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Henry VII (of Luxembourg)Holy Roman Emperor
Country:
 Italy |
Content:
- Biography of Henry VII (of Luxembourg)
- Reign and Ambitions
- Italian Campaign and Opposition
- Challenges and Death
Biography of Henry VII (of Luxembourg)
Early Life and AscensionHenry VII (of Luxembourg) was born in 1269. He was of Dutch origin and was raised in France. He was dedicated to knighthood by Philip IV and pledged his service to him in the fight against the English. In 1288, he inherited the title of Count of Luxembourg from his father, Henry III.
In 1308, Henry was elected to the German throne thanks to the support of Philip IV and the Avignon Curia. This marked the first time a German emperor came from the House of Luxembourg.
Reign and Ambitions
Throughout his reign, Henry VII was focused on restoring the importance of the Holy Roman Empire in Italy. In 1310, he led a military campaign with 5,000 soldiers, which held significant historical significance as a reaction against the Boniface system. As a proponent of the abstract idea of imperial rule, Henry stood above party politics and did not align himself with the Guelphs or the Ghibellines, which the Italians struggled to understand. As a result, he was not favored by either party.
Italian Campaign and Opposition
During his Italian campaign, Henry VII sought to reconcile the feuding factions in Milan and appointed the Duke of Savoy as his viceroy in northern Italy. However, his absence in the north led to uprisings and resistance from various cities. Only Pisa submitted to Henry, while Florence, Siena, and Lucca resisted him.
In Florence, there was a conflict between the Blacks and the Whites. Dante Alighieri, in his work "Divine Comedy," urged everyone to submit to the emperor, seeing the restoration of the empire as Italy's salvation. In the final canto of "Paradiso," Dante placed Henry VII (under the name Arrigo) in a high position.
Challenges and Death
On June 29, 1312, Henry VII was crowned in the Lateran Cathedral and immediately decided on the question of whether the emperor should be subject to the pope in secular matters. This decision sparked opposition from Robert of Naples, who was supported by the pope and the French king. In response, Henry VII allied himself with Frederick of Sicily, the king of Sicily.
On April 26, 1313, Henry issued a controversial edict that stripped Robert of all his possessions, honors, and titles. However, during preparations for a decisive battle with Robert, Henry suddenly died on August 24, 1313, reportedly from poison.
