Henry II, Germany’s great saint-monarch, died on 13 July 1024. The story of an exiled youth who unexpectedly found himself king and emperor – and who put love and faithfulness to his marriage vows before personal gain, politics or building a dynasty – is little-known in the English-speaking world
11 July 2024, The Tablet
The accidental emperor
St Henry II of Germany
Before marriage had been formally acknowledged as a sacrament, Henry clearly understood it in such terms
ILLUSTRATION: Alamy/Ivy Close Images
Get Instant Access
Continue Reading
Register for free to read this article in full
Subscribe for unlimited access
From just £30 quarterly
Complete access to all Tablet website content including all premium content.
The full weekly edition in print and digital including our 179 years archive.
PDF version to view on iPad, iPhone or computer.
Already a subscriber? Login
