Holy Roman Emperor, 1017 - 5 October 1056. A staunch supporter of the Catholic Church, his reign marked the apogee of Germany dominance of medieval Europe.
His first wife, the Danish princess Gunhild, died in 1038. His second wife was Agnes of Poitou, daughter of the Duke of Aquitaine. The last years of his reign were spent in stamping out revolts against his rule in France, Italy, and Hungary.
In those days Pope Victor II held a council at Florence, and the Emperor Henry there made his complaint against King Don Ferrando, that he did not acknowledge his sovereignty, and pay him tribute like all other Kings; and he besought the Pope to admonish him so to do.
And the Pope being a German, and the friend of Henry, sent to the King to admonish him, and told him that unless he obeyed he would proclaim a crusade against him; and in like manner the Emperor, and the King of France, and the other Kings, sent to exhort him to obedience, defying him if he should refuse.
Moreover he sent his letters to the Emperor and to the other Kings, telling them that they well knew the wrong which the Emperor did him, having no jurisdiction over him, nor lawful claim; and he besought them to let him alone that he might continue to wage war against the enemies of the faith; but if they persisted to speak against him he then sent them back their friendship, and defied them, and where they all were there would he go seek them.
These letters came to the King when he had past Tolosa, and he took counsel with the Cid and with his good men, and they advised that he should send two of his good men to the Pope, who should tell him to send a Cardinal with power to make a covenant, that this demand should never again be made upon Spain; and that persons from the Emperor and from the other Kings also should come to ratify this, and meanwhile he would abide where he was.
And the Pope sent Master Roberto, the Cardinal of St. Sabina, with full powers, and the representatives of the Emperor and of the other Kings came also and signed the covenant, that this demand should never again be made upon the King of Spain.
And the writings which they made were confirmed by the Pope and by the Emperor and the other Kings, and sealed with their seals.
Thirty and one years did King Don Ferrando the Great, who was peer with the Emperor, reign over Castille.
After this was the King Don Alfonso crowned King of Castille, Leon, Galicia, and Portugal; and he called himself King and Emperor of all Spain, even as his father had done before him.