July 22, 1099

Godfrey of Bouillon

Godfrey of Bouillon elected ruler of Jerusalem

Jerusalem had a ruler on 22 July 1099, but historians still debate whether it yet had a kingdom.

Seven days without a ruler

Jerusalem had been captured on 15 July 1099. Seven days later, on 22 July, the crusade's leaders elected Godfrey of Bouillon as the city's secular ruler.

Much of the expedition was returning west, and the crusaders needed a resident authority to govern and defend what they had taken.

Prince of the city

The contemporary Gesta Francorum calls Godfrey princeps civitatis — prince of the city — and says his charge was to fight Jerusalem's enemies and protect its Christians.

He did not assume the unambiguous title king of Jerusalem. Evidence that the polity was already regarded as a kingdom before Baldwin I's coronation in 1100 is scant.

The contemporary source says Godfrey was brought to the Holy Sepulchre after being elected; it does not securely place the electoral meeting inside the church.

What the sources will not settle

Later narratives say Raymond IV of Toulouse was considered before Godfrey and refused royal dignity, but the election's deliberations are imperfectly documented.

Godfrey's title is disputed. The only firm contemporary evidence for advocatus ecclesiae Sancti Sepulchri comes from a later 1099 letter issued while Godfrey was absent; other sources call him princeps, duke, king or lord. The familiar crown-of-thorns explanation is a later narrative tradition, and may originally relate to objections raised at Baldwin I's coronation.

A recent scholarly study argues that the safest date for the kingdom's creation is Baldwin I's coronation on 25 December 1100, not Godfrey's election.

Sources

Researched 23 Aug 2026 5 sources not yet audited Date disputed

How this was checked

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Date disputed. Sources disagree about when this happened.

What the sources leave uncertain

The 22 July date is well supported by the Gesta Francorum’s statement that the election occurred on the eighth day after the 15 July capture.
Godfrey’s title is disputed. The only firm contemporary evidence for advocatus ecclesiae Sancti Sepulchri comes from a later 1099 letter issued while Godfrey was absent; other sources call him princeps, duke, king, or lord.
The familiar crown-of-thorns explanation is a later narrative tradition and may originally relate to objections raised at Baldwin I’s coronation.
A recent scholarly study argues that the safest date for the kingdom’s creation is Baldwin I’s coronation on 25 December 1100, not Godfrey’s election.