Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor

Henry VII
Detail of a miniature depicting Henry VII, c. 1380–1400[1]
Holy Roman Emperor
Reign29 June 1312 – 24 August 1313
Coronation29 June 1312, Rome
PredecessorFrederick II
SuccessorLouis IV
King of the Romans
Reign27 November 1308 – 24 August 1313
Coronation6 January 1309, Aachen
PredecessorAlbert I
SuccessorLouis IV
King of Italy
Reign6 January 1311 – 24 August 1313
Coronation6 January 1311, Milan
PredecessorConrad IV
SuccessorLouis IV
Count of Luxembourg and Arlon
Reign5 June 1288 – 24 August 1313
PredecessorHenry VI
SuccessorJohn I
Bornc. 1273[2]
Valenciennes, County of Hainaut
Died24 August 1313 (aged c. 40)
Buonconvento, Italy
Burial
Spouse
(m. 1292; died 1311)
Issue
HouseHouse of Luxembourg
FatherHenry VI of Luxembourg
MotherBeatrice d'Avesnes

Henry VII (German: Heinrich; Vulgar Latin: Arrigo; c. 1273[3] – 24 August 1313),[4] also known as Henry of Luxembourg, was Count of Luxembourg, King of Germany (Rex Romanorum) from 1308 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1312. He was the first emperor of the House of Luxembourg. During his brief career he reinvigorated the imperial cause in Italy, which was racked with the partisan struggles between the divided Guelph and Ghibelline factions, and inspired the praise of Dino Compagni and Dante Alighieri. He was the first emperor since the death of Frederick II in 1250, ending the Great Interregnum of the Holy Roman Empire; however, his premature death threatened to undo his life's work. His son, John of Bohemia, failed to be elected as his successor, and there was briefly another anti-king, Frederick the Fair, contesting the rule of Louis IV.

  1. ^ Detailed record for Royal 20 C VII, Catalogue of illuminated manuscripts.
  2. ^ Regesta Imperii 6.4.1, Regest a (online).
  3. ^ Cf. Kurt-Ulrich Jäschke, Peter Thorau: Die Regesten des Kaiserreichs unter Rudolf, Adolf, Albrecht, Heinrich VII. 1273–1313. 4. Abteilung: Heinrich VII. 1288/1308–1313, 1. Lieferung: 1288/1308 – August 1309. Vienna 2006, Request a (online).
  4. ^ Kleinhenz, pg. 494