Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor

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Henry VII, (In German: Heinrich; in Italian: Arrigo), c. 127524 August 1313, of the House of Luxembourg, was King of the Romans from 1308 to 1312, and also Holy Roman Emperor from 1312.

Contents

[edit] Life

Emperor
Holy Roman Empire

Armorial of the Holy Roman Empire

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, in which the poet is shown the seat of honor that awaits Henry in Heaven. 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] Ancestors

Henry VII's ancestors in three generations
Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor Father:
Henry VI of Luxembourg
Paternal Grandfather:
Henry V of Luxembourg
Paternal Great-grandfather:
Waleran III of Limburg
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Ermesinda of Luxembourg
Paternal Grandmother:
Marguerite de Bar-le-Duc
Paternal Great-grandfather:
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Mother:
Beatrice of Avesnes
Maternal Grandfather:
Baldwin of Avesnes
Maternal Great-grandfather:
Bouchard IV of Avesnes
Maternal Great-grandmother:
Margaret II, Countess of Flanders
Maternal Grandmother:
Maternal Great-grandfather:
Maternal Great-grandmother:

[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:

  1. John I, Count of Luxemburg (10 August 129626 August 1346),
  2. Marie (1304–26 March 1324, Issoudun-en-Berry), married in Paris 21 September 1322 to King Charles IV of France.
  3. 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
12881313
Succeeded by
John I
Preceded by
Henry VI
Count of Arlon
12881313
Succeeded by
John I
Preceded by
Gérard I
Count of Durbuy
after 12981313
Succeeded by
John I
Preceded by
Albert I
King of Germany
(formally King of the Romans)

1308–1313
Succeeded by
Louis IV the Bavarian &
Frederick III the Handsome
Preceded by
Frederick II
(vacant since 1250)
Holy Roman Emperor
1312–1313
Succeeded by
Louis IV the Bavarian