Property "Joined with" (as page type) with input value "Constanza de Aragón (1179-1222)+Isabella II of Jerusalem (1212-1228)+Isabella of England (1214-1241)+Bianca Lancia (c1205-c1238)+Unknown of Sicily (?-?)+Adelheid von Urslingen (c1184-c1222)+Unknown of Spoleto (?-?)+Matilda of Antioch (?-?)+Manna of Messina (?-?)+Richina of Beilstein-Wolfsöden (c1205-1236)" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.
- 1220-1250: Holy Roman Emperor
- 1220-1250: King of Germany
- 1220-1250: King of Italy
- 1198-1250: King of Sicily
- 1225-1228: King of Jerusalem
- 1225: Veteran of Sixth Crusade
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Friedrich II of the Holy Roman Empire was born 15 December 1194 in Jesi, Italy to Heinrich VI of the Holy Roman Empire (1165-1197) and Constance of Sicily (1154-1198) and died 13 December 1250 Lucera, Italy of unspecified causes. He married Constanza de Aragón (1179-1222) 15 August 1209 JL in Messina. He married Isabella II of Jerusalem (1212-1228) 9 November 1225 JL in Brindisi. He married Isabella of England (1214-1241) 15 June 1235 JL in Worms, Germany.
Biography
Frederick II, also known as Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, was a prominent ruler who held the title of Holy Roman Emperor from 1220 until his death in 1250. He was born on December 26, 1194, in Jesi, near Ancona, Italy. Frederick II is widely regarded as one of the most fascinating figures of the medieval period due to his complex personality, intellectual pursuits, and ambitious political endeavors.
Here are some key aspects of Frederick II's life and reign:
Early Life and Education:
Constance handing her son over to the care of the duchess of Spoleto, the wife of Conrad of Urslingen, from the Liber ad honorem Augusti by Peter of Eboli
Frederick II was the son of Emperor Henry VI and Constance of Sicily. After his father's death in 1197, Frederick inherited the Kingdom of Sicily and was raised in Palermo. He received an extensive education, studying various subjects such as philosophy, law, and languages. Frederick's exposure to the rich cultural and scientific traditions of Sicily greatly influenced his later pursuits.
Conflict for the Throne:
Frederick faced several challenges to his rule, primarily from rival factions within the Holy Roman Empire. There were power struggles with the German nobility, the Papacy, and the Lombard League. The Papacy, in particular, viewed Frederick as a threat due to his independent nature and aspirations for centralized power.
Sixth Crusade:
Frederick II became known for his involvement in the Crusades. He undertook the Sixth Crusade, which took place between 1228 and 1229. Remarkably, Frederick managed to negotiate a peaceful resolution with the Ayyubid Sultan Al-Kamil, resulting in the transfer of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Nazareth to Christian control without military conflict. This accomplishment earned him criticism from some Christian factions who considered him too lenient towards Muslims.
Cultural Patronage and Intellectual Pursuits:
Frederick II was a passionate patron of the arts and sciences. He actively encouraged scholars, philosophers, and artists to his court, establishing an environment conducive to intellectual exchange. He promoted the translation of Arabic texts into Latin, contributing to the transmission of knowledge from the Islamic world to Europe. Frederick himself was a prolific writer and composed various works on subjects ranging from falconry to law.
Legal and Administrative Reforms:
Frederick II implemented several legal and administrative reforms during his reign. He issued a legal code known as the Constitutions of Melfi, which aimed to consolidate and systematize the laws of the Kingdom of Sicily. These laws laid the foundation for the development of modern legal systems in Europe. Frederick's reforms also emphasized the importance of royal authority over feudal privileges and decentralized power structures.
Conflict with the Papacy:
Frederick II's relationship with the Papacy was tumultuous and marked by conflicts. Pope Gregory IX excommunicated Frederick multiple times, accusing him of heresy and failure to fulfill his obligations as a Christian monarch. These disputes often revolved around Frederick's assertion of imperial authority and his attempts to maintain control over territories in Italy.
Death and Legacy:
Frederick II died on December 13, 1250, in Fiorentino, Italy. Although his reign was marked by controversies and conflicts, he remains an important figure in European history due to his multifaceted personality, intellectual pursuits, and efforts to bridge the cultural divide between East and West.
Frederick II's reign left a lasting impact on the Holy Roman Empire and the broader European landscape. Despite facing significant challenges to his rule, he managed to maintain a level of stability within his territories. His patronage of art and culture, as well as his legal reforms, contributed to the flourishing of intellectual life in the regions under his control. Frederick's ambitions for centralized power and his clashes with the Papacy foreshadowed the struggles between emperors and popes in the later medieval period.
Family Life
Frederick II had multiple wives and children throughout his life. Here are the details of his marriages and his notable children:
1st Marriage: Constance of Aragon
Constanza de Aragón (1179-1222): Frederick II's first wife was Constance of Aragon, whom he married in 1209. Constance was the daughter of King Alfonso II of Aragon and Queen Sancha of Castile. The had one child before she died:
- Heinrich VII (1211-1242) - Co-regent to father as King of Germany, King of Italy, King of Sicily. But he predeceased his father.
2nd Marriage: Yolande of Jerusalem
Yolande of Jerusalem (1212-1228): After the death of Constance, Frederick II married Yolande of Jerusalem in 1225. Yolande was the daughter of John of Brienne, the King of Jerusalem. Their marriage was politically motivated, as Frederick aimed to strengthen his claim to the Kingdom of Jerusalem. She died young?
- Margareta (1226-1227) - died young
- Conrad IV (1228-1254) - Conrad IV was Frederick II's eldest surviving son and his successor as the King of Sicily and Holy Roman Emperor. He ruled from 1250 until his death in 1254.
3rd Marriage: Isabella of England
Isabella of England (1214-1241): Frederick II's third wife was the daughter of King John of England and sister of King Henry III. They married in 1235,
- Jordanus (1236-1236) (born during the Spring of 1236, failed to survive the year); this child was given the baptismal name Jordanus as he was baptized with water brought for that purpose from the Jordan river.
- Agnes (1237-1237). - died infant.
- Heinrich of the Holy Roman Empire (1238-1254), named after Henry III of England, his uncle; appointed Governor of Sicily and promised to become King of Jerusalem after his father died, but he, too, died within three years and was never crowned. Betrothed to many of Pope Innocent IV's nieces, but never married to any.
- Margaretha von Staufen (1237-1270) married Albert, Landgrave of Thuringia, later Margrave of Meissen.
Mistresses and illegitimate issue
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The Codex Manesse showing the poet Konrad von Altstetten with a mistress and a bird of prey; though it is often claimed that it actually depicts Frederick and Bianca
- Unknown name, Sicilian countess. Her exact parentage is unknown, but Thomas Tuscus's Gesta Imperatorum et Pontificum (c. 1280) stated she was a nobili comitissa quo in regno Sicilie erat heres.
- Frederick of Pettorano (1212/13 – aft. 1240), who fled to Spain with his wife and children in 1240.
- Adelheid (Adelaide) of Urslingen (c. 1184 – c. 1222).[1] Her relationship with Frederick II took place during the time he stayed in Germany between 1215 and 1220. According to some sources,[2] she was related to the Hohenburg family under the name Alayta of Vohburg (it: Alayta di Marano); but the most accepted theory stated she was the daughter of Conrad of Urslingen, Count of Assisi and Duke of Spoleto.
- Matilda or Maria, from Antioch.
- Frederick of Antioch (1221–1256).[3] Although Frederick has been ascribed up to eight children, only two, perhaps three, can be identified from primary documents. His son, Conrad, was alive as late as 1301. His daughter Philippa, born around 1242, married Manfredi Maletta, the grand chamberlain of Manfredi Lancia, in 1258. She was imprisoned by Charles of Anjou and died in prison in 1273. Maria, wife of Barnabò Malaspina, may also have been his daughter.[4]
- An unknown member of the Lancia family:[1]
- Selvaggia (1221/23 – 1244), married Ezzelino III da Romano.
- Manna, niece of Berardo di Castagna, Archbishop of Palermo:[1]
- Richard of Chieti (1224/25 – 26 May 1249).
- Anais of Brienne (c. 1205–1236), cousin of Isabella II of Jerusalem:[1]
- Blanchefleur (1226 – 20 June 1279), Dominican nun in Montargis, France.
- Richina of Wolfsöden (c. 1205 – 1236):[1]
- Margaret of Swabia (1230–1298), married Thomas of Aquino, count of Acerra.
- Unknown mistress:
- Gerhard of Koskele (died after 1255), married Magdalena, daughter of Caupo of Turaida.[5]
Frederick had a relationship with Bianca Lancia (c. 1200/10 – 1230/46),[3] possibly starting around 1225. One source states that it lasted 20 years. They had three children:
- Constance (Anna) (1230 – April 1307), married John III Ducas Vatatzes.[3]
- Manfred (1232 – killed in battle, Benevento, 26 February 1266),[3] first Regent, later King of Sicily.
- Violante (1233–1264), married Riccardo Sanseverino, count of Caserta.
Matthew of Paris relates the story of a marriage confirmatio matrimonii in articulo mortis (on her deathbed) between them when Bianca was dying,[6] but this marriage was never recognized by the Church. Nevertheless, Bianca's children were apparently regarded by Frederick as legitimate, legitimatio per matrimonium subsequens, evidenced by his daughter Constance's marriage to the Nicaean Emperor, and his own will, in which he appointed Manfred as Prince of Taranto and Regent of Sicily.[lower-alpha 1]
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Heinrich VII of the Holy Roman Empire (1211-1242) | 1211 | 12 February 1242 Martirano | Margarethe von Österreich (c1205-1266) |
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Margareta of the Holy Roman Empire (1226-1227) | |||
| Konrad IV of the Holy Roman Empire (1228-1254) | 25 April 1228 Andria | 21 May 1254 Lavello | Elizabeth von Bayern (c1227-1273) |
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Jordan of the Holy Roman Empire (1236-1236) | |||
| Agnes of the Holy Roman Empire (1237-1237) | |||
| Heinrich of the Holy Roman Empire (1238-1254) | |||
| Margaretha von Staufen (1237-1270) | 1237 | 8 August 1270 | Albrecht II von Meißen (1240-1314) Kunigunde von Eisenberg († 31. Oktober 1286) |
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Constance von Staufen (1230-1307) | |||
| Manfred of Sicily (1232-1266) | 1232 Venosa | 26 February 1266 Benevento | Beatrice de Savoie (1223-1258) Helena Angelina Doukaina (c1242-1271) |
| Violante von Staufen (1233-1264) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Frederick of Pettorana (?-?) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Enzio of Sardinia (1215-1272) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Caterina de Marano (1216-1272) | 1216 | 1272 Finale Ligure, Savona, Liguria, Italy | Giacomo del Carretto (1213-1268) |
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Frederick of Antioch (1221-1256) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Richard di Chieti (1225-1249) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Margaretha von Schwaben (1230-1298) | |||
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Friedrich II of the Holy Roman Empire (1195-1250) | 15 December 1194 Jesi, Italy | 13 December 1250 Lucera, Italy | |
See Also
- Friedrich Hohenstaufen
- House of Hohenstaufen
- Frederick Barbarossa Family Ancestry
- Holy Roman Emporer
- Von Schwaben Family
- Frederick von Schwaben
Bibliographies
- Davis, R. H. C. (1988). A History of Medieval Europe. Longman. ISBN 0-582-01404-2. https://archive.org/details/historyofmedieva00rhcd.
- Fournier, Paul (1885). Le royaume d'Arles et de Vienne sous le règne de Frédéric II (1214–1250). Grenoble: G. Dupont.
- Houben, Hubert (2002). Roger II of Sicily: A Ruler Between East and West. Cambridge University Press.
- Jedin, Hubert; Dolan, John Patrick, eds (1980). History of the Church: From the High Middle Ages to the eve of the Reformation, Volume IV. London: Burns & Oates Publishers. ISBN 9780860120865. https://books.google.com/books?id=BJHYAAAAMAAJ&q=attack+on+rome+1241.
- Jones, Chris (2007). Eclipse of Empire? Perceptions of the Western Empire and its Rulers in Late-Medieval France. Brepols.
- Kamp, N (1975). "Capocci, Raniero (Raynerius de Viterbio, Rainerius, Ranerius, Reinerius)". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani. 18. Treccani. http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/raniero-capocci_%28Dizionario-Biografico%29/. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- Kamp, N (1995). "Federico II di Svevia, imperatore, re di Sicilia e di Gerusalemme, re dei Romani". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani. 45. Treccani. http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/federico-ii-di-svevia-imperatore-re-di-sicilia-e-di-gerusalemme-re-dei-romani_(Dizionario-Biografico)/. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- Kantorowicz, Ernst (1937). Frederick the Second, 1194–1250. New York: Frederick Ungar. https://archive.org/details/fredericktheseco000027mbp/page/n5.
- Kohn, George Childs (1999). Dictionary of Wars (Revised ed.). New York: Facts On File, Inc.. ISBN 0-8160-3928-3.
- Maalouf, Amin (1989). The Crusades Through Arab Eyes. Schocken. ISBN 0-8052-0898-4. https://archive.org/details/crusadesthrougha00maal_0.
- Mendola, Louis (2016). Frederick, Conrad and Manfred of Hohenstaufen, Kings of Sicily: The Chronicle of Nicholas of Jamsilla. Trinacria. ISBN 978-1-943-63906-9.
External Links
- wikipedia:en:Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
- Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor at thePeerage
- Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, Geni.com, https://www.geni.com/people/Frederick-II-Holy-Roman-Emperor/6000000000424888017, retrieved 22 June 2023
- Ancestry of German Kings and Emporers, fmg.ac, https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/GERMANY,%20Kings.htm, retrieved 22 June 2023
- Dukes of Swabia family tree
- Family tree of the German monarchs
- Frederick the Second, Kantorowicz's biography of Frederick
- "Frederick II. King of Sicily from 1197, and Holy Roman Emperor from 1215 to 1250". New International Encyclopedia. 1905.
- "Frederick II., Roman Emperor". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.
- "Frederick II". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913.
- "Frederick II, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire". Encyclopedia Americana. 1920.
- "Frederick II". Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.
- Frederick II – Encyclopædia Britannica
- Psalter of Frederick II from around 1235–1237
Contemporary Sources
The best and earliest sources on the life and reign of Frederick II include contemporary chronicles, papal correspondence, and official documents. Here are some of the primary sources that provide valuable insights into Frederick II and his era:
- "Chronica Majora" by Matthew Paris: Matthew Paris, an English chronicler, wrote a comprehensive chronicle that covers the period from 1235 to 1259. His work provides a detailed account of the events surrounding Frederick II's reign, including his conflicts with the Papacy.
- "Annales Genuenses" (Annals of Genoa): This chronicle, compiled by the Genoese notary and chronicler Caffaro di Rustico da Caschifellone, covers the period from 1099 to 1163. It offers valuable information on Frederick II's early life and the political context of the time.
- "Chronica Regia Coloniensis" (Royal Chronicle of Cologne): This chronicle was written by an anonymous author in the late 13th century. It provides an account of events in the Holy Roman Empire, including Frederick II's reign. While not contemporaneous, it still offers important insights.
- "Gesta Frederici II Imperatoris" (Deeds of Frederick II) by Nicolaus of Jamsilla: Nicolaus of Jamsilla was a notary and jurist who served at Frederick II's court. His work, "Gesta Frederici II Imperatoris," is a collection of official documents, letters, and decrees that shed light on Frederick's administration and policies.
- Papal Correspondence: The letters exchanged between Frederick II and various Popes, including Pope Innocent III and Pope Gregory IX, offer valuable insights into the conflicts and power struggles between the Holy Roman Emperor and the Papacy.
- Imperial and Sicilian Charters: The charters issued by Frederick II, known as "Privilegia," provide important information about his legal reforms, administration, and relationship with the nobility. These charters can be found in various archives and collections.
Royal Succession Charts
Friedrich II of the Holy Roman Empire (1195-1250) Born: 1194 Died: 1250
| ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Constance |
King of Sicily 1198–1250 with Constance (1198) Henry II (1212–1217) |
Succeeded by Conrad I & II |
| Preceded by Isabella II and John |
King of Jerusalem 1225–1228 with Isabella II | |
| Preceded by Philip |
Duke of Swabia 1212–1216 |
Succeeded by Henry (VII) |
| Preceded by Otto IV |
King of Germany 1212–1250 |
Succeeded by Conrad IV |
| King of Italy 1212–1250 | ||
| Holy Roman Emperor 1220–1245/50 |
Succeeded by Henry VII | |
References
- ^ a b c d e "Federico II, figli", Enciclopedia Federiciana (Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana, 2005).
- ^ CLUEB – Scheda Pubblicazione Archived 19 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedRunciman26 - ^ Ernst Voltmer, "Federico d'Antiochia" Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani 45 (1995).
- ^ Ernst Kraus: Leben der Unehelichen: Ein Abstieg in Status, Reichtum und Zuneigung. Leipzig 1843, p. 92–93. (German)
- ^ "Monachi Sancti Albani, Chronica Majora, Matthew of Paris, p. 572
- ^ Huillard-Bréholles, JLA (1861). Historia diplomatica Friderica Secundi. 6. Henricus. pp. 670–672. https://books.google.com/books?id=C1cBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA672.
Footnotes (including sources)
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