The Crusade Of Frederick Barbarossa ✮

The Redbeard's Requiem: The Tragic Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa

: Historical accounts suggest that Saladin , the legendary Muslim leader who had retaken Jerusalem, feared the arrival of Barbarossa and his Germans more than any other crusading contingent. The Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa

Frederick did not just lead an army; he led a "moving state". Setting out before the more famous Richard the Lionheart and Philip II of France , Barbarossa commanded what was likely the largest single force ever assembled for a crusade. The Redbeard's Requiem: The Tragic Crusade of Frederick

: Estimates vary wildly, ranging from 12,000–20,000 highly disciplined troops to chroniclers' claims of over 100,000 . : Estimates vary wildly, ranging from 12,000–20,000 highly

The journey was anything but a peaceful pilgrimage. Frederick had to fight his way through supposed Christian allies and old rivals alike:

: Because his army was too massive for a sea crossing, Frederick took the grueling overland route through Hungary and the Byzantine Empire . A Gauntlet of Betrayal and Battle