By Michael Gryboski, Editor Friday, February 13, 2026
1. Henry II crowned Holy Roman Emperor — 1014
An 11th century depiction of Holy Roman Emperor Henry II. | Wikimedia Commons
Valentine’s Day marks the anniversary of when German King Henry II was crowned head of the Holy Roman Empire by Pope Benedict VIII.
Born in Bavaria in 973, Henry II fought against other German royals and the Poles to secure his rule, and after becoming emperor helped the papacy fight off enemies of its own.
As part of his efforts to peacefully secure his empire, Henry II enlisted the aid of several Catholic Church bishops, granting them considerable secular authority within his territory.
“He insisted on episcopal celibacy — to make sure that on the death of a bishop the see would not fall into the hands of the bishop’s children,” explained Britannica.
“In this way, he managed to create a stable body of supporters who made him more and more independent of rebellious nobles and ambitious members of his own family.”
Henry II was canonized as a saint over 120 years after his death in 1146.
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