Frederick Barbarossa Takes the Throne
Frederick Barbarossa, born around 1123, was elected king of Germany on March 4, 1152, and soon became Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor. Known as Barbarossa, which means "red beard" in Italian, he was a central figure in the medieval conflict between the Holy Roman Empire and the papacy. The Holy Roman Empire, established by Charlemagne in the late eighth century, had evolved into a complex political entity with elective leadership among regional nobles, a system that allowed Frederick to be chosen by his uncle, Conrad III. As emperor, Frederick faced significant challenges, particularly in Lombardy, Italy, where local cities resisted his authority amid the ongoing struggle between the Guelphs and Ghibellines.
Frederick's military campaigns in Italy culminated in his defeat at the Battle of Legnano in 1176, leading to increased autonomy for the Lombard cities. Nevertheless, he was successful in expanding the empire eastward and fostering trade and learning in Germany. He embarked on the Third Crusade in 1189 but tragically drowned in 1190 while attempting to cross a river in Turkey. His legacy lived on in German folklore, with many believing he would return to save his nation. This mythic status was later exploited in the 20th century by Adolf Hitler during World War II.
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Frederick Barbarossa Takes the Throne
Frederick Barbarossa Takes the Throne
Frederick of Swabia was elected king of Germany on March 4, 1152, and shortly thereafter became Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, as well. He is often called Frederick Barbarossa for his flowing red beard, as barbarossa means “red beard” in Italian and Italy was where he fought many campaigns. Frederick was a notable ruler of Germany and a prominent figure in the struggle for power between the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.
The Holy Roman Empire was a powerful state for many centuries. It was founded in the late eighth century by the Frankish warrior-king Charlemagne, who conquered most of France and Germany in addition to territories in northern Italy, Spain, and elsewhere. Charlemagne forged a special relationship with the papacy in Rome and received in return the title of Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas day, 800.
Over the following centuries, France split off from Charlemagne's empire and became an independent nation-state. The center of the Holy Roman Empire became what is now modern-day Germany, with various provinces in Austria, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, and northern Italy besides. Power slowly devolved to local rulers, and the positions of King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor became elective rather than hereditary, with candidates chosen by an assembly of regional nobles. Thus, Conrad III was able to nominate his favorite nephew Frederick to succeed him in these positions when Conrad was on his deathbed (bypassing his own son in the process). Frederick, who had already proven himself in battle, was unanimously elected on March 4, 1152.
Frederick was born in approximately 1123 (the exact date is uncertain). His father was Frederick II, Duke of Swabia. From an early age young Frederick showed an aptitude for the martial life and became a skilled warrior and leader of men. As Holy Roman Emperor he inherited a long-standing problem with respect to the empire's territories in Lombardy, a region of northern Italy. Although Frederick was the recognized sovereign of Lombardy, local cities—Milan in particular— enjoyed considerable independence. They resisted Frederick's efforts to consolidate his power, in an ongoing struggle between the Guelphs (supporters of both the pope and northern Italian independence) and the Ghibellines (supporters of Holy Roman rule). Frederick also inherited an antagonistic relationship with the papacy, which by this time regarded the Holy Roman Empire as a threat to both its spiritual and temporal power in Italy and the rest of western Europe. Pope Alexander III backed Milan and the other Lombard cities, and became head of the Lombard League in 1167.
For decades Frederick fought to assert his authority in Lombardy. He started at least five military campaigns in Italy, but in the conclusive Battle of Legnano on May 29, 1176, he was soundly defeated and forced to cede considerable autonomy to the Lombard cities. Elsewhere, however, Frederick was more successful. He expanded the empire to the east, bringing new peoples into the Christian world, and fostered trade and learning in Germany, which prospered under his rule. Frederick was also an effective if short-lived campaigner during the Third Crusade, which he launched himself on May 11, 1189. After winning several battles against the Muslims in Turkey, he drowned there while attempting to cross the river Saleph on June 10, 1190, on his way to the Holy Land. So popular was he among the Germans that many refused to believe that he had died. The legend grew that he had fallen into an enchanted sleep with all his knights in a mountain cavern, and that one day he would awaken and return to save his country. In 1941 Adolf Hitler attempted to capitalize on the near-mythic status of this medieval king by using the code name Operation Barbarossa for the invasion of Russia and likening it to Frederick's expansion of the empire eastward; the identification was fraudulent and the operation proved disastrous.