Frederick Barbarossa was born in December 1122 in Haguenau. Holy Roman Emperor from 1155, Frederick I, called Barbarossa for his red beard, belonged to the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He strove to restore imperial authority in Germany and Italy, and led several expeditions south of the Alps against the Lombard League of cities, ending with defeat at Legnano in 1176 and a settlement at Constance. He clashed with Pope Alexander III and with his cousin Henry the Lion of Saxony and Bavaria. In 1189 he took the cross for the Third Crusade, and drowned in the river Saleph in Anatolia. A legend arose that he sleeps in a mountain and will one day return.
Before and after
- from May 1118 to December 1118Conquest of Zaragoza
- from c. 1120s to 1390sRise of Guelphs and Ghibellines
- from 1121 to 1269Almohads
- 23 September 1122Concordat of Worms
- December 1122Birth of Frederick Barbarossa
- from 1125 to 1389Grand Principality of Vladimir
- 11 June 1125Battle of Azaz
- from 1126 to 1485House of Plantagenet
- 14 April 1126Birth of Averroes
More in Wars, politics & history
- from 622 CE to 750 CEMuslim conquests
- 8 June 793 CEVikings raid Lindisfarne
- August 843 CETreaty of Verdun
- from 28 September 1066 to 1 January 1075Norman conquest of England
- from 1189 to 1192Third Crusade
- 7 June 1494Treaty of Tordesillas
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 12th century.