Frederick Barbarossa
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Frederick I “Barbarossa”- The Holy Roman Emperor Throughout the history of human civilization, there have been several different empires in different geographical locations. One infamous example of a significant empire in Europe is the Holy Roman Empire. It is undeniable that such a formidable world power could ever come to exist without the help of a devoted and dedicated leader. Throughout the course of his thirty-eight years in power, Frederick Barbarossa managed to make several positive contributions as the Holy Roman Emperor. This incredible leader was able to bring peace to Germany immediately following a defeat in the second crusade by Conrad III at a time when Germany was on the brink of a civil war, while regaining a relationship with the papacy, as well as leading The Holy Roman Empire into the third Crusade. Although there is limited information remaining today about the early years of Frederick Barbarossa, according to Munz, Frederick I was born in Germany in the year 1122 with royalty completely surrounding him (35). By inheritance, he was born a Duke of Swabia. Both his mother and father were members of royal families. Frederick’s mother was a member of the Welf family, and his father a member of the Staufen family. Most important, however, was his uncle Conrad III who was king of Germany until the year 1152, at which time he decided that nominating Frederick Barbarossa as heir of his throne, even over his own son, would be beneficial to Germany. Conrad came to this conclusion because of Barbarossa’s ties to both of these royal families. He believed that Frederick would be able to unite Germany once again and solve the conflicts between the Pfeiffer, 2
German people (Munz 44). After the death of Conrad III in 1152, as expected, in a virtually unanimous decision by the German princes, Frederick Barbarossa was elected King of Germany (Munz 54). According to Munz, the length of Frederick’s reign in the Holy Roman Empire is
Frederick I “Barbarossa”- The Holy Roman Emperor Throughout the history of human civilization, there have been several different empires in different geographical locations. One infamous example of a significant empire in Europe is the Holy Roman Empire. It is undeniable that such a formidable world power could ever come to exist without the help of a devoted and dedicated leader. Throughout the course of his thirty-eight years in power, Frederick Barbarossa managed to make several positive contributions as the Holy Roman Emperor. This incredible leader was able to bring peace to Germany immediately following a defeat in the second crusade by Conrad III at a time when Germany was on the brink of a civil war, while regaining a relationship with the papacy, as well as leading The Holy Roman Empire into the third Crusade. Although there is limited information remaining today about the early years of Frederick Barbarossa, according to Munz, Frederick I was born in Germany in the year 1122 with royalty completely surrounding him (35). By inheritance, he was born a Duke of Swabia. Both his mother and father were members of royal families. Frederick’s mother was a member of the Welf family, and his father a member of the Staufen family. Most important, however, was his uncle Conrad III who was king of Germany until the year 1152, at which time he decided that nominating Frederick Barbarossa as heir of his throne, even over his own son, would be beneficial to Germany. Conrad came to this conclusion because of Barbarossa’s ties to both of these royal families. He believed that Frederick would be able to unite Germany once again and solve the conflicts between the Pfeiffer, 2
German people (Munz 44). After the death of Conrad III in 1152, as expected, in a virtually unanimous decision by the German princes, Frederick Barbarossa was elected King of Germany (Munz 54). According to Munz, the length of Frederick’s reign in the Holy Roman Empire is
References: "Frederick I." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2011. Web. 02 Nov. 2011. . Fuhrmann, Horst. Germany in the High Middle Ages C.1050-1200. Trans. Timothy Reuter. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1986. Print. Munz, Peter. Frederick Barbarossa. Ithaca: Cornell UP, 1969. Print. Tierney, Brian. The Crisis of Church & State: 1050-1300 : with Selected Documents. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1964. Print.