Gothelo II, Duke of Lower Lorraine
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Gothelo II, also Gozelo (1008 – 1046), variously called the Coward, the Sluggard, the Indolent, or the Lazy (Latin ignavus), was the duke of Lower Lorraine from the death of his father Gothelo I, duke of both Lower and Upper Lorraine, to his own death two years later.
After the elder Gothelo's death, Godfrey, the eldest son, who had been co-ruling in Upper Lorraine for several years already, was not given Lower Lorraine by the Emperor Henry III, who bestowed it on the second son: Gothelo, not known for his courage or competence (he may have been mentally deficient). Godfrey rebelled, but Henry didn't budge. In 1046, Gothelo died unexpectedly and Henry appointed Frederick of Luxembourg to succeed him.
Gothelo's death has been disputed. Some believe he was disgraced. Others have suggested that he never even existed. The homonymy between father and son and the imprecision of the documents (including the fact that not all mention him) have made his existence debatable, but it is far from improbable.
| Preceded by: Gothelo I |
Duke of Lower Lorraine 1044 – 1046 |
Succeeded by: Frederick |
