Henrysurnamedthe Lion

Henry, surnamed "the Lion," Duke of Saxony and Bavaria (1129-95), head of the Guelf family, was the most powerful German noble of his time. A great league was formed against him in 1166, but he was at first supported by the Emperor Frederick I. In 1180, however, he was deprived of his dominions, and put to the ban of the Empire, and was not restored until 1192 by Henry VI. He was the founder of Munich, and to his protection Hamburg and the Baltic ports owed much of their growing prosperity. He married Matilda, daughter of Henry II. of England.