[1] After the death of his father, the royal title passed to Henry's elder brother Otto I, who immediately had to face the indignation of several Saxon nobles.

Moreover, the late king's son from his first marriage, Thankmar, revolted in alliance with Duke Eberhard of Franconia and had young Henry captured and arrested.

[4] However, he could not assert his authority in Lorraine against the local nobility tending to France, and as a result he was stripped of his position when the king appointed Count Otto of Verdun duke.

Embittered Henry again plotted to assassinate King Otto in Easter 941 at the Imperial palace of Quedlinburg,[5] but was discovered and put in captivity in Ingelheim, being released after doing penance at Christmas of that year.

While his brother gained a victory over the Hungarians in the Battle of Lechfeld, Henry fell ill in 955 and died on 1 November in Pöhlde Abbey.