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- BIOGRAPHY
Heinrich was the son of Heinrich I, Graf von Arnsberg und Rietberg, and his wife Ermengarde. He was co-regent with his father and at times with his brother Gottfried II. After the abdication of their father, Gottfried became the ruler of the county of Arnsberg, while Heinrich was probably count of Rietberg.
Both brothers were mentioned with their father in 1175 in connection with the transfer of a house in favour of the abbey of Liesborn. They must already have been of age by then. In the following years Heinrich was mentioned without Gottfried in some documents of his father. In 1179 he was mentioned not only as his father's son but he was also expressly referred to as Count. In 1180 he was among the prosecutors of Heinrich 'the Lion', duke of Saxony. After that he was, unlike his brother, not named again as a participant in military campaigns, but he was more commonly associated with religious works. Together with his father and his brother, in 1181 he became a benefactor of the abbey of Liesborn. In 1185 the three notarised the second major gift of the family in favour of the abbey of Wedinghausen.
That same year Gottfried recorded in a charter for the abbey of Scheda that his father had transferred the rule to him, and that he had made endowments to the abbey to commemorate his victory over five counts.
This makes it seem as if Gottfried had ruled alone after the death of their father. This assumption is not entirely valid, as Heinrich must have at least been involved in the rule according to other documents. Even if Heinrich had given up his rule, he was present at the Diet of Worms summoned by Emperor Friedrich I in 1187. He was accompanied by his son Heinrich, but not by Gottfried. The two brothers and their father continued to be mentioned together until at least 1193. Thereafter the two brothers were mentioned together in documents.
Although Heinrich is referred to in documents as Graf von Arnsberg, there is no doubt that his brother Gottfried was the actual ruling count in Arnsberg. Heinrich was probably count of Rietberg after the abdication of their father. Because of his attachment to the abbey of Wedinghausen he stayed mainly in Arnsberg. However an outright inheritance division had not yet taken place. This did not occur until 1237.
Nothing is known of the family background of Heinrich's wife Irmgard. It is known that they had several children, of whom Konrad I would have progeny.
In 1203 Heinrich made an annual bequest to the abbey of Wedinghausen on behalf of himself and his wife. In the deed the previous donations to Wedinghausen of his father and brother are expressly confirmed. In the deed document he is mentioned as Count of Arnsberg, founder and son of the founder of the abbey of Wedinghausen. Because of his many bequests the local Premonstratensian community viewed him as a second founder. In this document he donated one mark of silver each year so that the brothers would pray for him and his wife on specific days each year, and on the anniversary of their deaths that the monks would pray for their souls. They also received the abbot's permission to retire to the abbey at the end of their lives if they so wished. The couple were also granted a funeral in Wedinghausen.
In 1207 Heinrich is mentioned for the last time as arbiter in a dispute between the citizens of the town of Arnsberg and the abbey Meschede. Nothing more is known of his date of death.
After their deaths the couple were buried in the chapter house of the congregation. They rest in a large stone sarcophagus in the early Gothic style, probably built in the reign of Wilhelm von Arnsberg (1313-1338). They are depicted life size on its lid. Heinrich is shown in armour, Irmgard in a costly garment. Both have their hands folded. At Heinrich's feet is a lion, at his wife's a dog as a symbol of strength and loyalty. That the two are depicted in secular clothing suggests that at the end of their lives they had not yet entered the abbey.
The tomb bears the inscription: 'Hinricus Comes et Ermengardis Cometissa. Quroum sunt ossa, monumenti condita fossa. Hos Deus in regne, faciat gaudere superno. Namque fuere loci, constants semper amici.'
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