Henry the Proud

Henry the Proud (c. 1108–1139) of the House of Welf became Duke of Bavaria in 1126 and in 1127 married Gertrude, heiress of King Lothair III of Germany.

He fought for Lothair against the Hohenstaufen and campaigned with him in Italy in 1136, winning Tuscany and Spoleto. Rewarded with the Duchy of Saxony, he was the leading candidate to succeed Lothair as king in 1138 but lost the election to Conrad III.

Conrad refused to invest him with Saxony, saying one man could not hold two duchies. Placed under the ban, Henry recovered Saxony by force in 1139, then died suddenly at Quedlinburg on 20 October while preparing to invade Bavaria.