Godfrey of Brabant


Godfrey of Brabant, was the first Lord of Aarschot, between 1284 and his death in 1302, and Lord of Vierzon, between 1277 and 1302.

Biography

Godfrey was the third son of Henry III, Duke of Brabant and Adelaide of Burgundy, Duchess of Brabant. He was an able warrior and politician and supported his elder brother John I, Duke of Brabant in all his undertakings. He fought alongside his brother in the Battle of Worringen in 1288, where he captured Reginald I, Count of Guelders.
On October 29, 1284, his father made him Lord of Aarschot. This reestablished a dynasty that had been broken in 1172 when Godfried III, Count of Aarschot, sold his county and, as a result, his heritage, to Godfrey's great-grandfather Godfrey III, Count of Louvain. The transaction was for an unknown amount of money and an equally unknown reason.
In 1292, he negotiated a peace between France and the Count of Flanders. After the death of his brother, he supported his nephew John II of Brabant against all internal and external opposition.
In 1302, when Flanders revolted against King Philip IV of France, Godfrey and his only son joined the army of his French ally in the Battle of the Golden Spurs. Both were killed, as were many more knights of Brabant. His estates were divided among his four married daughters.

Marriage and children

He married in 1277 Jeanne Isabeau dame de Vierzon, daughter of Hervé IV, Lord of Vierzon, and Jeanne de Brenne. They had 1 son and 6 daughters :