Henry VII, Holy Roman Empire

Henry VII
Henry VII of Luxembourg
Holy Roman Emperor
Reign	29 June 1312 – 24 August 1313
Coronation	29 June 1312, Rome
Predecessor	Frederick II
Successor	Louis IV
King of the Romans
Reign	27 November 1308 – 24 August 1313
Coronation	6 January 1309, Aachen
Predecessor	Albert I
Successor	Louis IV
King of Italy
Reign	6 January 1311 – 24 August 1313
Coronation	6 January 1311, Milan
Predecessor	Conrad IV
Successor	Louis IV
Count of Luxembourg and Arlon
Reign	5 June 1288 – 24 August 1313
Predecessor	Henry VI
Successor	John I
Born	1275 Valenciennes, County of Hainaut
Died	24 August 1313 (aged 38) Buonconvento, Italy
Burial	Duomo di Pisa, Pisa
Spouse	Margaret of Brabant
Issue	John, King of Bohemia Marie, Queen of France Beatrice, Queen of Hungary
House	Luxembourg
Father	Henry VI of Luxembourg
Mother	Beatrice d'Avesnes
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Henry VII (German: Heinrich; c. 1275 – 24 August 1313) was the King of Germany (or 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 Guelf 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.

Born around 1275 in Valenciennes, he was a son of Count Henry VI of Luxembourg and Béatrice from the House of Avesnes. Raised at the French court, he was the lord of comparatively small properties in a peripheral and predominantly French-speaking part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was symptomatic of the empire’s weakness that during his rule as the Count of Luxembourg, he agreed to become a French vassal, seeking the protection of King Philip the Fair of France. During his rule of Luxembourg, he ruled effectively, especially in keeping the peace in local feudal disputes.