Henry II (951-995) called the Wrangler or the Quarrelsome (Heinrich der Zänker in German), was the son of Henry I and Judith of Bayern and was the seventh generation descendant of Karl the Great.
He succeeded his father at the age of four, under the guardianship of his mother Judith.
Henry married Gisela of Bourgogne, niece of empress Adelaide, and in 974 he attempted to drive Otto II from the throne of Germany. However, he was imprisoned in Ingelheim. He escaped and started a rebellion in Bayern, but was defeated in 976 and Luxembourg was taken from him and put into the management of the bishop of Utrecht.
As a consequence of his revolt Bavaria lost their southernmost regions, including Austria.
After Otto’s death, Henry was released from captivity and once again tried to usurp the German throne by kidnapping the child Otto III. Even though his attempts to win Germany failed, he died as regent of Bavaria.
Henry’s daughter Giselle of Bayern married Saint Stephen I of Hungary while his son became the Holy Roman Emperor Henry II.
