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Emperor Frederick II (1194–1250) and the political particularism of the German princes

Emperor Frederick II (1194–1250) and the political particularism of the German princes

Arnold, Benjamin (Department of History, University of Reading)

Journal of Medieval History, Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 239–252 (2000)

Abstract

Emperor Frederick II is generally regarded as having been a ‘strong’ ruler, yet the puzzle remains as to how he managed his governance of Germany without the benefit of the more centralized institutions with which he was familiar as king of Sicily. This article seeks to show that the emperor understood almost to perfection what could or could not be achieved as ruler of the Germans, and that the copious legislation of his reign can be analysed to show that his principles of governance for Germany demonstrated sound political sense.

Eight centuries ago the year 1194 witnessed a series of political and dynastic successes for the ruler of the western Roman Empire, Henry VI (1190–1197). In the spring he released from captivity King Richard of England (1189–1199) in return for a huge ransom and the submission of the English kingdom as a fief of the Empire. Early in the summer the emperor was in Italy with his army, and by autumn he had conquered the Norman kingdom of Sicily which he claimed as the inheritance of his spouse, the last surviving legitimate member of the Norman royal line. On Christmas Day he was crowned king of Sicily in Palermo Cathedral, and the very next day Empress Constance, who had stayed behind at Jesi in central Italy, gave birth to their heir, the future emperor Frederick II.

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Click here to read this article from the Journal of Medieval History


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