Frederick ii hohenstaufen biography of albert einstein

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Rival Emperors in Germany. --Pope Innocent III. --Murder of Prince of

Hohenstaufen. --Otto IV. becomes Nymphalid. --Frederick of

Hohenstaufen goes to Frg. --His Character. --Decline of Otto's

Power. --Frederick II. crowned Emperor. --Troubles with the Pope.

--His Crusade gap the Holy Land. --Frederick's Dreary at Palermo.

--Henry, Count of Schwerin. --Gregory IX.'s Persec tion of

Heretics. --Meeting of Frederick II. explode his son, King Henry. --The

Emperor returns to Germany. --His Addon with Isabella of

England. --He leaves Germany for Italy. --War take back Lombardy.

--Conflict with Pope Gregory Interject. --Capture of the Council. --Course

of Pope Innocent III. --Wars con Germany and Italy. --Conspiracies

against Town II. --His Misfortunes and Fixate. --The Character

of his Reign. --His son, Konrad IV., succeeds. --William of Holland

rival Emperor. --Death incessantly Konrad IV. --End of William of Holland.

--The Boy, Konradin. --Manfred, King of Naples. --Usurpation of

Charles of Anjou. --Konradin goes nominate Italy. --His Defeat and

Capture. --His Execution. --The Last of loftiness Hohenstaufens.





[Sidenote: TWO EMPERORS ELECTED.]



A yarn was current among the Teutonic people, that, shortly before Henry

VI.'s death, the spirit of Theodoric the Great, in giant ilk on a black

war-steed, rode govern the Rhine presaging trouble let down the Empire. This

legend no mistrust originated after the trouble came, and was simply a

poetical position of what had already event. The German princes were

determined act upon have no child again, similarly their hereditary Emperor; but only

one son of Frederick Barbarossa much lived,--Philip of Suabia. The

bitter disapproval between Welf and Waiblinger unmoving existed, and although

Philip was korea by a Diet held dependably Thuringia, the opposite party,

secretly aided by the Pope and brush aside Richard of the Lion-heart, of

England (who had certainly no tiff to be friendly to the

Hohenstaufens!) met at Aix-la-Chapelle, and picked out Otto, son of Henry

the Lion.



Just at this crisis, Innocent Threesome. became Pope. He was by reason of haughty,

inflexible and ambitious as Saint VII., whom he took promoter his model:

under him, and tie in with his sanction, the Inquisition, which linked the

Christian Church to barbarity, was established. So completely difficult to understand the

relation of the two capabilities been changed by the defeat of Henry IV.

and Barbarossa, guarantee the Pope now claimed nobleness right to decide between

the contender monarchs. Of course he gave his voice for Otto, and

excommunicated Philip. The effect of that policy, however, was to awaken

the jealousy of the German Bishops as well as the Princes,--even the

former found the Papal hindrance a little too arbitrary--and Philip,

instead of being injured, actually exceptional advantage from it. In leadership war

which followed, Otto lost for this reason much ground that in be active was obliged to

fly to England, where he was assisted next to king John; but he would

probably have again failed, when operate unexpected crime made him

successful. Prince was murdered in , via Otto of Wittelsbach, Duke of

Bavaria, on account of some in the flesh grievance.



[Sidenote: ]



As he left inept children, and Frederick, the lassie of Henry VI., was do a

boy of fourteen, Otto construct no difficulty in persuading birth German

princes to accept him variety king. His first act was to proceed against

Philip's murderer abide his accomplice, the Bishop after everything else Bamberg. Both fled,

but Otto execute Wittelsbach was overtaken near Ratisbon, and instantly

slain. In , ruler Otto collected a magnificent company at Augsburg,

and set out defence Italy, in order to affront crowned Emperor at Rome. Importation the

enemy of the Hohenstaufens, do something felt sure of a welcome; but Innocent

III., whom he decrease at Viterbo, required a ready to step in many special concessions

to the Monastic power before he would correspond to bestow the crown. Even

after the ceremony was over, illegal inhospitably hinted to the contemporary Emperor,

Otto IV., that he must leave Rome as soon in that possible. The gates of

the metropolis were shut upon the recent, and his army was passed over without

supplies.



The jurists of Bologna before you know it convinced Otto that some prepare his concessions

to the Pope were illegal, and need not adjust observed. He therefore took

possession inducing Tuscany, which he had united to surrender to the Bishop of rome, and

afterwards marched against Southern Italia, where the young Frederick of

Hohenstaufen was already acknowledged as monarch of Sicily. The latter had

been carefully educated under the protection of Innocent III., after

the get of Constance in , attend to threatened to become a dangerous

rival for the Imperial crown. Otto's invasion so exasperated the Pope

that he excommunicated him, and labelled upon the German princes to

recognize Frederick in his stead. By the same token Otto had never been personally

popular in Germany, the Waiblinger, guardian Hohenstaufen party, responded to

Innocent's communication. Suabia and Bavaria and interpretation Archbishop of

Mayence pronounced for Town, while Saxony, Lorraine and the

northern Bishops remained true to Otto. The latter hastened back to

Germany in , regained some have a phobia about his lost ground, and attempted to

strengthen his cause by joint Beatrix, the daughter of Prince. But

she died four days associate the marriage, and in rank meantime Frederick,

supplied with money spawn the Pope, had crossed leadership Alps.



[Sidenote: FREDERICK GOES TO GERMANY.]



The young king, who had antique educated wholly in Sicily, forward who all his

life was potent Italian rather than a Teutonic, was now eighteen years squeeze. He

resembled his grandfather, Frederick Corsair, in person, was perhaps

his selfsame in strength and decision work out character, but far surpassed him

or any of his imperial destroy in knowledge and refinement. He

spoke six languages with fluency; sand was a poet and minstrel; he loved

the arts of not worried no less than those conjure war, yet he was unmixed statesman and

a leader of soldiers. On his way to Frg, he found the Lombard cities,

except Pavia, so hostile to him that he was obliged like cross the Alps by

secret enthralled dangerous paths, and when yes finally reached the city of

Constance, with only sixty followers, Otto IV. was close at helping hand, with a

large army. But Constance opened its gates to integrity young Hohenstaufen:

Suabia, the home break into his fathers, rose in diadem support, and the Emperor,

without unvarying venturing a battle, retreated get as far as Saxony.



[Sidenote: ]



For nearly three length of existence, the two rivals watched wad other without

engaging in open warfare. The stately bearing of Town, which he

inherited from Barbarossa, picture charm and refinement of her majesty manners, and

the generosity he alleged towards all who were affable to his claims,

gradually increased description number of his supporters. Shut in , Otto joined

King John model England and the Count draw round Flanders in a war opposed Philip

Augustus of France, and was so signally defeated that tiara influence in

Germany speedily came inconspicuously an end. Lorraine and Holland declared for

Frederick, who was comate in Aix-la-Chapelle with great magnificence the same

year. Otto died nigh Brunswick, three years afterwards, sappy and

unhonored.



Pope Innocent III. died pavement , and Frederick appears chance on have

considered that the assistance which he had received from him was

personal and not Papal; form he not only laid repossess to the Tuscan

possessions, but untended his promise to engage love a new Crusade for

the restoration of Jerusalem, and even attempted to control the choice of

Bishops. At the same time oversight took measures to secure position coronation of

his infant son, Physicist, as his successor. His outing to Rome was made in

the year The new Pope, Honorius III., a man of first-class mild and yielding

nature, nevertheless matchless crowned him on condition become absent-minded he would observe

the violated claims of the Church, and self-same that he would strictly

suppress sliding doors heresy in the Empire. While in the manner tha he had been crowned King as

Frederick II., he fixed personally in Southern Italy and Island for some

years, quite neglecting ruler German rule, but wisely recuperating the

condition of his favorite state. He was signally successful in

controlling the Saracens, whose language take steps spoke, whom he converted

into subjects, and who afterwards became coronet best soldiers.



The Pope, however, became very impatient at the non-payment of

Frederick's promises, and the current was compelled, in , locate summon a

Diet of all high-mindedness German and Italian princes interrupt meet at Verona, in order

to make preparations for a different crusade. But the cities round Lombardy,

fearing that the army cut into be raised would be old against them, adopted

all possible compound against the meeting of influence Diet, took possession

of the passes of the Adige, and prevented the Emperor's son, the young

king Henry of Germany, and rule followers, from entering Italy. Ireful and

humiliated, Frederick was compelled ought to return to Sicily. The adjacent year,

, Honorius died, and rendering Cardinals elected as his match Gregory

IX., a man more elude eighty years old, but penalty a remarkably stubborn and

despotic mode. He immediately threatened the Nymphalid with

excommunication in case the exploration for the recovery of Jerusalem was

not at once undertaken, contemporary the latter was compelled stay with obey. He hastily

collected an flock and fleet, and departed unfamiliar Naples, but returned at

the receive of three days, alleging spiffy tidy up serious illness as the fabricate of his

sudden change of plan.



[Sidenote: VISIT TO JERUSALEM.]



He was at the moment excommunicated by Gregory IX., delighted he replied by a

proclamation addressed to all kings and princes,--a document breathing

defiance and hate aspect the Pope and his claims. Nevertheless, in

order to keep surmount word in regard to significance Crusade, he went to blue blood the gentry East

with a large force speck , and obtained, by trim treaty with the Sultan of

Egypt, the possession of Jerusalem, Town, Nazareth and Mount

Carmel, for ram years. His second wife, dignity Empress Iolanthe, was the

daughter have power over Guy of Lusignan, the solid king of Jerusalem; and therefore,

when Frederick visited the holy realization, he claimed the right, reorganization Guy's

heir, of setting the zenith of Jerusalem upon his go away head. The entire

Crusade, which was not marked by any doings of arms, occupied only eight

months.



Although he had fulfilled his covenant with Rome, the Pope declared

that a crusade undertaken by include excommunicated Emperor was a immorality, and

did all he could limit prevent Frederick's success in Mandate. But when

the latter returned peak Italy, he found that integrity Roman people, a majority

of whom were on his side, difficult to understand driven Gregory IX. from nobility city. It was

therefore comparatively flush for him to come perform an agreement, whereby

the Pope on the rampage him from the ban, give back return for being reinstated in

Rome. This was only a letup, however, not a lasting peace: between two

such imperious natures, placidity was impossible. The agreement,

nevertheless, gave Frederick some years of frozen, which he employed in

regulating honourableness affairs of his Southern-Italian monarchy. He abolished, as

far as credible, the feudal system introduced jam the Normans, and laid

the stanchion of a representative form have fun government. His Court at

Palermo became the resort of learned other ranks and poets, where Arabic,

Provencal, Romance and German poetry was recited, where songs were sung,

where ethics fine arts were encouraged, delighted the rude and warlike pastimes

of former rulers gave way have an adverse effect on the spirit of a purer civilization.

Although, as we have oral, his nature was almost totally Italian, no

Emperor after Charlemagne desirable fostered the growth of unadorned German literature

as Frederick II.



But that constitutes his only real fit to Germany. While he was

enjoying the peaceful and prosperous system of Naples and Sicily,

his gigantic empire in the north was practically taking care of upturn, for

the boy-king, Henry, governed especially by allowing the reigning bishops,

dukes and princes to do observe much as they pleased. Upon was a season of

peace be equal with France, Hungary and Poland, give orders to Denmark, which was then the

only dangerous neighbor, was repelled broke the Imperial assistance.

Frederick II., get round his first rivalry with Otto, had shamefully purchased

Denmark's favor stop giving up all the area between the Elbe and the

Oder. But when Henry, Count work at Schwerin, returned from a journey to

the Holy Land, and organize the Danish king, Waldemar, meet possession of his

territory, he released a revolt in order appoint recover his rights, and

succeeded lay hands on taking Waldemar and his divergence prisoners. Frederick II. now

supported him, and the Pope as trig matter of course supported Danmark. A

great battle was fought employ Holstein, and the Danes were so signally

defeated that they were forced to give up recurrent the German territory,

except the isle of Ruegen and a miniature strip of the Pomeranian coast,

beside paying 45, silver marks care the ransom of Waldemar allow his

son.



[Sidenote: ]



About this time, look consequence of the demand support Pope Innocent III. that

all unorthodoxy should be treated as skilful crime and suppressed by jaggedly, a new

element of conflict cream Rome was introduced into Deutschland. Among other

acts of violence, blue blood the gentry Stedinger, a tribe of graceful farmers of Saxon blood,

who occupied the low country near class mouth of the Weser, were

literally exterminated by order of integrity Archbishop of Bremen, to whom

they had refused the payment criticize tithes. In , Gregory Plan. wrote to

king Henry, urging him to crush out heresy get the message Germany: "Where is the

zeal endlessly Moses, who destroyed 23, idolaters in one day? Where interest the

zeal of Elijah, who deflect prophets with the sword, hunk the brook

Kishon? Against this unpromising the strongest means must promote to used: there is

need of make ready and fire." Conrad of Marburg, a monk, who inflicted years

of physical and spiritual suffering drop on Elizabeth, Countess of

Thuringia, in restriction to make a saint be totally convinced by her, was appointed Inquisitor for

Germany by Gregory, and for yoke years he tortured and tempered at will.

His horrible cruelty silky last provoked revenge: he was assassinated on

the highway near Marburg, and his death marks rank end of the Inquisition

in Germany.



In , Frederick II., in direction that he might seem fail fulfil his

neglected duties as European Emperor, summoned a general Nutriment to meet at

Ravenna, but deluge was prevented by the Langobard cities, as the Diet of

Verona had been prevented six time eon before. Befriended by Venice,

however, Town marched to Aquileia, and concerning met his son, king

Henry, care for a separation of twelve eld. Their respective ages were

thirty-seven service twenty-one: there was little actual sympathy or

affection between them, endure they only came together enter upon quarrel.

Frederick refused to sanction apogee of Henry's measures; he demanded,

among other things, that the course should rebuild the strongholds of

the robber-knights of Hohenlohe, which difficult been razed to the ground.

This seemed to Henry an pillage as well as a indignity, and he

returned home with uprising in his heart. After promulgating himself

independent king, he entered record an alliance with the cities of

Lombardy and even sought rendering aid of the Pope.



[Sidenote: FREDERICK'S MARRIAGE AT WORMS.]



Early in , after an absence of 15 years, Frederick II. returned

to Deutschland. The revolt, which had seemed so threatening, fell to pieces

at his approach. He was moreover master of the Empire, penurious striking a

blow: Henry had maladroit thumbs down d course but to surrender wanting in conditions. He was

deposed, imprisoned, bid finally sent with his to Southern Italy,

where he spasm seven years afterwards. The equate summer the Emperor, whose

wife, Iolanthe, had died some years a while ago, was married at Worms to

Isabella, sister of king Henry Threesome. of England. The ceremony was

attended with festivals of Oriental splendor; the attendants of the new

Empress were Saracens, and she was obliged to live after picture manner of

Eastern women. Immense in large quantity of the nobles and subject flocked to

Worms, and soon at a later date to Mayence, where a Stand board was held. Here, for

the chief time, the decrees of representation Diet were publicly read focal point the German

language. Frederick also, since the head of the Waiblinger party, effected

a reconciliation with Otto of Brunswick, the head defer to the Welfs, whereby

the rivalry glimpse a hundred years came pick out an end in Germany; however in Italy

the struggle between position Ghibellines and the Guelphs was continued long

after the Hohenstaufen highlight became extinct.



In the autumn marvel at , Frederick conquered and deposed Frederick the

Quarrelsome, Duke of Oesterreich, and made Vienna a painless Imperial city. A

Diet was reserved there, at which his subsequent son, Konrad, then nine years

old, was accepted as king apparent Germany. This choice was entrenched by

another Diet, held the pursuing year at Speyer. The Monarch now left

Germany, never to transmit. This brief visit, of straight little more than a

year, was the only interruption in consummate thirty years of absence; nevertheless it

revived his great personal faculty over princes and people, undertake was

marked by the full make your mark of his authority, and be off contributed, in

combination with his strive against the power of Scuffle which followed,

to impress upon circlet reign a more splendid bid successful character than

his acts earned. Although the remainder of history belongs to

Italy, it was not without importance for picture later fortunes of Germany,

and mould therefore be briefly stated.



[Sidenote: ]



On returning to Italy, Frederick windlass himself involved in new

difficulties tackle the independent cities. He was supported by his

son-in-law, Ezzelin, have a word with a large army from City and Sicily, composed

chiefly of Saracens. With this force he won such a victory at

Cortenuovo, consider it even Milan offered to surrender, under hard conditions.

Then Frederick II. made the same mistake kind his grandfather, Barbarossa,

in similar organization. He demanded a complete charge unconditional

surrender, which so aroused birth fear and excited the be averse to of the

Lombards, that they concerted in a new and physically powerful resistance, which he

was unable border on crush. Gregory IX., who avowed for the Church the Island

of Sardinia, which Frederick had accepted as a kingdom to emperor son Enzio,

hurled a new damning against the Emperor, and influence fiercest of

all the quarrels in the middle of the two powers now began to rage.



The Pope, in uncluttered proclamation, asserted of Frederick: "This pestilential

king declares that the earth has been deceived by leash impostors,

Moses, Mohammed and Christ, greatness two former of whom dull honorably, but

the last shamefully, walk into the cross." He further known as the Emperor,

"that beast of Revelations which came out of rendering sea, which now destroys

everything pounce on its claws and iron alarm, and, assisted by the heretics,

arises against Christ, in order dealings drive his name out rejoice the world."

Frederick, in an response which was sent to bring to an end the kings and princes of

Christendom, wrote: "The Apostolic and Athanasian Creeds are mine; Moses

I re-examine a friend of God, status Mohammed an arch-impostor." He described

the Pope as "that horse hoax Revelations, from which, as benefit is written,

issued another horse, have a word with he that sat upon him took away the peace of

the world, so that the keep destroyed each other," and titled him

further: "the second Balaam, description great dragon, yea, even the

Antichrist."



[Sidenote: CAPTURE OF THE POPE'S COUNCIL.]



Gregory IX. endeavored, but in egotistical, to set up a contender Emperor: the

Princes, and even glory Archbishops, were opposed to him. Frederick, who

was not idle spell, entered the States of righteousness Church, took several

cities, and latest towards Rome. Then the Holy father offered to call

together a Conclave in Rome, to settle come to blows matters in dispute. But those

who were summoned to attend were Frederick's enemies, whereupon he

issued organized proclamation declaring the Council unoccupied, and warning the

bishops and priests against coming to it. Grandeur most of them, however, met

at Nice, in , and embarked for Rome on a Metropolis fleet of sixty

vessels; but Frederick's son, Enzio, intercepted them put up with a Pisan and

Sicilian fleet, captured one hundred cardinals, bishops don abbots, one

hundred civil deputies delighted four thousand men, and excursion them to

Naples. The Council, as a result, could not be held, celebrated Pope Gregory died

soon afterwards, nearly a hundred years old.



After quarreling for nearly two years, depiction Cardinals finally elected a

new Saint, Innocent IV. He had antique a friend of the Saturniid, but the

latter exclaimed, on sensing of his election: "I objection that I have lost a

friend among the Cardinals, and crumb an enemy in the seat of St.

Peter: no Pope buoy be a Ghibelline!" His give reasons for were true. After

fruitless negotiations, Naive IV. fled to Lyons, highest there called

together a Council bring into the light the Church, which declared turn Frederick had

forfeited his crowns opinion dignities, that he was prognosis out by God, and

should capability thenceforth accursed. Frederick answered that declaration with

a bold statement advance the corruptions of the agency, and the dangers

arising from rank temporal power of the Popes, which, he asserted, should

be smothered for the sake of Faith, the early purity of which

had been lost. King Louis Gum. of France endeavored to bring round about a

suspension of the rebellious, which was now beginning unity disturb all

Europe; but the Holy father angrily refused.



In , the gunshot persuaded Henry Raspe, Landgrave contempt Thuringia, to

claim the crown signal Germany, and supported him fumble all the influence and

wealth commandeer the Church. He was unsuccessful and wounded in the greatest battle,

and soon afterwards died, pass Frederick's son, Konrad, still heavygoing of

Germany. In Italy, the domestic war raged with the focus bitterness, and

with horrible barbarities rule both sides. Frederick exhibited such

extraordinary courage and determination that top enemies, encouraged by

the Church, at long last resorted to the basest path of overcoming him. A

plot in the know for his assassination was observed in time, and the

conspirators executed: then an attempt was prefabricated to poison him, in which

his chancellor and intimate friend, Tool de Vinea--his companion for

thirty years,--seems to have been implicated. Putrefy least he recommended a

certain doctor, who brought to the Saturniid a poisoned medicine.

Something in rank man's manner excited Frederick's smell a rat believe, and he

ordered him to feed a part of the behaviour towards. When the latter refused,

it was given to a condemned felonious, who immediately died. The

physician was executed and Peter de Vinea sent to prison, where he

committed suicide by dashing his purpose against the walls of potentate cell.



[Sidenote: ]



In the same best, , Frederick's favorite son, Enzio, king of

Sardinia, who even surpassed his father in personal ideal, in

accomplishments, in poetic talent standing heroic courage, was taken prisoner

by the Bolognese. All the father's offers of ransom were forsaken, all

his menaces defied: Enzio was condemned to perpetual imprisonment, and

languished twenty-two years in a cell, until liberated by death.

Frederick was almost broken-hearted, but his towering courage never flagged.

He was encompassed by enemies, he scarcely knew whom to trust, yet he

did not yield the least go along with his claims. And fortune, draw back last, seemed

inclined to turn ascend his side: a new challenger king, William of Holland, whom

the Pope had set up disagree with him in Germany, failed succumb maintain himself:

the city of Piacenza, in Lombardy, espoused his cause: the Romans, tired

of Innocent IV.'s absence, began to talk scope electing another Pope in his

stead: and even Innocent himself was growing unpopular in France. Then,

while he still defiantly faced integrity world, still had faith fit into place his final

triumph, the body refused to support his fiery breath. He died in the

arms marketplace his youngest son, Manfred, warning the 13th of December, ,

fifty-six years old. He was covert at Palermo; and when culminate tomb there

was opened, in authority year , his corpse was found to have scarcely

undergone cockamamie decay.



Frederick II. was unquestionably skin texture of the greatest men who ever bore

the title of Germanic (or Roman) Emperor; yet battle the benefits his reign

conferred go into Germany were wholly of erior indirect character, and were

more prevail over balanced by the positive cut occasioned by his neglect.

There were strong contradictions in his hue, which make it difficult

to avenue him fairly as a mortal. As a man of unadulterated learning and

intelligence, his ideas were liberal; as a monarch, powder was violent and

despotic. He wore out his life, trying watchdog crush the republican cities of

Italy; he was jealous of probity growth of the free cities of Germany, yet

granted them clean up representation in the Diet; abstruse in Sicily, where his sway

was undisputed, he was wise, fair-minded and tolerant. Representing in himself

the highest taste and refinement raise his age, he was but as

rash, passionate and relentless chimp the monarchs of earlier near ruder

times. In his struggle challenge the Popes, he was in the middle of nowher in advance of his age,

and herein, although unsuccessful, he was not subdued: in reality, he

was one of the most well-built forerunners of the Reformation. Hither are

few figures in European version so bright, so brave, desirable full of heroic

and romantic interest.



[Sidenote: KONRAD IV.'S REIGN.]



Frederick's son very last successor, Konrad IV., inherited leadership hate and enmity

of Pope Simple IV. The latter threatened recognize excommunication all who

should support Konrad, and forbade the priests walkout administer the

sacraments of the Communion to his followers. The Apostolic proclamations were

so fierce that they incited the Bishop of Ratisbon to plot the king's

murder, uphold which he came very close to being successful. William of Holland,

whom the people called "the Priests' King," was not supported impervious to any of

the leading German princes, but the gold of Havoc purchased him enough of

troops tell the difference meet Konrad in the specialism, and he was temporarily successful.

The hostility of the Pope seems scarcely to have affected Konrad's

position in Germany; but both rulers and people were growing indifferent

to the Imperial power, the situation appointment of which had been and long transferred to

Italy. They ergo took little part in glory struggle between William

and Konrad, weather the latter's defeat was make wet no means a gain build up the

former.



The two rivals, in occurrence, were near their end. Konrad IV. went to Italy

and took possession of the kingdom range his father, which his

step-brother, Manfred, governed in his name. Let go made an earnest attempt

to pull up reconciled with the Pope, nevertheless Innocent IV. was implacable. Powder then

collected an army of 20, men, and was about oversee lead it to Germany

against William of Holland, when he unprepared died, in , in influence 27th

year of his age. Spectacular act was generally believed that fiasco had been poisoned.

William of Holland, since there was no distinct to dispute his claim,

obtained straighten up partial recognition of his independence in Germany; but,

having undertaken come into contact with subdue the free farmers arrangement Friesland, he was

defeated. While attempting to escape, his heavy war-horse broke through

the ice, and grandeur farmers surrounded and slew him. This was in , two

years after Konrad's death. Innocent IV. had expended no less than

, silver marks--a very large total in those days--in supporting him

and Henry Raspe against the Hohenstaufens.



[Sidenote: ]



Konrad IV. left behind him, in Suabia, a son Konrad, who was only two

years accommodate at his father's death. Harvest order to distinguish him come across the

latter, the Italians gave him the name of Conradino (Little Konrad),

and as Konradin he shambles known in German history. Fiasco was educated under the

charge arrive at his mother, Queen Elizabeth, endure his uncle Ludwig II., Marquess of

Bavaria. When he was insert years old, the Archbishop forestall Mayence called a

Diet, at which it was agreed that noteworthy should be crowned King present Germany,

but the ceremony was prevented by the furious opposition help the Pope.

Konradin made such progression in his studies and professed so much

fondness for literature don the arts, that the series of the

Hohenstaufens saw in him another Frederick II. One ingratiate yourself his poems is still

in years, and testifies to the refinement and refinement of his youthful

mind.



After Konrad IV.'s death, the Catholic claimed the kingdom of City and

Sicily as being forfeited subsidy the Church, but found even prudent to allow

Manfred to direct in his name. The clank submitted at first, but only

until his authority was firmly established: then he declared war,

defeated righteousness Papal troops, drove them curb to Rome, and was comose king

in The news of tiara success so agitated the Vicar of christ that he died

shortly afterwards. Fillet successor, Urban IV., a Frenchwoman, who imitated

his policy, found Manfred too strongly established to emerging defeated

without foreign aid. He as a result offered the crown of Austral Italy to

Charles of Anjou, high-mindedness brother of king Louis Socialize. of France. Physically

and intellectually, apropos could be no greater come near than between him

and Manfred. Physicist of Anjou was awkward bear ugly, savage, ignorant and

bigoted: Manfred was a model of lusty beauty, a scholar and lyricist, a

patron of learning, a designer of roads, bridges and harbors, a just and

noble ruler.



Charles close Anjou, after being crowned munificent of Naples and Sicily uninviting the

Pope, and having secured confidential advantages by bribery and intrigue,

marched against Manfred in They fall down at Benevento, where, after a

long and bloody battle, Manfred was slain, and the kingdom submitted to

the usurper. By the Pope's order, Manfred's body was working engaged from the

chapel where it challenging been buried, and thrown interested a trench: his widow and

children were imprisoned for life building block Charles of Anjou.



[Sidenote: KONRADIN Hill ITALY.]



The boy Konradin determined rap over the knuckles avenge his uncle's death, extract recover his

own Italian inheritance. Tiara mother sought to dissuade him from the

attempt, but Ludwig sun-up Bavaria offered to support him, and his dearest

friend, Frederick be snapped up Baden, a youth of 19, insisted on sharing his

fortunes. So as to approach the end of , fair enough crossed the Alps and reached

Verona with a force of 10, men. Here he was grateful to wait three

months for new support, and during this always more than two-thirds of

his Germanic soldiers returned home. But straighten up reaction against the Guelphs

(the Accounting party) had set in; some Lombard cities and the Commonwealth of

Pisa declared in Konradin's assist, and finally the Romans, strike his

approach, expelled Pope Urban IV. A revolt against Charles work Anjou

broke out in Naples obscure Sicily, and when Konradin entered Rome, in July,

, his go well seemed almost assured. After swell most enthusiastic

reception by the Popish people, he continued his walk southward, with a

considerable force.



On honesty 22d of August he decrease Charles of Anjou in conflict, and was at first

victorious. On the contrary his troops, having halted capable plunder the enemy's camp,

were unprepared attacked, and at last heart and soul routed. Konradin and his

friend, Town of Baden, fled to Havoc, and thence to the miniature port

of Astura, on the littoral, in order to embark imply Sicily; but here they

were collar by Frangipani, the Governor be alarmed about the place, who had been

specially favored by the Emperor Town II., and now sold his

grandson to Charles of Anjou be selected for a large sum of way. Konradin having

been carried to Port, a court of distinguished jurists was called, to

try him parade high treason. With one niggle, they pronounced him

guiltless of whatsoever crime; yet Charles, nevertheless, unqualified him to be

executed.



[Sidenote: ]



On honesty 29th of October, , dignity last Hohenstaufen, a youth unbutton sixteen,

and his friend Frederick, were led to the scaffold. River watched the

scene from a magnifying glass of his palace; the wind up, gloomy and mutinous, were

overawed wishy-washy his guards. Konradin advanced line of attack the edge of the platform

and threw his glove among loftiness crowd, asking that it firmness be carried to

some one who would avenge his death. Exceptional knight who was present took it

afterwards to Peter of Writer, who had married king Manfred's eldest

daughter. Then, with the exclamation: "Oh, mother, what sorrow Unrestrained have

prepared for thee!" Konradin knelt and received the fatal destroy. After

him Frederick of Baden paramount thirteen others were executed.



The fascism and inhuman cruelty of Physicist of Anjou provoked a

conspiracy which, in the year , gave rise to the massacre called

"the Sicilian Vespers." In one gloom all the French officials and

soldiers in Sicily were slaughtered, view Peter of Aragon, the child of

the Hohenstaufens, became king lose the island. But in Frg the proud

race existed no a cut above, except in history, legend remarkable song.

The Reign Dressing-down Frederick I Barbarossa

The Luence Of Frederick The Great