Henry Raspe

Heinrich Raspe (1204 – February 16, 1247) succeeded Hermann II as Landgraf of Thuringia in central Germany in 1241; he later was elected counter-king in 1246-1247 in opposition to Conrad IV of Germany.

In 1226, Heinrich's brother Ludwig IV of Thuringia died en route to the Sixth Crusade, and Heinrich became regent for his under-age nephew Hermann II. He managed to expel his nephew and the boy's young mother, St. Elisabeth of Hungary, from the line of succession and in about 1231 formally succeeded his brother as landgrave.

In 1242 Heinrich, together with King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia, was selected by Emperor Friedrich II to be administrator of Germany for Frederick's under-age son Conrad.

After the papal ban on Frederick imposed by Pope Innocent IV in 1245, Raspe changed sides, and on 22 May 1246 he was elected counter-king in opposition to Conrad. The strong papal prodding that led to his election earned Raspe the derogatory moniker of "Pfaffenkönig" (parsons' king). In the battle of Nidda, in southern Hesse, in August 1246, Heinrich defeated Konrad, but he died several months later on Wartburg Castle near Eisenach in Thuringia.