Henry II, Count of Sayn
Encyclopedia
Henry II was the Count of Sayn
, a County located near the Sieg River in northern Rhineland-Palatinate
, Germany
. Henry II shared the first year of his reign with his uncle, Count Henry I, as he and his father Eberhard II had co-ruled the Countship. Godfrey II (Count of Sponheim
) had been a regent from 1181 and continued until his death in 1220. John (Count of Sponheim-Starkenburg) was regent from 1226 until Henry's death in 1246.
In 1233, the Church's German Grand Inquisitor, Conrad von Marburg
accused Henry of indulging in satanic orgies. Henry pleaded his case successfully to an assembly of bishops in Mainz
and was acquitted. Conrad, however, refused to accept the verdict, but eventually left Mainz. Whilst passing near Marburg
, Konrad was ambushed and killed by a group of knights. It is unknown whether they were in the service of Henry.
Henry died in 1246. His County was inherited by Count Eberhard III of Sponheim-Eberstein.
Sayn
Sayn was a mediæval German County located in the Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. There were two Counties of Sayn: the first County emerged in 1139. It became closely associated with the County of Sponheim early in its existence. Count Henry II was notable for being accused of...
, a County located near the Sieg River in northern Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Henry II shared the first year of his reign with his uncle, Count Henry I, as he and his father Eberhard II had co-ruled the Countship. Godfrey II (Count of Sponheim
Sponheim
Sponheim is a municipality in the district of Bad Kreuznach in Rhineland-Palatinate, in western Germany.-History:Sponheim was the capital of the County of Sponheim. There was a Benedictine abbey here which was founded in 1101 by Stephan II, Count of Sponheim not far from the countly residence at...
) had been a regent from 1181 and continued until his death in 1220. John (Count of Sponheim-Starkenburg) was regent from 1226 until Henry's death in 1246.
In 1233, the Church's German Grand Inquisitor, Conrad von Marburg
Konrad von Marburg
Konrad von Marburg was a medieval German inquisitor. He was commissioned by the Pope to combat the Albigensians, whom the Roman Catholic Church considered heretics...
accused Henry of indulging in satanic orgies. Henry pleaded his case successfully to an assembly of bishops in Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
and was acquitted. Conrad, however, refused to accept the verdict, but eventually left Mainz. Whilst passing near Marburg
Marburg
Marburg is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany, on the River Lahn. It is the main town of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district and its population, as of March 2010, was 79,911.- Founding and early history :...
, Konrad was ambushed and killed by a group of knights. It is unknown whether they were in the service of Henry.
Henry died in 1246. His County was inherited by Count Eberhard III of Sponheim-Eberstein.