Questions linger as we gaze upon this commanding figure of Godfrey of Bouillon. The Godfrey of Bouillon Statue stands here in Brussels. It is a monument to a leader of the First Crusade. But why does this statue of Godfrey of Bouillon reside here?
The story begins in the 19th century. A newly formed Belgium sought to solidify its national identity. They looked to the past. They found inspiration in medieval figures. Godfrey of Bouillon emerged as a symbol. He was a military leader and a state builder.
Godfrey of Bouillon was born around 1060. He was the second son of Eustace II. Eustace was the Count of Boulogne. Godfrey inherited Bouillon in 1076. Later, he became Duke of Lower Lorraine in 1087.
In 1095, Pope Urban II called for the First Crusade. Godfrey joined. He sold or mortgaged his estates. This financed an army. Godfrey marched to the Holy Land with his brothers. He played a key role in capturing Jerusalem in 1099.
Raymond of Toulouse declined to rule the new kingdom. So Godfrey accepted the role. He became known as the Advocate of the Holy Sepulchre. He refused the title of king. Godfrey felt it inappropriate to wear a crown of gold. Christ wore a crown of thorns.
Godfrey’s reign was short. He ruled for only a year. He defended Jerusalem against the Fatimids. Godfrey died in 1100. His brother Baldwin I succeeded him as King of Jerusalem.
Eugène Simonis created this equestrian statue of Godfrey of Bouillon. It was inaugurated on August 24, 1848. The event marked the supposed 752nd anniversary. That was Godfrey’s departure for the First Crusade. The statue stands in Place Royale. This is the same spot where Leopold I was crowned. Leopold was Belgium’s first king.
The statue wasn’t fully complete for decades. Inscriptions were added in 1874. Bas-reliefs depicting Jerusalem’s capture were added in 1895. One shows Godfrey proclaiming the Assizes.
The statue of Godfrey of Bouillon is more than bronze. It represents Belgium’s quest for identity. It connects the nation to a heroic past. Today, trams run through Place Royale. It makes it hard to reach the statue. Yet Godfrey of Bouillon still stands. He reminds us of Belgium’s national aspirations. He embodies the spirit of a bygone era.