He Was Colorful
The story goes that redheads are fiery and blondes have more fun. Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa had blonde hair and a red beard, so it’s safe to assume he had a bad temper and enjoyed using it. There’s a long list of popes that can attest to his temper. And when it came to bizarre punishments, Barbarossa certainly made a laughing stock of his enemies. But there’s one more color we can add to the mix. He was ferociously green with envy of anyone who got what he wanted.
01 Distribuzione, Barbarossa (2009)
1. He Had Connections
Frederick Barbarossa was born in December of 1122. His parents were Frederick II, the duke of Swabia, and Judith of Bavaria. Through various family members, Frederick had connections to the Welt family, the Hohenstaufens, and the Ottonian dynasty. These ranked among Europe's most powerful families, so everyone expected great things from Frederick.
But he had one big thing going against him.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
2. He Had A Deficiency
While growing up, Frederick learned important things like hunting and riding. But there was one glaring omission in his early education. Surprisingly, no one bothered to teach him how to read or write. He also didn’t learn to speak Latin until much later in his life.
Despite this, he still got some rather impressive invites.
J.F.M. Trum, Fotopersbureau Gelderland, Wikimedia Commons
3. He Took His Rightful Place
Frederick’s uncle was King Conrad III, and he held assemblies known as Hoftages. These were elite “invite only” events where nobility got together to talk about issues that mattered to the different rulers of the empire. Obviously, an invite from the king put Frederick at a high level of importance.
But Frederick still craved adventure.
Ferdinand Fellner, Wikimedia Commons
4. He Enlisted For Battle
On December 28, 1146, Frederick’s uncle Conrad promised the pope that he would lead a crusade. These were violent offensives with the goal of taking back the Holy Land for the Empire. Frederick saw this as a great opportunity and signed up to be by his uncle’s side.
One man stood between Frederick and a life of adventure.
5. His Dad Got Angry
Frederick’s father didn’t have long to live, and he didn’t want his son rushing off to battle and maybe not returning. After all, Dad wanted Frederick to take care of his mother and half-brother. Dad complained to King Conrad, but it was too late. Frederick was ready to rumble.
6. He Went Anyway
Dad was still fuming about Frederick’s imminent departure on the crusade when he suddenly passed. Dad’s worst fear had come true. At least now Frederick could stay home and take care of his family. Nope, Frederick still didn’t care. Seven weeks after his father’s passing, he left on the crusade.
His life of adventure would start with a bang.
artwork: Christian Siedentopf; file: James Steakley, Wikimedia Commons
7. They Had To Hold Him Back
While on the crusade, one of Frederick’s fellow crusaders lost his life at the hands of thieves in a monastery. Conrad decided to let Frederick choose the punishment for the thieves. Frederick didn't hold back at all. He completely razed the monastery, executed the thieves, and demanded all the money back. He would have gone further if a general hadn’t held him back.
But even someone as powerful as Frederick could find himself in danger.
unknown illustrator, Wikimedia Commons, Enhanced
8. He Got A Lucky Break
Around the beginning of September, Frederick Barbarossa and the crusaders set up camp. Frederick and his uncle Welf VI decided it would be better to be on a hill away from the main camp. This ended up being a very lucky decision, as a flash flood descended on the camp and pretty much destroyed it and everyone in it.
Luck was on Frederick’s side and he would live to slay another day.
AnonymousUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
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9. He Was The Best
During the crusade, Frederick battled it out in the Siege of Damascus. This was a short battle—only about five days—but Frederick showed his prowess. Gilbert of Mons said that Frederick “prevailed in arms before others in front of Damascus”. That’s old-timey talk for “he slayed in Damascus”.
Frederick may have been strutting his stuff, but he couldn’t win it alone.
Public Domain, from the British Library's collections, 2013, Wikimedia Commons
10. He Was In The Right Place
As it turned out, the crusaders failed to win the Siege of Damascus and were soon in full retreat. Back in Germany, Frederick Barbarossa found himself in a textbook case of being in the right place at the right time. You see, King Conrad was about to breathe his last breath, and there was only Frederick and a bishop-prince in the room.
As the king was dying, he said something astonishing.
AnonymousUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
11. He Got The Green Light
The official heir to the throne was Conrad’s son, who at this time was just six years old. Frederick swore that before passing, Conrad had said that he wanted Frederick to be the next king and not his own son. Luckily, Frederick had the prince-bishop to back up his claim.
But would anyone believe this?
ullstein bild Dtl., Getty Images
12. He Walked Into A Mess
As it turned out, they did believe and Frederick Barbarossa became King of the Romans on March 9, 1152. But what he was ruler over was a mess. As it turned out, whoever was the King had no real power. They also had very little money. The king’s only wealth came from a few prosperous towns in northern Italy.
Job one for Frederick was unification.
ullstein bild Dtl., Getty Images
13. He Made Promises
At this time, Germany consisted of more than 1,600 states, and each of these had its own prince. King Frederick, who had largely meaningless titles like “Caesar”, “Augustus”, and “Emperor of the Romans”, just wanted to restore order. He did this by making huge concessions to the nobility of the different states.
Frederick was bringing order to Germany, but there was disorder in his own household.
ullstein bild Dtl., Getty Images
14. His Marriage Was in Trouble
Before he left for his crusade, Frederick Barbarossa had married Adelheid of Vohburg in a bit of a rush. I think he should’ve given this marriage a little more thought. You see, Queen Adelheid hardly fit the role of a devoted wife. She hadn’t even made the effort to attend her husband’s coronation. In fact, she rarely did the usual royal duties of appearing before the masses.
But there was something even worse about Adelheid.
15. She Wasn’t The Best Wife
Some historians believe that Adelheid cheated on Frederick. At least she had the excuse of her hubby always being away on crusades. But there was something even worse. She hadn't produced any heirs. With these two strikes against her, Frederick had had enough of Adelheid.
He turned to the pope to solve this problem.
16. He Gave A Lame Reason
In 1153, just six years after their marriage, Frederick Barbarossa asked the pope for an annulment from Ahelheid. He didn’t use her adultery or her general laziness about royal duties as reasons. Instead, he dug way back in history and found that he and his wife were “fourth cousins, once removed”. The pope bought this excuse and granted an annulment.
Frederick was single and ready to mingle.
Giovanni Battista de'Cavalieri, Wikimedia Commons
17. He Found A Wife
Of course, speed dating didn’t exist back then, and it wouldn’t have mattered. Frederick wasn’t looking for a woman he had things in common with. He was looking for a wife with benefits. He found her in Beatrice I of Burgundy. This 13-year-old girl offered Frederick something that money couldn't buy. She was the countess of Burgundy.
This was a major coup for Frederick.
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Wikimedia Commons
18. She Came With Benefits
So, what did Frederick Barbarossa want with Burgundy? First off, it would give him easy access to his enemies in Milan in case he wanted to mount an offensive there. She also had a huge number of knights to fight alongside Frederick’s men. As it turned out, Beatrice was a catch in other ways.
David Wolleber, Wikimedia Commons
19. She Was A Catch
While it seemed that Frederick was marrying just for Beatrice's royal assets, it seemed that she was actually a great catch in other ways. Since there were no cameras back then, a poet took the time to describe the bride. He said that Beatrice was more beautiful than Venus, smarter than Minerva, and richer than Juno. It looked like Frederick was getting the full package.
And he was ready to take advantage of it.
MS. Laud Misc. 587, Wikimedia Commons
20. He Took Over
Frederick Barbarossa didn't waste any time. Right after his marriage to Beatrice, he took over in Burgundy. Officially, he co-ruled with Beatrice, but she was still young, and on paper anyway, it looked like Frederick was calling the shots. This wouldn’t change until 1166, when Beatrice was in her 20s.
As Frederick strengthened his power in Italy, he met up with a formidable foe.
Gustav Droysen, Wikimedia Commons
21. This Pope Had Three Strikes
Back in 1155, Pope Adrian IV had made Frederick very angry by handing over territories to Sicily’s King William. Frederick thought those territories should be his. Then it came out that the pope thought that Frederick was only emperor because he had put him there, and that Frederick answered to him and not the other way around.
Frederick was angry, and he had a plan for revenge.
Giovanni Battista de'Cavalieri, Wikimedia Commons
22. He Took Milan
Furious with the pope, Frederick Barbarossa grabbed his cousin Henry the Lion and a group of fighters and entered Milan. He easily took the city and even put his own men in charge of some Italian cities in the north. Frederick could now enjoy the feeling of having taken full revenge on the pope.
But taking Milan had its consequences.
Emil Nietzsch Sohn, Wikimedia Commons
23. They Humiliated Her
After he’d conquered Milan, Beatrice soon became captive to a group of rebels. To punish Beatrice for being the wife of the man who’d conquered them, they made her ride a donkey backwards. While this seems laughable now, many considered it a hugely degrading humiliation.
Frederick would have to avenge his bride.
Wilhelm Camphausen, Wikimedia Commons
24. He Used A Creative Punishment
Frederick Barbarossa freed his wife from her captors and plotted his revenge. He put a fig in a donkey’s rear-end and cruelly forced the magistrates of Milan to remove the fig using their teeth. In another story, the fig was actually dung from the donkey, and to finish off the punishment, Frederick forced the men to say “behold the fig” with the dung still in their mouths.
Frederick was clearly having a ball doling out punishment. But there were more serious issues at hand.
Adam Harangozo, Wikimedia Commons
25. He Had Great Power
On this same campaign, Frederick also reduced the city of Crema to a pile of dirt. While this was happening, Pope Adrian IV passed. What happened next was really bizarre. Two popes now fought for control of the Church. It was Alexander III versus Victor IV, who they called the antipope. Both of the contenders looked to Frederick for support.
This kind of power could go to a man’s head.
26. He Took Some Relics
After yet another violent stop in Milan, Frederick’s arrogance allowed him to take some interesting loot. He heartlessly made off with some relics that many thought had actually belonged to the three kings—yes, those same ones from the Christmas story. Frederick gave the relics as a gift to the Archbishop of Cologne, and to this day they remain there.
Pilfering relics does not make you popular with popes. And neither does choosing one over the other.
Emil Nietzsch Sohn, Wikimedia Commons
27. He Made An Enemy
Eventually, Frederick Barbarossa named Victor the new pope, and this, of course, enraged Alexander. Alexander ignored Frederick's decision and excommunicated both Victor and Frederick. Then, Alexander turned to Sicily for support. Frederick had become Alexander’s sworn enemy and was about to receive his papal punishment.
Artaud de Montor (1772–1849), Wikimedia Commons, Enhanced
28. One Enemy Became Many
To make Frederick pay, Alexander was now backing the Lombard League. This league’s sole purpose in life was to take away Frederick’s power in Italy. Alexander had also cozied up to another one of Frederick’s enemies: the Byzantine emperor Manuel I. Together, these three foes could give Frederick a real run for his money.
Frederick had reason to be afraid, very afraid.
Uploader: User:Tokle, Wikimedia Commons
29. He Met A Powerful Army
Frederick Barbarossa fought his way through Italy and, in 1167, he was preparing to face a serious enemy. The word out there was that the Roman army was the greatest ever assembled by Romans. Frederick faced off with them at the fierce Battle of Monte Porzio. When the dust had settled, Frederick came out as the clear winner.
Frederick quickly headed to Rome. There was something he’d been wanting to do for a long time.
Creator:Emil Nietsch Sohn, Wikimedia Commons
30. He Got His And Hers Titles
Once in Rome, Frederick arranged for his wife to finally take the title “Empress”. For himself, Frederick got his second coronation, this time from Pope Paschal III, who had taken over from Victor. Everything on this campaign was going Frederick’s way. And then it all stopped for a surprising reason.
It was a foe that Frederick couldn’t battle with a sword.
Spinello Aretino, Wikimedia Commons, Enhanced
31. He Had To Retreat
The one thing that Frederick Barbarossa couldn’t fight against was disease. There was an outbreak of the plague, and it put a halt to Frederick’s plans. He returned to Germany and had to regroup. This was a time for sensible thinking on Frederick’s part, as he started to become friendly with his arch-rival Manuel.
It was also a time to work on his family.
Screenshot from Barbarossa,01 Distribution (2009)
32. He Helped His Sons
Because of the plague, many rulers of the time passed. Frederick saw this as an opportunity to put his sons in power. Frederick V was soon the Duke of Swabia, and Henry became king of the Romans. Once it was safe to travel again, Frederick knew he still had a few scores to settle.
His first stop was his constant rival, Milan.
Lodovico Pogliaghi, Wikimedia Commons
33. He Got Something Unexpected
While the plague kept Frederick grounded, Milan had risen and become independent again. Frederick was soon headed off to Italy with a vengeance. But he soon found that Italy was different this time around. The northern cities were much richer than before. They were a much more formidable opponent, and Frederick realized he’d need some help.
It was time to call on an old and trusted friend.
Screenshot from Barbarossa,01 Distribution (2009)
34. He Was In Over His Head
Frederick was clearly in over his head against these more powerful places in Italy, so he turned to Henry the Lion for help. Henry was Frederick’s cousin and had helped him out before. But this time it was different. Henry had his own troubles to worry about, and he turned a cold shoulder to Frederick.
Frederick was very much alone.
Wilhelm Camphausen, Wikimedia Commons
35. He Met With Defeat
Without the help of Henry, Frederick was in trouble. He and his men marched on Alessandria in 1175, and they met with defeat. This happened again in the battle of Legnano, near Milan. These defeats shocked Europe. Frederick had seemed untouchable, and here he was losing battle after battle.
And then a story surfaced that Frederick was no more.
Screenshot from Barbarossa,01 Distribution (2009)
36. He Had To Eat His Words
The rumor was out there that Frederick had lost his life in battle. The truth was that he had only received an injury, but with this injury came a loss of power. He’d met with failure against the Lombard League, so Frederick had to eat his words and accept Alexander as pope. They even arranged for a humiliating ceremony in Venice.
With Alexander as pope, Frederick’s life would look completely different.
Spinello Aretino, Wikimedia Commons
37. He Mellowed
With Frederick’s reconciliation with Alexander, many changes happened almost immediately. Because Frederick was acknowledging that Alexander was pope, Alexander acknowledged that Frederick was the overlord of the Imperial Church. Frederick also started a peaceful relationship with his enemy, the Lombard League. Everything seemed rosy except for one thing.
Frederick still had one axe to grind, and he was ready with a severe and painful punishment.
Screenshot from Barbarossa,01 Distribution (2009)
38. It Was Payback Time
Henry the Lion had declined to help Frederick when he needed him most, and as we now know, Frederick was not one to let things like this go. At this time, Henry had his own state with power in Saxony, Bavaria, and other places in Germany. The irony was that Henry only had this state because he had failed to help Frederick in Italy.
Frederick knew a punishment that would get Henry right in the gut.
AnonymousUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons, Enhanced
39. They Ganged Up on Him
Many German princes already resented Henry, and Frederick used that against him. Frederick set up a trial and deliberately excluded Henry from it. At the trial, they took away Henry’s land and declared him an outlaw. Frederick had successfully weakened Henry’s power.
Next he’d move in to finish him off.
Screenshot from Barbarossa,01 Distribution (2009)
40. He Handed Out His Punishment
Frederick and his powerful army marched into Saxony and forced Henry to surrender. When Henry looked to his allies for help, he found they’d all turned their back on him—much like Henry had done to Frederick. In 1181, Henry submitted to Frederick and Frederick sentenced him to exile. Henry lived his remaining days completely powerless.
Frederick had satiated his desire for revenge, but there was still more to fight for.
Johann Wilhelm Völker († 18. Dezember 1873), Wikimedia Commons
41. There Was Trouble Back At Home
Frederick soon realized that Germany had descended into disorder. The nobles who ruled the individual states were always in combat against each other. Making matters worse, these German states had gotten more powerful over the years. Frederick knew he had to unite the fighting states, but defeats in Italy had left him a tired, broken man.
And Italy was still a thorn in his side.
Screenshot from Barbarossa,01 Distribution (2009)
42. He Had To Get Creative
Frederick also suffered when he considered his role in Italy. As the emperor, he was the official ruler of Italy. But the truth was something altogether different. Italians still looked to the pope as the most powerful man in Italy. If he wanted to make headway into Italy, he’d have to be more creative. He may have been too weak to fight, but at least he could be strategic.
He started with a marriage.
Screenshot from Barbarossa,01 Distribution (2009)
43. He Set Up His Son
To be more successful in Italy, Frederick set up a marriage between his son Henry and Constance of Sicily, who was more than a decade older than him. Of course, this marriage was for one reason only: To gain power in Italy. The new pope, Urban III, objected to the marriage, but Frederick was now more than used to angering popes.
Frederick had gotten his strength back. It was time for another crusade.
Giovanni Villani, Wikimedia Commons, Enhanced
44. He Planned It Carefully
Frederick was now an old hand at leading crusades, so he knew that strategy meant everything. For this one, he spent a full year just planning. When he was finally ready, Frederick had an army of 15,000 men. With this massive group of fighters, Frederick had success at the Battle of Philomelium and the Battle of Iconium.
But when Frederick stopped to ask for directions, he faced a tragedy.
Screenshot from Barbarossa,01 Distribution (2009)
45. He Took A Shortcut
Frederick wasn't sure of the next direction to take, so he asked some local Armenians what he should do. Their advice was to take a shortcut that went alongside the Saleph River, which is now in present-day Turkey. While his army took the mountain path, Frederick took the river shortcut.
There's more than one story about the tragedy that occurred next.
Cobija, Wikimedia Commons, Enhanced
46. He Entered A River
After heeding the Armenian’s advice, Frederick was either bathing in the river, swimming across it, or riding his horse through it. The almost 70-year-old emperor was doing one of these things when he tragically drowned. The details are as murky as that river, but one thing was very clear.
This crusade suddenly had no leader.
Screenshot from Barbarossa,01 Distribution (2009)
47. It Ended With Him
After Frederick’s river accident, thousands of his men abandoned the crusade. Because they were weaker and lacking a leader, the crusade descended into failure. One way to save the crusade from complete failure would be to bury Frederick’s remains in Jerusalem. Sadly, their attempts to preserve the body in vinegar also failed.
In the end, Frederick’s final resting place was, well, not in one single place.
Screenshot from Barbarossa,01 Distribution (2009)
48. They Split Him Up
Frederick’s final resting place actually had three different locations. His followers buried his flesh in a cathedral in Antioch. His bones ended up in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Tyre, now Lebanon. Lastly, there was his heart and other organs. They finally found peace in Saint Paul’s Church in Tarsus, now a part of Turkey.
Despite having three separate burials, some believed he was still alive.
49. He’ll Come Again
Somewhere there is a mountain in Europe where some believe Frederick still lives in a cave. His red beard has grown so long that it has gone through the table where he sits. The myth states that when the ravens stop circling the mountain, Frederick will come out of his cave and make Germany a great power once again.
If you don’t believe that Frederick lives on in a mountain cave in Europe, there are other ways to meet up with him.
Screenshot from Barbarossa,01 Distribution (2009)
50. He Lives On
In 2009, Blade Runner actor Rutger Hauer played Frederick in the film Barbarossa. If you dare, you can get more interactive and meet up with this formidable emperor in the video games Sid Meier’s Civilization and Age of Empires II. Warning: making him angry may be hazardous to your health.
Screenshot from Barbarossa, 01 Distribution (2009)
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