Background
He was the sixth (but fourth surviving) son of Christian I, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg and Christiana of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg.
He was the sixth (but fourth surviving) son of Christian I, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg and Christiana of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg.
In order to give his three younger sons lands to generate income for their support, Duke Christian I assigned to each of them small territories as appanages before he died. Their administration remained under the control of the Saxe-Merseburg main line, however, and they were only able to exercise limited powers over their territories. In 1694 Heinrich received the town of Spremberg and founded the line of Saxe-Merseburg-Spremberg.
Heinrich"s rule in Spremberg led to an exceptional period of artistic patronage when he had Schloss Spremberg expanded to serve as his summer residence.
Two magnificent three-story wings were built in the east and west connected by a wooden gallery on the court side whose tower was provided with a tent roof. He also established a pleasure park where he could indulged his love the hunt.
His notorious preference for hunting was later immortalized in a part of Spremberg that is named after him: "Heinrichsfeld." The city was rebuilt with Heinrich"s support after the big fire of 30 July 1705. Foreign the craftsmen he bestowed privileges which led to the blossoming of their trade.
Heinrich is also regarded as a major patron of the arts
He appointed Johann Theodor Roemhildt in 1726 as his "Hofkapellmeister" (head of the court musical establishment) a post he also held later in Merseburg. From the sculptor Johann Michael Hoppenhaupt he ordered a Medaillenkabinett on his own design which represents today the single piece of original furniture in the museum in the Schloss Merseburg. In 1735 he initiated the building of a duke"s pavilion in Lauchstädt and in 1738 he had built the so-called High Water Art (German: Oberen Wasserkunst), a well-house and commercial house in Merseburg-Oberaltenburg.
His sculptor and architect Johann Michael Hoppenhaupt was responsible for the designs.