He was one of the wealthiest and most powerful princes of the Middle Ages – Henry the Lion (1129-1195), Duke of Saxony and Bavaria. Joachim Ehlers takes a look at the personality, life and work of this legendary ruler against the background of the world of the High Middle Ages, thus setting off on a journey of discovery into the fascinating world of the twelfth century.

In this big biography, the renowned mediaevalist Joachim Ehlers tells the changeful life of Henry the Lion, who was one of the best known and controversial rulers of the High Middle Ages. The Welf prince was first a political partner and then a bitter opponent of Frederick Barbarossa, and he left his mark on the history of the German Empire as few of the other mediaeval rulers. Signs and evidence are to be found everywhere in the areas once occupied by the prince – round the Residence in Brunswick, on the lower reaches of the River Elbe, from the German low mountain ranges to the Baltic Sea and, last but not least, in Munich, the city Henry founded 850 years ago.

His skillful political, economic and military activities allowed Henry to extend his power and wealth, but it was not enough to improve his reputation with the other princes in the Holy Roman Empire. When, finally, he stood up against Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, he was stripped of his lands and declared an outlaw, his land redistributed and the entire Empire went to war against him. Joachim Ehlers, one of the greatest authorities on the history of the Middle Ages, tells the story of the fascinating life of this power-conscious prince and in the process paints a vivid picture of the balance of power in the High Middle Ages.