{"slug": "frederick-ii-holy-roman-emperor", "label": "Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_II%2C_Holy_Roman_Emperor", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q130221", "qid": "Q130221", "description": "King of Sicily, Holy Roman Emperor (1194–1250, 1220–1250)", "entries": 38, "years": 35, "span": [1194, 1258], "span_label": ["1194 CE", "1258 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Religion & Belief", "count": 17}, {"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 9}, {"title": "Culture & Society", "count": 4}, {"title": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "count": 3}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 3}, {"title": "Technology & Infrastructure", "count": 1}, {"title": "Health & Medicine", "count": 1}], "related": [{"slug": "kingdom-of-italy-holy-roman-empire", "label": "Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)", "shared": 7}, {"slug": "holy-roman-empire", "label": "Holy Roman Empire", "shared": 6}, {"slug": "kingdom-of-sicily", "label": "Kingdom of Sicily", "shared": 6}, {"slug": "rome", "label": "Rome", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "acre-israel", "label": "Acre, Israel", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "pope-innocent-iv", "label": "Pope Innocent IV", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "otto-iv-holy-roman-emperor", "label": "Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "kingdom-of-germany", "label": "Kingdom of Germany", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "apulia", "label": "Apulia", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "pope-innocent-iii", "label": "Pope Innocent III", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "pope-honorius-iii", "label": "Pope Honorius III", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "brescia", "label": "Brescia", "shared": 2}], "items": [{"year": 1194, "year_label": "1194 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": "December 25", "text": "December 25 – Henry VI deposes the 8-year-old William III (son of Tancred de Lecce) and is crowned king of Sicily. The next day, Constance I, who stays in the town of Iesi, gives birth to Frederick II, the future emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1292975381#Europe", "title": "1194", "revid": 1292975381, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1196, "year_label": "1196 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Spring – Henry VI persuades a diet at Würzburg. He manages to convince the majority of the German nobles and clergy to recognize his 2-year-old son, Frederick II, as king of the Romans and heir to the imperial throne. However, Archbishop Adolf of Cologne thwarts the will of the diet and arouses the resistance of several Saxon and Thuringian nobles against Henry, who realizes that he is unable to establish a hereditary monarchy (his Erbreichsplan) in the Holy Roman Empire without resistance.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362484493#Europe", "title": "1196", "revid": 1362484493, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1197, "year_label": "1197 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Spring – Emperor Henry VI travels to Italy to persuade Pope Celestine III to crown his infant son Frederick II, who has been elected \"King of the Romans\" at Frankfurt.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371224721#Europe", "title": "1197", "revid": 1371224721, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1210, "year_label": "1210 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "November 18", "text": "November 18 – Emperor Otto IV is excommunicated by Pope Innocent III after he occupies Apulia in southern Italy. Otto annuls the Concordat of Worms and demands from Innocent recognition of the imperial crown's right. A German civil war breaks out, and Otto prepares an invasion against Frederick II, king of Sicily.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1321284058#Europe", "title": "1210", "revid": 1321284058, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1211, "year_label": "1211 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "September", "text": "September – The 16-year-old Frederick II is elected in absentia as German king by rebellious nobleman (supported by Pope Innocent III) at the Diet of Nuremberg (Germany).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360876354#Europe", "title": "1211", "revid": 1360876354, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1212, "year_label": "1212 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "December 9", "text": "December 9 – The 18-year-old Frederick II is crowned King of the Germans at Mainz. Frederick's authority in Germany remains tenuous, and he is recognized only in southern Germany. In the region of northern Germany, the center of Guelph power, his rival Otto IV continues to hold the imperial power despite his excommunication.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1354428304#Europe", "title": "1212", "revid": 1354428304, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1215, "year_label": "1215 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Summer – Emperor Otto IV is excommunicated and forced to abdicate as ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. The German nobles, supported by Innocent III, again elect the 20-year-old Frederick II as King of the Romans who is crowned in Aachen, on July 25. The same day, Frederick takes the Cross and promises to go on Crusade.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359458031#Europe", "title": "1215", "revid": 1359458031, "section": "Events › By continent › Europe"}}, {"year": 1218, "year_label": "1218 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "September", "text": "September – Cardinal Pelagius arrives with reinforcements at the Crusader camp, and proceeds to challenge the command of John I, claiming that the Church holds greater authority than a secular leader. Meanwhile, the Crusaders spend time clearing out an old canal, so that their ships can surround Damietta. Pelagius also brings news that King Frederick II has promised to follow soon, with a German expeditionary force.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1347207200#Fifth_Crusade", "title": "1218", "revid": 1347207200, "section": "Events › By place › Fifth Crusade"}}, {"year": 1220, "year_label": "1220 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "April 26", "text": "April 26 – King Frederick II confirms rights of independence to the German bishops (the Confoederatio cum principibus ecclesiasticis) in an attempt to secure the election of his 9-year-old son, Henry VII as King of Germany.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360552842#Europe", "title": "1220", "revid": 1360552842, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1222, "year_label": "1222 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": null, "text": "Traditional date – The University of Padua is founded in Italy, by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371224827#Europe", "title": "1222", "revid": 1371224827, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1223, "year_label": "1223 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "March 23", "text": "March 23 – At a meeting in Ferentino at the imperial villa of the Papal States, Pope Honorius III hosts a meeting with the newly-widowed Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor; John I, King of Jerusalem; Patriarch Raoul of Mérencourt; and papal legate Pelagius Galvani to prepare for the Sixth Crusade by European Christians against the Muslims of the Middle East. Frederick agrees to lead the crusade in return for being able to marry John's daughter, Yolande of Brienne.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1336497375#January–March", "title": "1223", "revid": 1336497375, "section": "Events › January–March"}}, {"year": 1224, "year_label": "1224 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "June 5", "text": "June 5 – The University of Naples is founded by Emperor Frederick II. Frederick's main purpose is to create an institution of higher learning that will put an end to the predominance of the universities of northern Italy, most notably these of Bologna and Padua, which are considered either too independent or under the strong influence of \\Pope Honorius III.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369561506#April_–_June", "title": "1224", "revid": 1369561506, "section": "Events › April – June"}}, {"year": 1224, "year_label": "1224 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "November 24", "text": "November 24 – Representatives of King Louis VIII of France and Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, sign a treaty at Catania, providing that neither of the monarchs would harbor rebels from the other.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369561506#October_–_December", "title": "1224", "revid": 1369561506, "section": "Events › October – December"}}, {"year": 1225, "year_label": "1225 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "July 25", "text": "July 25 – Emperor Frederick II takes an oath at San Germano (near Cassino) and promises to depart on a Crusade (the Sixth Crusade), for the Near East in August 1227. He sends 1000 knights to the Levant and provides Rome with 100,000 ounces of gold, to be forfeited to the Catholic Church should he break his vow. These funds will be returned to Frederick once he arrives at Acre.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1333322984#July_–_September", "title": "1225", "revid": 1333322984, "section": "Events › July – September"}}, {"year": 1226, "year_label": "1226 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "March 26", "text": "March 26 – Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor issues the Golden Bull of Rimini, in which he grants Teutonic Knights the right to all of the lands they will get during the mission in Prussia; he also declares himself a senior of the Teutonic Order and Poland, as well as the universal ruler of Christian Europe.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372695704#January_–_March", "title": "1226", "revid": 1372695704, "section": "Events › January – March"}}, {"year": 1227, "year_label": "1227 CE", "section": "Health & Medicine", "date": "August", "text": "August – Emperor Frederick II musters a German expeditionary force in Apulia. The crowded conditions and high heat contribute to discontent and disease among the assembled troops. On September 24, an epidemic of malaria enfeebles the army at Brindisi. Several thousand Crusaders led by Henry IV, duke of Limburg, and French and English mercenaries under the bishops Peter des Roches and William Briwere, arrive at Acre.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367488499#Europe", "title": "1227", "revid": 1367488499, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1230, "year_label": "1230 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "August", "text": "August – Treaty of Ceprano: Emperor Frederick II returns from the Sixth Crusade and signs a peace agreement with Pope Gregory IX at Ceprano. He agrees not to violate any territories held by the Papal States in return for Frederick's concessions in Sicily.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1333053721#Europe", "title": "1230", "revid": 1333053721, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1231, "year_label": "1231 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "Emperor Frederick II promulgates the Constitutions of Melfi (Liber Augustalis), a collection of laws for Sicily, as well as the Edict of Salerno, regulating the exercise of medicine and separating the professions of physician and apothecary, and requiring medical schools to practice dissection.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367488978#Europe", "title": "1231", "revid": 1367488978, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1232, "year_label": "1232 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "June 15", "text": "June 15 – Battle of Agridi: The Cypriot army under King Henry I (\"the Fat\") defeats the Lombard forces of Emperor Frederick II. After the battle, John of Beirut (supported by funds from Henry), hires 13 Genoese war-galleys to aid in the siege of Kyrenia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367489153#Europe", "title": "1232", "revid": 1367489153, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1236, "year_label": "1236 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": "July", "text": "July – At a diet (princely convention) in Piacenza, Emperor Frederick II proclaims his wish to recover all Italy for the Holy Roman Empire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1361428601#Europe", "title": "1236", "revid": 1361428601, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1237, "year_label": "1237 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Summer – Emperor Frederick II assembles an expeditionary force (some 15,000 men) to crush the rebellious Lombard League. He crosses the Alps to Verona – where he is joined by Lord Ezzelino III da Romano, including troops from Brescia, Vicenza, Padua and Treviso. Frederick relies on his allies for support and in doing so, he provokes the opposition of earlier supporters, such as the House of Este, which now sides with the Lombards.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1300110077#Europe", "title": "1237", "revid": 1300110077, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1238, "year_label": "1238 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "July 11", "text": "July 11 – Siege of Brescia: Emperor Frederick II begins the siege of Brescia. He rejects the negotiations of the Lombard League and insists on unconditional surrender to the imperial forces in northern Italy. This blocks all possibilities of a peaceful settlement. Milan and five other Lombard cities are attacked. In early October, after a successful sortie by the city's defenders, Frederick is forced to lift the siege.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1337076438#Europe", "title": "1238", "revid": 1337076438, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1239, "year_label": "1239 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Summer – A German expeditionary force under Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, invades the Romagna and Tuscany, hoping to capture Rome. He appoints his 21-year-old son, Enzo of Sardinia, as imperial vicar general for Northern Italy. Frederick also threatens with war against Venice, which has sent ships to blockade the harbors on Sicily. In order to finance his growing need for arms, he institutes an administrative reorganization of the Holy Roman Empire (among others, the formation of 10 vice regencies in Italy).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368650554#Europe", "title": "1239", "revid": 1368650554, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1239, "year_label": "1239 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "March 20", "text": "March 20 – Gregory IX renews the excommunication of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, while he is at his court in Padua. Frederick responds by expelling the Franciscans and Dominicans from Lombardy.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368650554#Religion", "title": "1239", "revid": 1368650554, "section": "Events › By topic › Religion"}}, {"year": 1240, "year_label": "1240 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": "October 10", "text": "October 10 – Richard of Cornwall, brother of King Henry III of England, arrives at Acre for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. His pilgrimage has the approval of Emperor Frederick II, who is married to his younger sister, Isabella of England, and gives him the task to make arrangements with the Military Orders. On his arrival, Richard travels to Ascalon, where he is met by ambassadors from As-Salih Ayyub. As a negotiator, he is successful in the release of prisoners captured in the Battle at Gaza (1239), and he also assists with the building of the citadel in Ascalon.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1361428406#Levant", "title": "1240", "revid": 1361428406, "section": "Events › By place › Levant"}}, {"year": 1241, "year_label": "1241 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "December 1", "text": "December 1 – Isabella of England, Holy Roman empress, spouse of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor (b. 1214)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362486166#Deaths", "title": "1241", "revid": 1362486166, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": 1242, "year_label": "1242 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Siegfried III, archbishop of Mainz, conquers Wiesbaden (a free imperial city) and orders the city's destruction, during the war of Emperor Frederick II against the Papal States.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360512210#Europe", "title": "1242", "revid": 1360512210, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1243, "year_label": "1243 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Siege of Viterbo: Emperor Frederick II besieges Viterbo on request of the rebel citizens. The defenders are able to set fire to the siege towers and after signing a peace treaty, Frederick is persuaded to withdraw his army.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367489265#Europe", "title": "1243", "revid": 1367489265, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1244, "year_label": "1244 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "June 7", "text": "June 7 – Pope Innocent IV is driven from Rome by imperial forces of Emperor Frederick II, and travels secretly in disguise to Sutri. Genoese galleys prepared by his relatives are waiting for him at the port of Civitavecchia to take him to Genoa.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360513044#Religion", "title": "1244", "revid": 1360513044, "section": "Events › By topic › Religion"}}, {"year": 1245, "year_label": "1245 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "June 28", "text": "June 28 – First Council of Lyon: In a general church council held at Lyon, Innocent IV declares Emperor Frederick II excommunicated and deposed. He proclaims the Seventh Crusade.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1355852673#Religion", "title": "1245", "revid": 1355852673, "section": "Events › By topic › Religion"}}, {"year": 1246, "year_label": "1246 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "June 15", "text": "June 15 – Battle of the Leitha River: Hungarian forces, under King Béla IV, defeat Duke Frederick II (the Quarrelsome) at the banks of the Leitha River. Frederick is killed (leaving no male heirs); the House of Babenberg is dissolved. Emperor Frederick II places the fiefs of Austria and Styria under his rule. This ends the Austrian claims to the western counties of Hungary.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1356775338#Europe", "title": "1246", "revid": 1356775338, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1246, "year_label": "1246 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "May 22", "text": "May 22 – Henry Raspe is elected anti-king in Germany in opposition to Conrad IV of Germany and Conrad's father, the excommunicated emperor Frederick II.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1356775338#Europe", "title": "1246", "revid": 1356775338, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1248, "year_label": "1248 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "February 18", "text": "February 18 – Battle of Parma: Imperial forces (some 6,000 men) under Emperor Frederick II are defeated by the Lombard League at Parma. Much of Frederick's treasure is lost, while he is hunting in the Taro Valley.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1305121866#Europe", "title": "1248", "revid": 1305121866, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1249, "year_label": "1249 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "May 26", "text": "May 26 – Battle of Fossalta: King Enzo of Sardinia, an illegitimate son of Emperor Frederick II, is captured and imprisoned by Lombard forces, in a clash between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. Enzo is put in golden chains and paraded around Bologna on a horse. He becomes a prisoner in a palace, named Palazzo Re Enzo.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362150898#Europe", "title": "1249", "revid": 1362150898, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1250, "year_label": "1250 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "December 13", "text": "December 13 – Emperor Frederick II dies, beginning the 23-year-long \"Great Interregnum\". Frederick is the last Holy Roman Emperor of the Hohenstaufen dynasty; after the interregnum, the empire passes to the Habsburgs.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360895476#Europe", "title": "1250", "revid": 1360895476, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1253, "year_label": "1253 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "October", "text": "October – Pope Innocent IV returns to Rome, after being deposed for 9 years by former Emperor Frederick II, whose clash forms an important chapter in the conflict between the Papal States and the Holy Roman Empire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362664638#Religion", "title": "1253", "revid": 1362664638, "section": "Events › By topic › Religion"}}, {"year": 1254, "year_label": "1254 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "May 21", "text": "May 21 – King Conrad IV, son of the late Emperor Frederick II, dies of malaria at Lavello (southern Italy). With Conrad's death a interregnum begins, during which no ruler manages to gain undisputed control of Germany. The 22-year-old Manfred, half-brother of Conrad, refuses to surrender Sicily to Pope Innocent IV and accepts the regency on behalf of Conrad's 2-year-old son Conradin (\"the Younger\").", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1296887805#Europe", "title": "1254", "revid": 1296887805, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1258, "year_label": "1258 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "August 10", "text": "August 10 – Manfred, son of the late Emperor Frederick II, is crowned king of Sicily at Palermo. Pope Alexander IV, who has an alliance with the Saracens, declares the coronation void and excommunicates Manfred.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1318120479#Europe", "title": "1258", "revid": 1318120479, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}]}