Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor
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Henry VII, (In German: Heinrich; in Italian: Arrigo), ca. 1275-1313, of the House of Luxembourg, was King of the Romans from 1308 to 1313, and also Holy Roman Emperor from 1312.
[edit] Life
He was a son of Count Henry VI of Luxembourg and Beatrice of Avesnes. His son, John of Luxembourg, was elected as king of Bohemia in 1310. On 15 August 1309, Henry VII announced his intention to travel to Rome and expected his troops to be ready to travel by 1 October 1310. He then travelled to Rome to be crowned as emperor, the title having been vacant since the death of Frederick II. His coronation was on June 29, 1312.
As Emperor he planned to restore the glory of the Holy Roman Empire, and indeed he restored imperial power in parts of northern Italy, fighting against the anti-imperial commune of Florence. However, he quarrelled with the Guelphs and Ghibellines, especially in the free cities in Tuscany, and King Robert of Naples and Pope Clement V were both worried about his firm imperial policies. Henry wanted to punish Robert of Naples for his disloyal actions (Robert was technically Henry's vassal), but he died on August 24, 1313, near Siena.
Henry is the famous alto Arrigo in Dante's Paradise. Dante also alludes to him numerous times in "Purgatorio" as the savior who will bring imperial rule back to Italy, and end the inappropriate temporal control of the Church. Henry VII's success in Italy was not lasting, however, and after his death the anti-imperialist forces regained control.
After the death of Henry VII, two rivals, the Wittelsbach Ludwig of Bavaria and Frederick the Handsome of the House of Habsburg, laid claim to the crown. Their dispute culminated in the Battle of Mühldorf on 28 September 1322, which was lost by Frederick.
[edit] Family and children
He was married in Tervuren 9 July 1292 with Margaret of Brabant, daughter of John I, Duke of Brabant and had the following children:
- John I, Count of Luxemburg (10 August 1296 – 26 August 1346),
- Marie (1304–26 March 1324, Issoudun-en-Berry), married in Paris 21 September 1322 to King Charles IV of France.
- Beatrix (1305–11 November 1319), married 1318 to King Charles I of Hungary.
[edit] References
- William M. Bowsky, Henry VII in Italy, Lincoln, 1960.
- Maria Elisabeth Franke, Kaiser Heinrich VII. im Spiegel der Historiographie, Köln/Weimar/Wien, 1992.
| Preceded by Henry VI |
Count of Luxembourg 1288–1313 |
Succeeded by John I |
| Preceded by Albert I |
King of Germany and King of the Romans 1308–1313 |
Succeeded by Louis IV and Frederick the Handsome |
| Preceded by Vacant (Frederick II to 1250) |
Holy Roman Emperor 1312–1313 |
Succeeded by Louis IV |
