He was the son of Henry II, Count of Lorraine and Adelaid of Orlamuda, daughter of Count Eberhard. He married Ida, daughter of Otto II, Count of Chiny and Adelaide of Namur.
Godfrey and Ida had children Adeliza, of Louvain (b. 1103-23 Apr. 1151), who married first, Henry I, King of England and second William D'Aubigny (1109-12 Oct. 1176); and Godfrey II Count of Louvain (d. 1143), who married Luitgarde of Sultzbach, daughter of Berenger I, Count of Sultzbach. Godfrey I participated on the First Crusade and died in Jerusalem.
The remnant of the duchy, united since i 100 with the rnargraviate of Antwerp, was conferred in 1106 by the emperor Henry V., with the title of duke of Lower Lorraine, upon Godfrey (Godefroid) the Bearded," count of Louvain and Brussels.
His title was disputed by Count Henry of Limburg, and for three generations the representatives of the rival houses contested the possession of the ducal dignity in Lower Lorraine.
In the course of a stormy reign Wenzel was taken prisoner in 1371 by the duke of Gelderland, and had to be ransomed by his subjects.
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