Henry I of Werle

Henry I (died 8 October 1291) was a Prince of Mecklenburg-Werle and Mecklenburg-Güstrow.

Biography

He was the son Prince Nicholas I of Mecklenburg-Werle and his wife Princess Jutta of Anhalt the daughter of Prince Henry I of Anhalt and his wife Princess Irmgard of Thuringia.^[1] Henry and his brother John ruled Mecklenburg-Werle jointly following the death of their father on 10 May 1277.^[2]

Henry and his brother ruled jointly until 1283 when Henry founded the principality of Mecklenburg-Güstrow while John took up residence in the principality of Mecklenburg-Parchim which he ruled jointly with Prince Pribislaw II.^[2] Henry's reign in Güstrow came to an end on 8 October 1291 after he was murdered near Saal by his two sons Henry and Nicholas both of whom succeeded him.^[1]

Marriages and children

Henry was married twice; firstly in 1262 to Rikissa Birgersdotter (died 1288), with the following children:

• Henry II of Werle (died 1308) married Beatrix of Pomerania (died 1315-16), daughter of Barnim I, Duke of Pomerania
• Nicholas of Werle-Güstrow (died 1298)
• Rixa of Werle (died 1317) married Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Göttingen

He was married secondly in 1291 to Matilde of Brunswick-Lüneburg (died 1302) the daughter of John of Brunswick, Duke of Lüneburg.^[1]

References