Henricus Eduardus de Anjou-Naples-Epiros

## Henricus II de Anjou-Naples-Epiros

The Cardinal circa 1689

Henricus Carolus de Anjou-Naples-Epiros

**Henricus II Eduardus de Anjou-Naples-Epiros** *(August 9th, 1672 - Present)* is a scion of the Imperial House of Anjou-Naples, as well as the senior most prelate of the Empire. He is the son of the Imperial Prince of Epiros, **Ludovicus II de Anjou-Naples-Epiros** and his wife, **Margherita Yolanda di Savoia**, He is the great grandson of the late **Philippus VIII de Anjou-Naples***,* Imperator Romanorum, and cousin to the current Imperator, **Philippus IX**.

The Cardinal is a reserved yet graceful figure, known for his extreme generosity in regards to charity and clerical duties. However, he inherited the temperament of his mother, and her Savoyard ancestors, having little to no patience for incompetence and slothfulness. His demand for the adherence to the court hierarchy is a product of his proud nature, looking upon his social inferiors with disdain and contempt.

## Early Life

### Infancy

Henricus II was born on the 9th of August in the year 1672 to Ludovicus II of Epiros and Margherita Yolanda di Savoia as Henricus Eduardus Antonius Pius Sextus de Anjou-Naples-Epiros, the youngest child of the aforementioned couple. He was named after his uncle, the late Cardinal Henricus I Ludovicus, former Patriarcha Constantinopolis and Cardinalis Protector.

As the last son of the Princeps Epirotarum, it was destined from his birth that Henricus would be the successor of his eminent uncle's clerical posts and influence, therefore he was not granted a secular ducal title at birth and was simply known as the Princeps Henricus Eduardus.

As an infant, Henricus was raised under the strict supervision of his paternal grandmother, the Dowager Principissa Epirotarum, a warm and pious woman who demanded Henricus be surrounded by men of great Catholic virtue and standing. Due to his grandmother's careful supervision on Henricus' upbringing, he did not have the chance to bond with either of his parents or siblings, remaining an enigma to the rest of the Angevin clan til the present day.

### Adolescence and Education

At the age of five, Henricus was a child of great veracity, having been educated in the basic works of the great Greek philosophers Socrates and Aristotle, yet was lacking any knowledge of canon law and ecclesiastical scripts, therefore it was decided that young Henricus would be sent to his uncle, the Cardinals Protector to be educated in necessary clerical scripture. His uncle, being the beneficiary of several abbeys and monasteries, the Cardinal sent him to the Monastery of Saint John the Studius, the monastery infamous for its defense of the Nicene Creed. At the age of 8, young Henricus received his first minor holy order, the tonsure. During his early educational years, Henricus would become a polyglot, being fluent in his native French and Italian, as well as the primary philosophical languages of Latin and Greek.

At the age of 14, Henricus would be enrolled in the University of Constantinople, an eminent body of education that could trace itself back to the Pandidakterion founded by Emperor Theodosius II in 425 AD. He would pursue a degree in theology, canon law and philosophy but his education in Constantinople would be interrupted at the wishes of his uncle, who had him transferred to the Gregorian University in Rome, the alma mater of his uncle. Henricus would enroll himself in the faculty of Canon Law with a minor in Penal Jurisprudence, as well as in the faculty of Theology with a minor in Biblical Theology. During his time in Rome, as a member of the Imperial Family of the Imperium, his presence would be of great importance to Pope Innocent XI, who would take great interest in his education, and would frequently host the young Henricus at his palaces and parties. In January of 1689, Henricus would graduate from university with a double doctorate in theology and canon law, and was given an assignment as a secretary to Cardinal Pietro Vito Ottoboni, the future Pope Alexander VIII.

## Rise to Power & Return to Constantinople

### Rise to the Cardinalate & Curial Career

As the summer of 1689 came to August, the health of Pope Innocent XI would further plummet, it was planned for young Henricus to be created a cardinal along with 9 other clerics in August, however on the 9th of August, the 18th birthday of Henricus, the Pope took the viaticum. On the 11th of August, Cardinal Leandro Colloredo implored the Pope on his deathbed to create the 10 cardinals, however the day after, Pope Innocent died and the Holy See officially entered a state of sede vacante. The period of sede vacante lasted from August to October, in which period Henricus represented the interests of his uncle and country by gathering support for Cardinal Ottoboni, his employer to be elected Pope, which occurred due to joint support from the Imperium and the Kingdom of France. Cardinal Ottoboni was crowned Pope Alexander VIII in October, and in November, Henricus was awarded a cardinalate and a posting in the Roman Curia as Secretary of the Universal Roman Inquisition.

#### Death of Cardinal Henricus I de Anjou-Naples-Epiros

The young Cardinal Henricus, known widely as Cardinale di Napoli to distinguish himself from his uncle, the Cardinal Protector was seen as a rising and learned figure in the legal profession of the Church, having been assigned an important portfolio from the Pope. However, his career was cut short by the unexpected death of his uncle in January of 1690. Upon the death of his uncle, young Henricus was the sole inheritor to his uncle's several benefices and massive fortune and accompanying palaces and residences. Henricus received a joint letter from his father and his cousin, the Emperor to immediately return home to assume his uncle's post as Cardinalis Protector. Before the new Cardinalis Protector left Rome, the Pope immediately installed him as Patriarcha Constantinopolis, succeeding his uncle in the aforementioned diocese.

#### Return to Constantinople

Having been enthroned as Patriarcha Constantinopolis in February 1690, the Cardinale di Napoli, now known as Cardinal Henricus II de Anjou-Naples-Epiros left Rome, being escorted by a fleet of the Imperial Navy, stopping in Epiros to visit his elderly grandmother, the Dowager Principissa who would herself die during the visit of her beloved grandson. Due to the loss of his grandmother, the Cardinal has yet to return to Constantinople, and will expect to assume his offices after a prolonged period of mourning and pray

## Title, Styles and Honours

### Title and Styles

**9th August 1672 - 7th November 1689 -** His Imperial Highness, Princeps Henricus Eduardus Antonius Pius Sextus de Anjou-Naples-Epiros, Princeps Epirotarum

**7th November 1689 - 19th January 1690 -** His Eminence, Cardinalis Henricus Eduardus Antonius Pius Sextus de Anjou-Naples-Epiros, Cardinale di Napoli

**19th January 1690 - Present -** His Grand Eminence, Cardinalis Henricus II de Anjou-Naples-Epiros, Cardinalis Protector & Patriarcha Constantinopolis