Heinrich I of Liothidia

Henry I
Liothidian Emperor (more...)
Reign	12 December 1858 - 9 June 1885
Coronation	14 December 1858
Predecessor	August-Wilhelm I
Successor	Heinrich II
Minister-Presidents	See list Karl Franz von Auerswald
King of Rahdenburg (more...)
Reign	12 December 1858 - 9 June 1885
Predecessor	August-Wilhelm I
Successor	Heinrich II
Lord Minister	See list Ruprecht von Schillingsfürst Georg von Prenzlau
Born	13 October 1800 Erbswalde Palace, Rixdorf, Kingdom of Rahdenburg
Died	9 June 1885 Franzburg Palace, Rixdorf, Liothidian Empire
Spouse	Sophia-Victoria of Dannenburg (m. 1829)
Issue	Heinrich I, Liothidian Emperor Augusta-Maria, Grand Duchess of Nordenland Leopold, Prince of Liothidia August-Wilhelm, Prince of Liothidia
Full name Heinrich Albrecht Ludwig von Hechenreyt
House	Hechenreyt
Father	August-Friedrich III
Mother	Margarete von Verrenhalle
Religion	Fabrian Catholic

Henry I, or in Liothidian: Heinrich I (full name: Henry Albert Louis of Hechrenreyt, Liothidian: Heinrich Albrecht Ludwig von Hechenreyt, 10 October 1800 – 9 June 1885), of the House of Hechenreyt, was King of Rahdenburg and Emperor of Liothidia from 1856 until his death in 1885.

From 1834 until 1858, Henry I would hold the title of Crown Prince of Rahdenburg (Kronprinz) and from 1846 until 1858, the title of Crown Prince of Liothidia, due to the lack of a male heir for his older brother, August-Wilhelm I. His younger years were dominated by a successful military career, which set him apart from his more intellectual brother, and following Liothidian unification, he worked alongside key figures to reform the Liothidian military. Upon his coronation as Emperor of Liothidia in 1858, following the death of his brother, he would further set himself apart from his predecessor with a more active role in politics, aggressive foreign policy and a successful patronage of industry.

His reign as Emperor was marked by three major conflicts, dramatic territorial expansion and the establishment of Liothidia as major world power in the late 19th century. His reign also saw some improvements to political rights, but most successes under him are economic in nature, with his personal and official patronage of industry, leading to strident progress in the industrial revolution. Noted as often being cold, authoritarian and stern, many historians note that his personality had an immense influence over his grandson and future successor, Heinrich III.

Early life and military career

The future emperor was born Henry Albert Louis of Hechrenreyt of Hechenreyt (Heinrich Albrecht Ludwig von Hechenreyt) in the Erbswaldepalais in Rixdorf on 13 October 1800. As the second son of Margarete of Dannenburg and King August-Friedrich III, Henry was not expected to ascend to the throne. He was born in the third year of his father's reign as King of Rahdenburg. He was educated from 1804 to 1812 by Ruprecht-Franz von Voss,, who was also in charge of the education of Henry's brother, the Crown Prince August-William. At age twelve, his father appointed him an officer in the Rahdener army, over his elder brother, who took little interest in military affairs. Henry's relationship with his father was markedly warmer than that with his mother, who was well known to favour his elder brother.

Henry served in the army from 1815 onward. In 1818 until 1820, he fought in the Lio-Hvornish War, and was reportedly a very brave soldier. He was made a captain (Hauptmann) and won the Iron Cross for his actions at the Battle of Millienhagen-Oebelitz. The war and the fight against Hvornum left a lifelong impression on him, and he had a long-standing antipathy towards the Hvornish, which would prove pivotal in the War of Hvornish Succession under his reign as emperor.

In 1823, Henry was promoted to major and commanded a battalion of the 2. Krongarderegiment. He would see combat in the XX-War (1824-1829) against Seredinia. In 1830, he was charged by his father to oversee the establishment of enhanced military integration of the Liothidian Realm, developing long-lasting friendships with other royals and military officers from the Realm's numerous states.

In 1826, Henry became the commander of the Greif Gardelandwehrbataillon and in 1828 was promoted to Generalmajor. The next year, Henry was appointed Inspector-General of the Rahdener Royal Army. This made him a spokesman of the Royal Army within the House of Hechenreyt. He argued in favour of a strong, well-trained and well-equipped army.

In 1829, Henry married Sophia-Victoria of Dannenburg, the second daughter of the King of Dannenburg, in keeping with the tradition of the Great Balance (Großgleichgewicht), which maintained the uneasy peace between the two major states of the Liothidian Realm. While this marriage was arranged, the two had been in contact years prior, having met as young teenagers during the Council of Stubbendorf.

In 1830, he was promoted to General and given command of the III Army Corps based in southern Rahdenburg. With this deployment with his wife, Henry would spend much of his time with his paternal uncle, Prince August-Franz. August-Franz was well-known among aristocratic circles of being a "traditional Hechenreyt", who exhibited the long documented "arrogance and superiority" of the family. His close relationship with his uncle would influence Henry in many ways, especially his later obsession with establishing the Hechenreyts as a true great dynasty. This would also lead to a deeper deterioration of relations with his elder brother, who he believed, "failed to live up to the family name."

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Full title as Liothidian Emperor

His Imperial and Royal Majesty August-William the First, by the Grace of God, Emperor of Liothidia, King of Rahdenburg, Lord-Protector of Hvornum and Oseva and Supreme Prince of the Realm; Margrave of Harrenburg, Burgrave of Meiersberg, Count of Löwenkopf; Sovereign and Supreme Duke of Teringen and of the County of Nieden; Grand Duke of the Upper Schwarzwasser and of Demsten; Duke of Rüdesheim, of Levenkusen, of Subelia, of Jurena, Prenzlau, Hohenland and Blumenthal, of Lehnstedt, of Vechta, of Steffenshagen and Ribnitz; Landgrave of Falstein and Dranske; Margrave of Upper and Lower Lustia; Lord of Talheim, Rastede and Karschau; Master-General of the Imperial Armies, Faithful in Christ, Wise and Learned and Paramount Lord of the North.