| Henry of Naunhof | |
|---|---|
| |
| Portrait of Henry, 1600 | |
| Lord of Naunhof | |
| Reign | 1598-1605 |
| Predecessor | Title Created |
| Monarch | Christian I |
| Regent of Wasaborg | |
| Reign | 1600-1612 |
| Predecessor | Wenceslaus II |
| Born | 3 June 1542 Torgau, Saxony, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | 8 April 1605 |
| Spouse | Tosca de la Marck |
| Issue |
Tabitha |
| House | House of La Marck |
| Religion | Jungism |
Henry of Naunhof was a Saxon nobleman and ruler of Naunhof from 1598 until his death, and was also de facto ruler of Wasaborg on behalf of his step son Christian I. Henry was the second son of Henry V, Duke of Saxony, and brother to Engelbert III. When it became clear that Engelbert III would not produce a male heir, this placed Henry as the most likely claimant to the Electorate of Saxony. However, he was considered unpopular among his family and disliked by his older brother, and was regarded as an opportunist and a miser by fellow nobles.
In 1598 Henry acquired the minor title of Naunhof and began styling himself as its lord, attempting to emulate his kinsmen who ruled as dukes. He made a small fortune marrying his first wife, a wealthy heiress, and also from entrepreneurial pursuits across Saxony. During the Forty Years' War he styled himself as a commander and a knight, but quietly avoided combat. Instead he became notorious for his landgrabbing and lucrative business ventures that took advantage of war-torn communities. As part of a negotiated deal with his brother for a large sum of money and soldiers, Henry was able to marry his niece Tosca, cementing his claim to the electorate.
Tosca's first husband Wenceslaus II, Count of Wasaborg, had died unexpectedly, but not before producing an heir, the four year old Christian I. As such Henry was able to rule Wasaborg himself as regent, and pushed other relatives out of governance. His marriage with Tosca proved unhappy and unbearable for the Saxon heiress, who was some 30 years his junior. Rumors circulated that Henry was mistreating his wife and locking her away for long stretches of time, and was possibly poisoning Christian I to keep him docile and weak; it later became apparent that Christian possessed a physical deformity and was sickly. It was expected that Christian would not outlive his step father, leaving Wasaborg in Henry's hands fully, and then to his children.
In 1605 war was brought to his small holdings and his schemes backfired. Henry attempted to flee Naunhof in light of an encroaching Catholic army, abandoning his wife Tosca after she refused to evacuate. In the process of fleeing he is said to have suffered a cut across his stomach after falling down some stairs with a chest of gold in his hands. Henry's obesity and prior abysmal health made treatment less effective, and what was considered a minor injury developed into an infected, fatal wound over the course of two months. He died in April, however this did not completely free his family, as they had their lands devastated and plundered, and Tosca was forced to marry another minor lord.
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