Background
His mother was Ida of Lorraine.
His mother was Ida of Lorraine.
In 1088, Eustace supported the rebellion against William II of England in favour of Robert Curthose. Throughout the crusade Eustace assisted Godfrey. Eustace was present at the Siege of Nicaea (May-June 1097), helped rescue Bohemund of Taranto"s beleaguered troops at the Battle of Dorylaeum (July 1st, 1097), defeated an enemy ambush during the Siege of Antioch and was one of the commanders during the capture of Antioch on June 3rd, 1098.
Early December 1098 Eustace joined Raymond"s attack on Maarrat al-Nu"man and an attack on Nablus in July 1099.
They were among the first to breach Jerusalem"s city walls and participated in the ensuing massacre. Finally Eustace commanded a division of the crusader army during the Battle of Ascalon.
To commemorate Eustace"s crusading adventures the mint at Boulogne struck silver coins with a lion above the walls of Jerusalem stamped on the obverse. Eustace and Mary had one daughter, Matilda of Boulogne.
Eustace was at first uninterested, but was convinced to accept lieutenant
He travelled all the way to Apulia before learning that a distant relative, Baldwin of Bourcq, had been crowned in the meantime. Eustace returned to Boulogne and died about 1125. Eustace founded the Cluniac house of Rumilly and was patron of the Knights Templar.
Eustace was a member of the council held at Ruj on January 4th, 1099, mediating in the conflict over the control of Antioch between Bohemund of Taranto and Raymond IV of Toulouse.
