He was the son of Hugh I of Cyprus and Alice of Champagne of Jerusalem. When his father Hugh I died on January 10, 1218, the 8-month-old Henry became king. His mother was the official Regent, but handed off the actual governing to her uncle, Philip of Ibelin.
Henry was crowned at the age of 8 at Santa Sophia, Nicosia, in 1225. In 1228 this did occur, as Frederick forced John of Ibelin to hand over the regency, and the island of Cyprus. However, when Frederick left the island in April, John counter-attacked and regained control, which began the War of the Lombards.
Henry was able to assume control of the kingdom when he came of age at 15, in 1232, and maintained close ties with the Ibelin family.
Henry himself served as Regent of Jerusalem for Conrad of Hohenstaufen 1246–1253. They had a son, Hugh.
If he had not had children, his heirs were his eldest sister"s sons Jean de Brienne (b 1234) and Hugh of Brienne (b c 1240), as well as his younger sister"s son Hugh of Antioch, the future Hugh III of Cyprus (b c 1235). He was buried at the Church of the Templars, at Nicosia.
Consorts:
Alix of Montferrat (1210/1215 – Kyrenia, December, 1232-May, 1233, buried at Santa Sophia, Nicosia), daughter of Marquis William VI of Montferrat, by Bertha da Clavesana, married at Limassol in May, 1229, without issue
Stephanie of Lampron (ca 1220/1225 – soon after April 1, 1249, buried at Santa Sophia, Nicosia), daughter of Constantine of Lampron, Regent of Armenia, by Stephanie of Barbaron, married at Nicosia in 1237/1238, without issue
Plaisance of Antioch (1235 – September 22/27, 1261), daughter of Bohemond V, Prince of Antioch and Count of Tripoli, by Lucienne de Segni, married at Santa Sophia, Nicosia, in 1250, and had issue, an only son.
