FREDERICK I 1122 - 1190 German Emperor Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, was born of the Hohenstaufen family. After succeeding his father as duke of Swabia, Frederick I was elected German king and crowned emperor by the pope in 1155. Frederick Barbarossa became one of the greatest monarchs of medieval Germany, but his reign was a continuous struggle against unruly vassals at home, the city republics of Lombardy, and the papacy. He was able to assert his feudal superiority over Poland, Hungary, Denmark, and Burgundy, and he went on several campaigns in Italy. Barbarossa died while on the Third Crusade to free Jerusalem from Saladin. |
|
www link : Biography |