Date of Birth: 1204
Royal House: Ludowinger
Spouse:
Reign: 1241 – 1247
Predecessor: Hermann II
Summary: Henry Raspe led an interesting life. He was catapulted into leadership of Thuringia, a large area in the center of Germany, by the unexpected death of his brother, Louis IV, while he was en route to the Sixth Crusade in 1226. Louis left a son, Hermann II, as his heir and Henry became his nephew's regent. Having no desire to babysit a four-year-old, Henry actively worked to depose his nephew and be elected landgrave officially. His plans mostly came to fruition in 1231 when he expelled the boy's mother, Elisabeth of Hungary, from the country. She died soon after. Without a protector, Hermann became a tool through which Henry Raspe claimed the landgraviate. Hermann lived as titular landgrave for another ten years, finally dying in 1241, probably due to poison since he had just come of age the previous year.
Henry, as a prominent German ruler, was selected in 1242 in tandem with King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia to act as caretakers for Emperor Frederick II's son, Conrad. Henry did so loyally for three years until Frederick was excommunicated in 1245. At that time, Henry sought the Imperial crown from the technically deposed emperor. On 22 May 1246, Henry Raspe, with the support of Pope Innocent IV, was elected anti-king of Germany in opposition to both Frederick II and Conrad. Conrad revolted and was defeated at the Battle of Nidda in August of that year. Unfortunately, Henry faired little better and died early the next year at his Wartburg Castle in Thuringia. His childless and heirless death prompted the War of the Thuringian Succession which saw Thuringia fall to the House of Wettin and Hesse, a former dependency, be created as a new landgraviate. Henry's successor as anti-king was William II, count of Holland and Zeeland.
Henry, as a prominent German ruler, was selected in 1242 in tandem with King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia to act as caretakers for Emperor Frederick II's son, Conrad. Henry did so loyally for three years until Frederick was excommunicated in 1245. At that time, Henry sought the Imperial crown from the technically deposed emperor. On 22 May 1246, Henry Raspe, with the support of Pope Innocent IV, was elected anti-king of Germany in opposition to both Frederick II and Conrad. Conrad revolted and was defeated at the Battle of Nidda in August of that year. Unfortunately, Henry faired little better and died early the next year at his Wartburg Castle in Thuringia. His childless and heirless death prompted the War of the Thuringian Succession which saw Thuringia fall to the House of Wettin and Hesse, a former dependency, be created as a new landgraviate. Henry's successor as anti-king was William II, count of Holland and Zeeland.
Date of Death: 16 February 1247
Successor: Henry III
Other Monarchs Who Died Today:
- Afonso III, king of Portugal (1279)
- John V, emperor of Constantinople (1391)
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