Germany: Henry VII (1275-1313), 24th Holy Roman emperor, from the book Icones imperatorvm romanorvm (Icons of Roman Emperors), c. 1645

Henry VII (1275-1313) was the son of Count Henry VI of Luxembourg, and he was raised in the French court. When he became Count of Luxembourg and Arion in 1288, he sought the protection of King Philip the Fair of France, becoming a French vassal rather than remain under the weak rule of the Holy Roman Empire.

Henry became involved in the political machinations after King Albert I's death in 1308, chosen as a compromise condidate by the electors who feared King Philip's, and consequently France's, attempts to get his brother elected as the next German King. He was crowned in 1309 after some skillful negotiation, and was crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Clement V in 1312, the title having been vacant since Emperor Frederick II's death in 1250. He renewed imperial interest in Italy, launching an Italian expedition in 1310 and being crowned King of Italy in 1311.

It was while waging his campaign to unite Italy under the Holy Roman Empire and fighting against King Robert of Naples in 1313 that Henry died, suddenly succumbing to malaria while besieging the Guelph (anti-Imperial Italians) city of Siena. The hopes for an effective Imperial presence in Italy died with him, ensuring that central power in Italian policy remained in Robert's hands.

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