He was the younger son of Count Adalbert II of Calw and Wiltrudis of Lorraine, a daughter of Duke Godfrey the Bearded.
[2] After the death of Count Palatine Siegfried of Ballenstedt on March 9, 1113 as a result of an attack by imperial supporters, Gottfried was appointed as his successor on April 6, 1113.
[3] His appointment led to disputes in Lorraine the following year, as well as with the Archbishop of Mainz, Adalbert I of Saarbrücken, and his colleague in Trier, Bruno von Lauffen.
The death of Henry V in 1125 and the election of Lothair III as the new king weakened Godfrey's position: although he was not immediately stripped of the County Palatine, a second Count Palatine, Wilhelm von Ballenstedt was appointed alongside him.
Gottfried acted as guardian for Wilhelm, a minor, from 1126 to 1129 and was then forced to hand the County Palatine over to him.