Henry was the son of Hezzelin I and his wife, whose name is unknown and who was probably a daughter of Conrad I of Carinthia.
[1] Around 1048 Henry married Mathilda of Verdun (born abt 1025, died 27 July 1060), daughter of Duke Gozelo of Lotharingia, and sister of pope Stephen IX.
He received the Mosellan castle of Cochem from his cousin, Queen Richeza of Poland.
[2] He was elected as successor for the German kingdom during Emperor Henry III's illness.
Shortly after 1058, Henry began to show signs of insanity, for which he was confined to the abbey of Gorze.