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Freddy’s Dead

On this date in 1152, Frederick I of Hohenstaufen, known to his buddies as “Redbeard”, was elected king of the Germans. Three short years later, Frederick was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV. An ambitious emperor intent on restoring the Empire to the position it held under Otto the Great, Frederick met with mixed success throughout his career. He was excommunicated at one point, which is cool. A shaky alliance with his cousin Henry, duke of Saxony, provided Frederick with a vital ally during his Italian campaigns, until Henry refused to help him in 1174. Frederick never forgave him.

Frederick is probably best remembered for his ill-fated participation in the Third Crusade. Teaming up with French king Philip Augustus and English king Richard the Lionheart, Frederick set out in 1189 to recapture the Holy Land. Unfortunately for our hero, he drowned while crossing the Saleph River in Cilicia in 1190.

What a klutz. Seriously, he couldn’t afford a canoe? Whatever.

Anyways, rest well, Frederick Barbarossa I of Hohenstaufen. We miss you.