Gothelo was the youngest son of Godfrey I, Count of Verdun, and Matilda Billung, daughter of Herman, Duke of Saxony. On his father"s death, he received the march of Antwerp and became a vassal of his brother, Godfrey II, who became duke of Lower Lorraine in 1012.
He was also the margrave of Antwerp from 1005 (or 1008) and count of Verdun. In the battle at Bar on 15 November 1037, Gothelo dealt a decisive blow to Odo, who was trying to create an independent state between France and Germany. Odo died in the battle.
Gothelo died on 19 April 1044 and was buried in the Abbey Church of Bilzen.
When Godfrey showed disagreement with the imperial decision, Henry III threatened to pass the duchy to Godfrey"s incompetent brother Gothelo. The name of Gothelo"s wife is not known, the name Barbe de Lebarten (and in fact her entire ancestry), being a spurious concoction of later genealogists.
He had the following children:
Godfrey the Bearded, duke of Upper Lorraine
Gothelo, duke of Lower Lorraine
Frederick, later Pope Stephen IX
Regilinda, married Albert II, Count of Namur
Oda, married Lambert II, Count of Leuven
Matilda, married Henry I, Count Palatine of Lotharingia.
