Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor

26 December 1194 – 13 December 1250

Frederick II was King of Sicily from 1198, King of Germany from 1212, and Holy Roman Emperor from 1220 until his death in 1250. A patron of science and the arts called 'stupor mundi' (wonder of the world), he recovered Jerusalem for Christendom through diplomacy during the Sixth Crusade. His long conflicts with the papacy led to repeated excommunications.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor.

Life events

Born at Jesi in the March of Ancona
26 December 1194

Frederick was born to Emperor Henry VI and Constance of Sicily in the town of Jesi, near Ancona.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Crowned King of Sicily as a child
17 May 1198

After the deaths of his parents, the three-year-old Frederick was crowned King of Sicily, with Pope Innocent III later acting as his guardian.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Constance of Aragon
1209

Frederick married Constance of Aragon, his first wife, who brought him political and military support.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Crowned King of Germany at Mainz
9 December 1212

Frederick traveled to Germany and was crowned King of the Romans at Mainz, challenging Otto IV.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Crowned Holy Roman Emperor in Rome
22 November 1220

Pope Honorius III crowned Frederick Holy Roman Emperor in St. Peter's Basilica.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Founded the University of Naples
1224

Frederick founded the University of Naples, the oldest state-founded university in the world.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Excommunicated by Pope Gregory IX
29 September 1227

Pope Gregory IX excommunicated Frederick for failing to depart on crusade as promised, beginning a long conflict with the papacy.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Recovered Jerusalem by treaty and crowned himself King of Jerusalem
18 March 1229

During the Sixth Crusade, Frederick negotiated the return of Jerusalem from Sultan al-Kamil without battle and wore the crown in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Promulgated the Constitutions of Melfi
1231

Frederick issued the Liber Augustalis, a comprehensive legal code for the Kingdom of Sicily and a landmark of medieval law.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died at Castel Fiorentino in Apulia
13 December 1250

Frederick died of a dysenteric illness at Castel Fiorentino and was buried in Palermo Cathedral.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓