House of Ardenne–Verdun

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The House of Ardenne–Verdun was a branch of the old Ardennes family, based in Verdun and very powerful in the Duchy of Lorraine during the 10th and 11th centuries. They traced their lines to Cunigunda of France, a granddaughter of the West Frankish king Louis the Stammerer, and while Cunigunda had several children, most were with her first husband, Wigeric of Lotharingia. The Ardenne family also had other branches, such as Ardenne–Luxembourg and Ardenne–Bar.

Wigeric’s son Gozlin became the dynasty’s ancestor in the Ardennes and married Oda, a relative of the East Frankish king Henry the Fowler. Gozlin’s brothers included Frederick, who ruled Upper Lorraine, and Theodoric, who ruled after him. Gozlin’s sons were Godfrey (the Captive) and Adalbero, the Archbishop of Reims. Godfrey became Count of Verdun around 960 and married Matilda, daughter of Hermann Billung.

In 1012, Godfrey II was made Duke of Lower Lorraine by the East Frankish king Henry II to help defend the lands from West Francia. For a time, the Ardennes family held both Lower and Upper Lorraine. The line of Upper Lorraine dukes ended in 1033, and their cousin Gothelo united both duchies. After Gothelo’s death in 1044, King Henry III split the lands again, giving Lower Lorraine to Gothelo II and leaving Godfrey III the Bearded with Upper Lorraine. When Gothelo II died in 1046, Godfrey III claimed the whole duchy but the emperor refused to reunite them. Upper Lorraine was lost to the Ardennes–Metz line.

Godfrey III strengthened his position through marriage to Beatrice in 1054 and again ruled Lower Lorraine from 1065. His line of Lower Lorraine dukes ended with Godfrey IV the Hunchback, who was killed in 1076. Although he named his nephew Godfrey of Bouillon as his successor, the emperor took the lands for his own son. In 1088, Godfrey of Bouillon was finally made regent of Lower Lorraine. The County of Verdun had been given to Godfrey I sometime between 944 and 951, and Bouillon Castle near Bouillon appears in records from 988. Bouillon stayed a key stronghold until Godfrey of Bouillon sold it to help fund the First Crusade. The Crusader Godfrey of Bouillon, a nephew of Godfrey IV, was the last member of the Ardenne–Verdun line to hold the duchy.