Because he had been the first ruler in Jerusalem Godfrey was idolized in later saga. He was depicted as the leader of the crusades, the king of Jerusalem, the legislator who laid down the assizes of Jerusalem. He was none of these things. Bohemund was the leader of the crusades; Baldwin was first king; the assizes were the result of a gradual development. In still other ways was the figure of Godfrey idealized by the grateful tradition of later days; but in reality he would seem to have been a quiet, pious, hard-fighting knight, who was chosen to rule in Jerusalem because he had no dangerous qualities, and no obvious defects.
LITERATURE.--The narrative of Albert of Aix may be regarded as presenting the Lotharingian point of view, as the _Gesta_ presents the Norman, and Raymund of Agiles the Provençal. The career of Godfrey has been discussed in modern times by R. Röhricht, _Die Deutschen im heiligen Lande_, Band ii., and _Geschichte des ersten Kreuzzuges, passim_ (Innsbruck, 1901). (E. Br.)
_Romances._--Godfrey was the principal hero of two French _chansons de geste_ dealing with the Crusade, the _Chanson d'Antioche_ (ed. P. Paris, 2 vols., 1848) and the _Chanson de Jérusalem_ (ed. C. Hippeau, 1868), and other poems, containing less historical material, were subsequently added. In addition the parentage and early exploits of Godfrey were made the subject of legend. His grandfather was said to be Helias, knight of the Swan, one of the brothers whose adventures are well known, though with some variation, in the familiar fairy tale of "The Seven Swans." Helias, drawn by the swan, one day disembarked at Nijmwegen, and reconquered her territory for the duchess of Bouillon. Marrying her daughter he exacted a promise that his wife should not inquire into his origin. The tale, which is almost identical with the Lohengrin legend, belongs to the class of the Cupid and Psyche narratives. See LOHENGRIN.
See also C. Hippeau, _Le Chevalier au cygne_ (Paris, 2 vols., 1874-1877); H. Pigeonneau, _Le Cycle de la croisade et de la famille de Bouillon_ (1877); W. Golther, "Lohengrin," in _Roman. Forsch._ (vol. v., 1889); _Hist. litt. de la France_, vol. xxii. pp. 350-402; the English romance of _Helyas, Knyghte of the Swanne_ was printed by W. Copland about 1550.