Frederick I Barbarossa
Frederick I, known as Barbarossa (Italian for Red Beard), was the most celebrated of the Hohenstaufen emperors. Elected king in 1152 and crowned emperor in 1155, Frederick combined outstanding military ability, political genius, and a grand vision of imperial dignity. His Italian policy brought him into prolonged conflict with the Lombard League, culminating in his catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Legnano in 1176. The Peace of Constance in 1183 recognized the autonomy of the Italian communes. In Germany, Frederick ended the long Welf-Hohenstaufen feud by reaching an accommodation with Henry the Lion until 1180, when he sentenced him to exile. At the height of his prestige, Frederick took the cross in 1189 to lead the Third Crusade. He died in June 1190, drowned while fording the Saleph River in Anatolia, robbing the crusade of its most experienced commander.
- Lived: 1122 CE – 1190 CE
- Nationality: german
- Roles: emperor, head_of_state, military_leader, crusader
