Henry IX, Duke of Bavaria

Henry the Black (* 1075, † December 13, 1126 in Ravensburg ) was Duke of Bavaria ( according to modern census as Henry IX. ). He came from the family of Guelph, his father was Welf IV After his brother Welf V. had died without issue, in 1120, he took up his succession in the Duchy of Bavaria.

Between 1095 and 1100 married Heinrich and Wulfhild, the daughter of the last Saxon duke Magnus from the house of Bill Unger. From the marriage seven children were born: Henry the Proud, Konrad, Judith († 1130/31 ), Sofie married Berthold III. of Zahringen and Leopold I (Styria ) ( † 1145 ), Mathilde († March 16, 1183 ) married from 1129 Gebhard III. of Sulzbach ( † 1188 ), Welf VI. († 1191 ) and Wulfhild ( † after 1160 ). On the death of his father Magnus Billung († 1106) he hoped the acquisition of the Duchy of Saxony. But this power constellation was opposed by the new king, Henry V, the surprisingly middle of the year 1106 Count Lothar of Süpplinburg ( later King Lothar III. ) Began as Duke in Saxony.

A special role is played Henry the Black at the Royal Election 1125th First, he seems to have promoted the candidacy of his son Frederick II of Swabia. However, in the course of discussions about the candidates he changed his mind and finally came to Duke Lothar of Saxony one, which thus when Lothar III. was elected Roman - German king. Lothar had promised to give his daughter Gertrude Henry's son Henry ( the Proud ) to wife. In 1127 this marriage took place, although Gertrude was at that time only 12 years old.

After Lothar's election called in December 1125 Bavarian, Franconian and Swabian Hohenstaufen Konrad followers of anti-king. Henry the Black joined as a lay monk in the monastery vineyard, where he died in 1126 - perhaps in order not to have to pull against his son to war. His nickname " the Black " is attested only since the 13th century.