Henry the Sinister

*CHARACTER QUOTE HERE*

**Sir Henry of Brittany**, later called **the Sinister**, is a Francian knight and enemy of Berk.

## Biography

### Book I

In Summer 1041, Henry tries to negotiate to buy a dragon and gets kicked off the island by Stoick. That autumn, Henry and his hired mercenaries try to capture Hiccup, Astrid, Toothless, and Stormfly. They fail, and the survivors are captured. Henry loses a hand to Astrid's ax. At the trial, Stoick shows leniency and allows Henry to live, though those of his mercenaries who were slavers are executed.

### Book II

In March 1042, the villagers who granted hospitality to Dogsbreath, Inga and Redsnout betray them to Sir Henry, now calling himself the Sinister. Henry holds Inga hostage and forces Dogsbreath and Redsnout to kill his rival nobles, and then to pretend that Henry "defeated" them. On April 1, the three of them escape him and flee Brittany.

When Hiccup's group arrives in Brittany, Henry and the village that sold out Dogsbreath, Inga, and Redsnout lie to Hiccup about what actually happened, painting themselves as innocent.

### Book III

Henry begins threatening Duke William of Normandy, backing his rival Count Guy of Brionne.

### Book IV

Duke Conan of Brittany and his sister Hawiz had survived Sir Henry's engineered heroics, and Henry's father stepped down as duke to be Conan's regent. Henry, on his wife Joan's suggestion, plotted to rape her and legitimize the bastard, cementing his claim on Brittany.

On 28 May 1043, Henry the Sinister and Count Guy launch a siege against Duke William. On 5 June 1043, Hiccup deploys the first Air Fuel Bombs, routing Henry's and Guy's armies. Afterwards, Henry the Sinister petitions King Henry for aid against Berk and William. The king refuses.

On 19 July 1043, Henry the Sinister incites a pogrom against the Jews of Caen as his ploy to take over Normandy by citing the dragon scales Rivkah's family has as proof the Jews are conspiring with Berk. Stoick hears of Henry inciting massacres against Jewish communities and after hearing Spitelout's advice, orders the rescue of the Jews in Northern France. Henry's army arrives at the Seine River, while Spitelout leads the First Shieldbearers in holding them off, securing the bridges so ships carrying refugees can escape. On the final day of the First Battle of the Seine River, Spitelout and Kingstail fall in battle, buying time for the last of the fleeing Jewish refugees to escape Henry's massacres.

Astrid, the newly appointed Marshal of Berk, orders the construction of a dam across the Seine, and the Hooligans lure Henry's army into it. With Henry's army where they want them, Astrid gives the order to release the dam, wiping them out in one blow. After Henry's army is wiped out, the Hooligans recover Spitelout's body and free Henry's remaining prisoners. Henry himself escapes and flees back to Brittany, but finds Astrid waiting for him there, and she orders him executed.

## Personality And Traits

Henry is selfish, entitled, cruel, and fanatically intolerant. He considers anything his opponents do to win to be "cheating", and hates any non-Christians (or Christians who associate with pagans or Jews, who to him are just as bad). He harbors a particular grudge against Astrid, for being a pagan, a woman warrior, and for beating him and cutting off his hand.

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 18: Leavetakings
2. ↑ Chapter 23: Changing The World
3. ↑ Chapter 54: We Are Who We Are
4. ↑ Chapter 56: Perils Of Popularity
5. ↑ Chapter 61: Is A Threat Achieved
6. ↑ Chapter 86: For Everything There Is A Season
7. ↑ Chapter 120: From A Mustard Seed
8. ↑ Chapter 145: Power Plays
9. ↑ Chapter 129: And A Warm Embrace
10. ↑ Chapter 130: Paradigm Shift
11. ↑ Chapter 132: Entanglements Of The Heart
12. ↑ Chapter 138: Deus Vult
13. ↑ Chapter 139: Legacy
14. ↑ Chapter 143: Love Only That Which They Defend
15. ↑ Chapter 144: The Fair Fame Never Dies Of Him Who Has Earned It