German King and Duke of Saxony. He was born around 876 as the eldest son of Duke Otto of Saxony and Hadwig of Babenberg. He married Hatheburg von Merseburg in 906 and had a son with her, but they where divorced again three years later because he had found a woman whose family was wealthier than hers. Heinrich kept her dowry and she was sent to a monastery where she became abbess. In 909 he married Mathilde von Ringelheim, who bore him five children. King Konrad I supposedly named him his successor on his deathbed and ordered his brother Eberhard to bring Heinrich the royal insignia. The legend says he was catching birds when the crown was given to him, thus his german nickname became "Vogelfänger" (bird-catcher). In May 919, during the Reichstag of Fritzlar, he was elected King of the Germans, after Eberhard had renounced his right of succession. During his reign he was able to unite the German tribes to one kingdom. In 933 he defeated the Magyars in the Battle of Riade. It is possible that he had a stroke in late 935, but recovered from it. In late spring of the following year he met with his highest ranking nobles in Erfurt to discuss the future of the kingdom. He recommended them his son Otto as his successor. From Erfurt he traveled to Memleben where he suffered a second stroke and died. He was buried in the monastery his wife established in the same year in Quedlinburg. She survived him by thirty years and was buried beside him. His grave didn't survive the centuries, while those of his wife and granddaughter did.
German King and Duke of Saxony. He was born around 876 as the eldest son of Duke Otto of Saxony and Hadwig of Babenberg. He married Hatheburg von Merseburg in 906 and had a son with her, but they where divorced again three years later because he had found a woman whose family was wealthier than hers. Heinrich kept her dowry and she was sent to a monastery where she became abbess. In 909 he married Mathilde von Ringelheim, who bore him five children. King Konrad I supposedly named him his successor on his deathbed and ordered his brother Eberhard to bring Heinrich the royal insignia. The legend says he was catching birds when the crown was given to him, thus his german nickname became "Vogelfänger" (bird-catcher). In May 919, during the Reichstag of Fritzlar, he was elected King of the Germans, after Eberhard had renounced his right of succession. During his reign he was able to unite the German tribes to one kingdom. In 933 he defeated the Magyars in the Battle of Riade. It is possible that he had a stroke in late 935, but recovered from it. In late spring of the following year he met with his highest ranking nobles in Erfurt to discuss the future of the kingdom. He recommended them his son Otto as his successor. From Erfurt he traveled to Memleben where he suffered a second stroke and died. He was buried in the monastery his wife established in the same year in Quedlinburg. She survived him by thirty years and was buried beside him. His grave didn't survive the centuries, while those of his wife and granddaughter did.
Bio by: Lutetia
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