The Holy Roman Emperor who led the Third Crusade by land through Byzantine territory with an immense army of 150,000. He had himself crowned King of the Romans and was no friend to Byzantium, having been opposed by Byzantine-backed Italian rebels. Isaac II mishandled his passage disastrously—cutting off food, attacking his forces, and imprisoning his ambassadors—until Frederick threatened to crusade against Byzantium itself. He drowned crossing the Chalycadnus River in Seleucia before reaching the Holy Land, and his army immediately disintegrated.
Also known as: Frederick I · Emperor Frederick Barbarossa · Holy Roman Emperor Frederick
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Episode 15 (8 mentions)
The Holy Roman Emperor who led the Third Crusade by land through Byzantine territory with an immense army of 150,000. He had himself crowned King of the Romans and was no friend to Byzantium, having been opposed by Byzantine-backed Italian rebels. Isaac II mishandled his passage disastrously—cutting off food, attacking his forces, and imprisoning his ambassadors—until Frederick threatened to crusade against Byzantium itself. He drowned crossing the Chalycadnus River in Seleucia before reaching the Holy Land, and his army immediately disintegrated.
“At least three kings, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa of Germany,”
“This was especially disturbing because Frederick was no friend to the empire.”
“and it had long been rumored that Frederick planned an invasion in retaliation.”
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