Godefroy family

The family claimed descent from Symon Godefroy, who was born at Mons about 1320 and was lord of Sapigneulx near Berry-au-Bac, now in the département of Aisne.

Denis's mother, Marie Lourdel, was the great granddaughter of Jacques III De Thou, and a cousin by marriage of the celebrated antiquarian Claude Fauchet.

In addition to his civic and political work he lectured on law, and produced, after thirty years of labor, his edition of the Codex Theodosianus.

Godefroy's edition was enriched with a multitude of important notes and historical comments, and became a standard authority on the decadent period of the Western Empire.

[1] Denis Godefroy (1615–1681), eldest son of Théodore, succeeded his father as historiographer of France, and re-edited various chronicles which had been published by him.

He was entrusted by Colbert with the care and investigation of the records concerning the Low Countries preserved at Lille, where a great part of his life was spent.