Henry, Count of Malta

Enrico de Candia ( Henry of Candia '), also il Pescatore ( the fisherman ') called (* before 1200, † 1230), was a Piedmontese adventurer and privateer in the early 13th century. Born as a member of the House Candia (Casa Candia ) in the northern Italian Piedmont, he was first lord of Candia Canavese and Candia Lomellina ( Candium Laumellorum ).

In 1203 or 1204 he received the title Count of Malta. The title was awarded in 1192 by Tancred of Lecce, from 1190 to his death in February 1194 King of Sicily, at Margaritone di Brindisi. After the deposition of Tancred's son William III. as king in December 1194 and the acquisition of control of Sicily by the Hohenstaufen was the title under Henry VI. , Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and King of Sicily, awarded to the Admiral of Sicily, Guglielmo Grasso. Enrico de Candia earned the title Count of Malta on the basis of his relationship as son and heir of Guglielmo Grasso.

In 1206 Enrico de Candia could occupy large parts of Crete, where he studied under several fasteners such as Belvedere, Bonifacio at Kastelli in the community Kofinas, Bonriparo, Castelnuovo, Mirabello in Agios Nikolaos, Malvesin, Mylopotamou at Panormos, Pediada as an ally of the Republic of Genoa Kastelli, Temene and possibly Serakina ( Kales ) built or goal for Ierapetra. Until 1210 he was expelled by the Venetians from the island again, which made ​​their claims on Crete law.

At the beginning of 1221 Henry was confirmed by the young King and Emperor Frederick II in the Office of the admiral, and thus with the oversight of a comprehensive program of naval construction, for the purpose of an independent trade and the preparation of a crusade, commissioned. In the summer of 1221 broke Heinrich with a fleet of 40 galleys to the crusade of Damietta on which raged for three years. However, he arrived too late to the conquered by the Crusaders Egyptian port city of Damietta, because they were already broken up for a march against Cairo. In al - Mansura, the Crusaders found themselves in a trap of the Egyptian Sultan and had to give in September 1221, Henry was unable to rush to their aid. Because of its alleged failure in 1223 he fell into disgrace with the Emperor, leading to the loss of his office and the County of Malta to be. But shortly after, he was taken back into favor again, and recognized his title, but without jurisdiction over the Castrum of Malta.

In August 1225 Henry transported the bishop Jacob of Capua to Acre, who represented the emperor there in the marriage by proxy with the Queen Isabella II of Jerusalem. He then led the bride to Brindisi, where they were married in person on November 9 with the Emperor. In the following years Henry was diplomatically worked for the Emperor, especially during the Crusades (1228-1229) at the enemy with him Pope. In the last days of April 1229, he led the emperor in the Holy Land to gain a fleet of 20 galleys that were requested in October of last year. However, the Emperor finished his crusade in May 1229 so that Henry was able to transport him immediately to Sicily.