV.
However, the line of Lower Lorraine dukes became extinct upon the assassination of his son Duke Godfrey IV the Hunchback in 1076. Though he had designated his nephew Godfrey of Bouillon, son of his sister Ida his successor, his estates were seized by Emperor Henry IV in favour of his son Conrad. Not until 1088, Godfrey of Bouillon was appointed Lower Lorraine regent.
The County of Verdun was given to Godfrey by Emperor Otto I between 944 and 951, and was held by several dynasty members over the following four generations.