Henry the Lion

Henry the Lion was a dominant German prince during the twelfth century.

He belonged to the Welf dynasty, a noble family with a history stretching back to the eighth century. The Welfs were the first noble family in the kingdom with a known history. Their rise to power was driven by strategic and advantageous marriages. For example, Welf Judith married Emperor Louis the Pious, which brought the family influence into the Frankish Kingdom. Henry was born in Ravensburg around 1129 or 1130. He inherited a massive legacy from his four grandparents, which helped him achieve immense political and military power.

Henry's political life was defined by his relationship with his cousin, Frederick Barbarossa. In 1152, Henry played a decisive role in helping Barbarossa claim the throne. As a reward for this support, Barbarossa promoted Henry intensely. In 1156, Henry received the Dukedom of Bavaria.

At the height of his reign, Henry's territory was vast. His lands stretched from the North and Baltic seas down to the Alps. His rule covered a wide area from Westphalia to Pomerania. This massive landholding made him one of the most powerful figures in the Holy Roman Empire.

Henry was also a prolific urban founder and builder. He used an aggressive building strategy to establish a kingly presence in Northern Germany. He founded the city of Munich in 1157 and the city of Lübeck in 1159. He also developed many other cities, including Augsburg, Hildesheim, Stade, Kassel, Güstrow, Lüneburg, Salzwedel, and Schwerin. In his capital of Brunswick, he built the St Blaise collegiate church. In 1166, he placed a bronze lion statue in the courtyard of Dankwarderode Castle.

This was the first bronze statue located north of the Alps.

Henry's personal life involved significant political connections. In 1147, he married Clementia of Zähringen, which brought her hereditary territories in Swabia into his sphere. He divorced her in 1162, likely due to pressure from Emperor Barbarossa. In 1168, Henry married Matilda, the daughter of King Henry II of England and Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine.

This marriage linked him to the English royal family. Henry and Matilda had several children, including Otto IV, who eventually became the Holy Roman Emperor.

Despite his early success, the relationship between Henry and Barbarossa eventually collapsed. In 1176, Barbarossa launched an invasion of Italy against the Lombard League. Henry refused to provide military assistance for this campaign. Barbarossa was deeply resentful of this refusal. This tension contributed to the Staufen-Welf conflict, a major political force of the twelfth century. The conflict eventually led to Henry's downfall as the rival Hohenstaufen dynasty worked to isolate him.

In 1180, the political situation turned against Henry. A court composed of bishops and princes tried him for insubordination. They declared that Imperial law overruled traditional German law. As a result, the court stripped Henry of his duchies in Bavaria and Saxony.

He was declared an outlaw and forced into exile. He spent three years in southern England living with his father-in-law. Although he was allowed to return to Germany in 1185, his power was greatly diminished.

Henry spent his final years in a much smaller territory around Brunswick. He focused his remaining energy on sponsoring arts and architecture. He died on August 6, 1195. His legacy lived on through historical documents like the Henry the Lion Bible from 1170. He also became a figure of folklore through the Heinrichssage. These legends often tell fictional stories of his travels to the Holy Land. Even today, the image of the Brunswick Lion remains a famous symbol of his era.