Henry II, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg

Henry was the elder son of Count Gerhard III and Sophia of Werle. Henry was a major European player as a mercenary leader and a typical representative of the late medieval knighthood. He fought in Italy, Russia, Estonia and France. He served in the English and Swedish armies. In 1367, he was commander of a fleet of the Hanseatic League and in 1368, he conquered Copenhagen. Count Henry II and his brother Nicholas vigorously defended their claims in Holstein and Schleswig, against Denmark and against the Frisians.

Henry was married twice:[1]

1. Matilda (d. 1365), the daughter of Bernard V, Lord of Lippe. They had one daughter:
   1. Matilda (documented on March 12, 1365) [2]
2. 1366 Ingeborg (d. 25 Jul 1395), daughter of Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. They had four children:
   • Gerhard VI[3]
   • Albert II
   • Henry III (d. 1421), Prince-Bishop of Osnabrück as Henry I
   • Sophia of Holstein (born: 1375 in Lübeck), married Bogislaw VIII of Pomerania-Stargard

His seal had the inscription: S (IGILLUM) * HINRICI * D (E) I * GRA (TIA) * COMIT (IS) * HOLTZACIE * STORM ARIA (Seal of Henry by the grace of God Duke of Holstein, (and) Stormarn)

• Karl Jansen (1880), "Heinrich II., der Eiserne, Graf von Holstein", Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB) (in German), vol. 11, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 523–525
• Helge Bei der Wieden: Schaumburgische Genealogie, 2nd ed., Verlag Ernst Knoth, Melle, 1999; ISBN 3-88368-305-1
• Verein für Lübecksche Geschichte und Alterthumskunde: Siegel des Mittelalters aus den Archiven der Stadt Lübeck, Lübeck, 1862-1865

• Der Isern Hinrik - A professional soldier in the late Middle Ages at kriegsreisende.de