Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor

Henry II (973–1024), later Saint Henry, was the son of Duke Henry the Wrangler of Bavaria. Succeeding as duke in 995, he took the German crown after his cousin Otto III died childless in 1002, became King of Italy in 1004 and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in Rome in 1014.

He founded the bishopric of Bamberg in 1007 and waged long wars against Poland, ending with the Peace of Bautzen in 1018. He died without an heir in 1024, the last Ottonian ruler, and was canonized in 1146.