The Conqueror of Jerusalem (and his forgotton brother) Baldwin of Boulougne...

Gottfried Statue vor dem Königspalast in Brüssel

The Western Spirit : Even though he barely ruled for a year, the Conqueror of Jerusalem, Godfrey of Bouillon, is very well known. We have all heard of him, but did you know he had a younger brother?

That’s the guy that turned Jerusalem into a kingdom, Baldwin of Boulougne.

Without him, it would have collapsed..Baldwin was born around 1060 into the House of Boulogne. As the youngest son of Eustace II and Ida of Lorraine, it was clear he wouldn’t inherit any land. His path was set for the Church. Chroniclers say he studied for it and even held a canonry at Cambrai.

But he didn’t like it very much..

Long before Urban II called the Crusade in 1095, Baldwin left the clergy. He took up the sword and rode east with his brothers Godfrey and Eustace when the call to liberate Jerusalem came. In 1098, while the main army pushed south, Baldwin headed east toward Edessa (Armenian city).

Read it all here........