Henry was born roughly 100 years before the black road invasion to his mother, Beatrice Solaris. As soon as he was adult, like her, he joined the Defenders of Kolvir, eventually rising beneath her command to be a Lt-Colonel, and upon her retirement, took over her former post as Colonel and XO of the Defenders.
Upon Beatrice and Benedict's reunion a few months after the beginning of the war, it was revealed to all that Benedict was his father, though this was well known within the family for some time.
Henry has been generally understood to embody the Solaris tendencies of high moral character and a stern, martial approach to life. He has also been known to be a musician and public speaker of no little skill, and to be well-loved by his men, preferring to lead in the realm of morality by example rather than lecturing.
Not long after his parents' marriage, Henry resigned/retired his commission with the army and it was expected that he would take on the duties of Heir of Solaris. Then, shortly before Benedict crowned himself King of Amber, Henry vanished into shadow on some errand. When he returned, the family was given to understand that he was now not only corrupted by the Black Road, but tied to or tainted by Banyan, Corwin's realm in far shadow. Consequently, he was banished from all Chantris (Solaris) holdings or events.
