Even before the crusades, De Bouillon was a distinguished military leader. He received the highly coveted Duchy of Lorraine from the German Emperor Henry IV before setting out for the Holy Land. This title, combined with his inherited titles Marquis of Anvers and Duke of Anvers, made him one of the most powerful men in Western Europe.
Godefroi was also the first prince to take up arms at the behest of Pope Urban II, essentially inaugurating the First Crusade. He is most famous for capturing Jerusalem from the Saracens in 1099, becoming the first King of Jerusalem since biblical times. His brother, Badouin, succeeded him (see Knights Templar).
The identity of De Boullion’s grandfather is unknown. Wolfram Von Eschenbach, among other grail romancers, claimed that Eustache’s father was in fact the legendary Lohengrin (see Lohengrin).