Also called Henry the Good, the German King and Holy Roman Emperor (kaiser) Henry II was born on May 3, 972 to Duke Henry II (the Quarrelsome) and the Burgindian Princess Gisela in Hildesheim, Bavaria. Like Kaiser Otto III before him Henry was well-studied in literature and as a young man was trained for the priesthood. Because of this he became acquainted at an early age with theology and ecclesiastical interests. He gladly performed pious practices and greatly strengthened the Church of Germany but without taking away from the existing institutions of authority. Much like Kaiser Otto the Great, Henry II had a great partnership with the catholic Church in leading the Holy Roman Empire.
Well educated, and with renowned piety Henry II was famous for his sobriety and practical common sense. He was prudent, thoughtful and at the same time energetic in his duties to the people and united Christendom. The people were always his first concern in matters of state. He travelled across the Empire in his efforts to bring peace and stability, which he accomplished with great conscientiousness and reason. The Church was never far from his thoughts, and as the official Church of Germany, advocate of Christian unity and the claims of inherited succession it was the Catholic Church which raised Henry to the throne. As monarch Henry emulated Kaiser Otto I in his domestic and foreign policy and sought greater Church and state cooperation.
Henry II's efforts at being a peace-maker were felt all across Europe. In 1004 Henry crossed the Alps and was crowned King of Italy by the Archbishop of Milan. The Italian episcopate was devoted to Henry due to their belief in the ideals of the restored Roman Empire and the unity of the spiritual and secular governments in a united Christian Europe. On Henry's second expedition to the Eternal City he came prompted by the dispute between the Counts of Tuscany and the Crescentians over the nomination to the papal throne. It was on this trip that, on February 14, 1014 he was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Benedict VIII. By his third expedition Henry had largely restored the prestige of the Christian Empire completely.
As Kaiser Henry also settled disputes in north and western Europe. Lorraine was one of these trouble spots. He was always noted for his wisdom, fairness and ability to put the good of the Empire above any selfish family policy. He gained dominion over Carinthia and Swabia because his kingdom rested on the solid foundation of intimate alliance with the Catholic Church. He worked to reform the Church in Germany and brought imperial power back to Italy when the bishops and the Pope called him in to end the supremacy of the Greeks. Although not complete, Henry did restore the Empire in northern and central Italy though he was far too responsible to seriously think of readopting the imperialist plans of those before him. He was satisfied to consoldidate the nation and solidify the foundations of Church and imperial authority. Henry II was a patron of the Benedictines and was miraculously cured by St Benedict. He was declared the patron saint of the Benedictine Oblates by Pope Pius X and was canonized by Pope Eugene III in 1146. His feastday is July 13. |
