Sometimes a Latinized version of his name is used ("Borwinus" or "Burwinus"); the form "Buruwe" is also found, as are "Henricus Buruwi", "Heinricus Buriwoi", and "Hinricus Burwy".

This lack of outside assistance attracted the attention of King Canute VI of Denmark, who used the situation to expand his position on the Baltic Sea coast.

The Danes won, and Henry Borwin was rewarded with two more fiefs: Gadebusch and Ratzeburg.

Henry Borwin I revived the cities of Rostock and Wismar and founded the abbeys of Dobbertin, Tempzin and Sonnenkamp.

His first wife was Matilda, illegitimate daughter of Henry the Lion and Ida von Blieskastel.