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- BIOGRAPHY
Gozelo, called 'the Great', was born about 967, the youngest son of Godefroy, Graf von Verdun and Ardennes, and Mathilde von Sachsen. He was the duke of Lower Lorraine from 1023 and of Upper Lorraine from 1033. Gozelo was also the margrave of Antwerp from 1005 (or 1008) and count of Verdun.
The name of Gozelo's wife is not known; he had six children by her, of whom Regilindis, Oda and Geoffroy would have progeny. Friedrich would become Pope Stephan IX.
On his father's death he received the march of Antwerp and became a vassal of his brother Godefroy, who became duke of Lower Lorraine in 1012. He succeeded his brother in 1023 with the support of Emperor Heinrich II, but was opposed until Heinrich's successor Emperor Konrad II forced the rebels to submit in 1025. When the house of Bar, which ruled in Upper-Lorraine, became extinct in 1033 with the death of his cousin Friedrich III, duke of Upper-Lorraine, Emperor Konrad made Gozelo duke of both duchies, so that he could assist in the defence of the territory against Eudes II, comte de Blois, Chartres, Troyes et Champagne.
In the Battle of Bar on 15 November 1037, Gozelo dealt a decisive blow to Eudes, who was trying to create an independent state between France and Germany. Eudes died in the battle.
Gozelo died on 19 April 1044 and is buried in the Abbey Church of Bilsen. His son Geoffroy succeeded in Upper Lorraine, but Emperor Heinrich III refused to give him the duchy of Lower Lorraine as well. When Geoffroy showed disagreement with the imperial decision, Heinrich III threatened to pass the duchy to Geoffroy's incompetent brother Gozelo. This caused a long rebellion (1044-1056) in Lotharingia between the allies of Geoffroy (the counts of Flanders and Louvain) and imperial forces.
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