He was young when his father died on 6 May 1052 and he inherited the great north Italian margraviate.
His mother served as his regent until 1054, when she married Godfrey, former duke of Lower Lorraine.
In 1055, Henry held a court at Florence and arrested Beatrice, while Godfrey was rebelling in Lorraine.
Henry bade Frederick come, but the child refused.
It was no matter, for he died a few days thence and the margraviate passed to his sister Matilda.