Heinrich was probably a member of the Von Plaue family, ministeriales of the Archbishop of Magdeburg.
Before his elevation, he was provost of the Magdeburg Cathedral chapter.
[1] He seems to have enjoyed the favour of the Emperor Frederick II, who granted him the rights to the metal mines discovered within the boundaries of the church of Meissen, as well as to auriferous, or gold-bearing, rivers and bodies of waters: in the deed of grant the Emperor refers to the bishop as dilectus princeps ("beloved prince").
(There is however no extant original of this deed,[2] and some authorities consider it a forgery, for example, Hubert Ermisch[citation needed]).
This article about a German Catholic bishop or archbishop is a stub.