Holy Roman Emperor. Born Heinrich Hohenstaufen, the second son of Friedrich I 'Barbarossa' Hohenstaufen, Holy Roman Emperor and Beatrice de Bourgogne at Nijmegen, Holland. He succeeded to the title of Heinrich VI of the Romans in 1169. He married Constance of Sicily in January 1186. In 1189, he claimed to be the heir of William II of Sicily, who died without issue. His wife's nephew, Tancred, however, also claimed the Sicilian throne. The English king, Richard I, supported Tancred, earning Heinrich's enmity. He was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1191. In March 1193, he captured Richard I when returning from the Third Crusade, and demanded a heavy ransom for Richard's release. Pope Celestine III excommunicated him for imprisoning a fellow Crusader. In 1194, with the death of Tancred, he again moved to take the throne of Sicily and gained the title of King Heinrich of Sicily. That same year, his only son, the future Friedrich II, was born. He died, probably due to malaria, at the age of 31.
Holy Roman Emperor. Born Heinrich Hohenstaufen, the second son of Friedrich I 'Barbarossa' Hohenstaufen, Holy Roman Emperor and Beatrice de Bourgogne at Nijmegen, Holland. He succeeded to the title of Heinrich VI of the Romans in 1169. He married Constance of Sicily in January 1186. In 1189, he claimed to be the heir of William II of Sicily, who died without issue. His wife's nephew, Tancred, however, also claimed the Sicilian throne. The English king, Richard I, supported Tancred, earning Heinrich's enmity. He was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1191. In March 1193, he captured Richard I when returning from the Third Crusade, and demanded a heavy ransom for Richard's release. Pope Celestine III excommunicated him for imprisoning a fellow Crusader. In 1194, with the death of Tancred, he again moved to take the throne of Sicily and gained the title of King Heinrich of Sicily. That same year, his only son, the future Friedrich II, was born. He died, probably due to malaria, at the age of 31.
Bio by: Iola
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