[4] In 1086 he married the widow Gertrude of Brunswick,[3] which allowed him to unite her inheritance of property from the Brunonen dynasty and from the counts of Katlenburg to his Northeimer Länderei.
From the counts of Bilstein Henry inherited parts of the Werra Valley, where he became the sole landholder.
[7] Henry's wife, Gertrude, was the only sister of Egbert II, Margrave of Meissen, whose own marriage remained childless.
[8] Henry immediately tried to regulate Frisian shipping and ignored the privileges granted to the town of Staveren.
[9] His ship was attacked at sea and sunk, Henry was killed, but his wife escaped the assault.