Henry II, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen

Henry II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, (before 1296 – after 1351), also called de Graecia ("of Greece"), was the eldest son of Henry I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.

On their father's death in 1322, his sons agreed to rule the Principality of Grubenhagen jointly; but they finally divided up the territory, and Henry did not receive a part, and instead took over the administration of the brothers' joint property.

In 1327, Henry joined Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, when Louis traveled to Rome for his coronation. Henry continued to travel to Greece and Constantinople, visiting his brother-in-law Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos, and on to Jerusalem. Loaded with relics, he returned home in 1331. Apart from his travels, little is known about his life. Those of his sons who did not join the church obtained careers in southern European kingdoms; most notably Otto, who married Queen Joanna I of Naples.

Family

Firstly, Henry married Jutta (bef. 1302 – bef. 1330), daughter of Henry I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Stendal. They had the following children:

• Agnes (c. 1318 – bef. 2 June 1371), married Barnim III, Duke of Pomerania.
• Otto (1320 – 13 May 1399), married firstly Violante of Vilaragut, titular Dowager Queen of Majorca, and secondly Queen Joanna I of Naples.
• John (c. 1321 – aft. 4 December 1346), canon of Halberstadt.
• Louis (c. 1323 – aft. 26 May 1373), canon of Cammin.

Secondly, Henry married Heloise (aka Helwig or Helvis; died 1347/48), daughter of Philip of Ibelin, Seneschal of Jerusalem. They had the following children:

• Philip (c. 1332 - 4 August 1369/70), Constable of Jerusalem; married firstly Helisia de Dampierre and secondly Alix of Ibelin.
• Riddag (c. 1334 - 1364/67).
• Balthazar (c. 1336 – aft. 14 January 1384), Despot of Romania, married Giacobella Caetani di Fondi.
• Thomas (c. 1338 – c. 1384), joined the Augustinians.
• Melchior (c. 1341 – 6 June 1381), Bishop of Osnabrück and Schwerin.
• Helvis, married Louis de Nores.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Henry II, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen

16. William of Winchester               8. Otto I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg                       17. Helena of Denmark               4. Albert I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg                             18. Albert II, Margrave of Brandenburg               9. Matilda of Brandenburg                       19. Matilda of Lusatia               2. Henry I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg                                   20. William VI, Marquess of Montferrat               10. Boniface II, Marquess of Montferrat                       21. Berta di Clavesana               5. Adelheid of Montferrat                             22. Amadeus IV, Count of Savoy               11. Margaret of Savoy                       23. Marguerite of Burgundy, Countess of Savoy               1. Henry II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg                                         24. Dietrich I, Margrave of Meissen               12. Henry III, Margrave of Meissen                       25. Jutta of Thuringia               6. Albert II, Margrave of Meissen                             26. Leopold VI, Duke of Austria               13. Constantia of Austria                       27. Theodora Angelina               3. Agnes of Meissen                                   28. Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor               14. Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor                       29. Constance, Queen of Sicily               7. Margaret of Sicily                             30. John, King of England               15. Isabella of England                       31. Isabella of Angoulême

References

• Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, vol. 11, p. 485-486