He was Governor of the Danish royal share in the Duchy of Holstein, a rich man and celebrated book collector. Rantzau is perhaps best remembered as a patron of scholars. His own Tractatus astrologicus de genethliacorum thematum appeared in 1597, and went through five editions by 1615.
In his own time, he was regarded as a generous supporter of artists and writers in Lübeck, many of whom he engaged to write memorials of his father.
Rantzau was also a successful merchant with trading interests in the east-west trade through Husum and Lübeck. He was the great-uncle of Josias von Rantzau, Marshal of France.
Felgentreu, Fritz (ed, transport). Heinrich Rantzau (Christianus Cilicius Cimber).
Belli Dithmarsici vera descriptio: Wahre Beschreibung des Dithmarscher Krieges (Schleswig: Landesarchiv Schleswig-Holstein, 2009) (Veröffentlichungen des Landesarchivs Schleswig-Holstein, 86).
