Frederick I Barbarossa Biography

Birth of Frederick I Barbarossa, son of Frederick II Duke of Swabia

Succeeds as King of Germany, 1155-1190

Named Emperor by Conrad III to end the feud between the Guelph & Ghibelline

Crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV

Frederick I Barbarossa has Arnold of Brescia hanged as a heretic

Succeeds as Holy Roman Emperor

Frederick emphasizes the "Romanness" of the Empire, partly in an attempt to justify the power of the Emperor independent of the (now strengthened) Pope

Succeeds as Holy Roman Emperor

Frederick I Barbarossa makes Austria a duchy

Marries Beatrix, daughter of the late Count of Upper Burgundy

Gains Upper Burgundy after marrying Beatrix

Frederick I Barbarossa invades Italy & seizes Milan, Brescia & other towns in Lombardy

Invades Italy & seizes Milan, Brescia & other towns in Lombardy

The Papal legate describes the imperial crown as a "benefice". Sparks off a Papal Investiture contest

The term sacrum ("holy," in the sense of "consecrated") in connection with the medieval Roman Empire is first used under Frederick I Barbarossa ("Holy Empire"), reflects Fredericks ambition to dominate Italy and the Papacy

Fredericks Army is wiped out by typhus

Frederick I Barbarossa invades Italy & seizes Milan, Brescia & other towns in Lombardy

Invades Italy & seizes Milan, Brescia & other towns in Lombardy

Frederick I Invades Poland & forces the submission of Duke Boleslav IV

Invades Italy & seizes Milan, Brescia & other towns in Lombardy

Fredericks Army is wiped out by typhus

Frederick I Barbarossa invades Italy & seizes Milan, Brescia & other towns in Lombardy

Frederick I Invades Poland & forces the submission of Duke Boleslav IV

Duke Boleslav IV submits after Frederick I's invasion, ending immediate Polish resistance to the imperial campaign.

Frederick I Invades Poland & forces the submission of Duke Boleslav IV

Receives the homage of the Burgundian noblemen

Receives the homage of the Burgundian noblemen

An Imperial Assembly at Roncaglia reclaims the Imperial Rights of Justinian's Corpus Juris Civilis

An Imperial Assembly at Roncaglia reclaims the Imperial Rights of Justinian's Corpus Juris Civilis

The Imperial Party places an "Imperial Governor" over cites in the Empire

An Imperial Assembly at Roncaglia reclaims the Imperial Rights of Justinian's Corpus Juris Civilis

Imperial Rights are enumerated for the first time at Roncaglia

Imperial Rights are now explicitly rooted in Roman Law, a far-reaching constitutional act

The list of Imperial Rights includes public roads, tariffs, coining, collecting punitive fees, the investiture & seating and unseating of office holders

Imperial Rights are now explicitly rooted in Roman Law, a far-reaching constitutional act

Captures Milan from the insurgents

Makes Vladislav of Bohemia a King

Claims the right as Emperor & King of the Lombards to rule Lombardy

Captures Milan from the insurgents

Claims the right as Emperor & King of the Lombards to rule Lombardy

Claims the right as Emperor & King of the Lombards to rule Lombardy

Makes Vladislav of Bohemia a King

Lombardy has Pope Adrians support. Greed of the Emperors officials leads to revolt of the Lombard cities

Greed of the Emperors officials leads to revolt of the Lombard cities

Lombardy has Pope Adrians support. Greed of the Emperors officials leads to revolt of the Lombard cities

Enters Crema & destroys the city

Enters Crema & destroys the city

Excommunicated by the new Pope Alexander III

Milan is destroyed as Frederick fights the Popes supporters

Responds to the rebellion by burning Milan

Responds to the rebellion by burning Milan

Milan is destroyed as Frederick fights the Popes supporters

Manuel allies with Venice against Frederick I Barbarossa

Manuel allies with Venice against Frederick I Barbarossa

Captures Rome

Captures Rome

Captures Rome

Has the Pope Paschal III enthroned & his wife Beatrix crowned

Has the Pope Paschal III enthroned & his wife Beatrix crowned. Forced to levae Italy after an outbreak of pestilence destroys his army. Enters Rome during a 4th invasion of Italy

Driven out of Italy by the Lombard League, a coalition of Lombard cities

Has the Pope Paschal III enthroned & his wife Beatrix crowned. Forced to levae Italy after an outbreak of pestilence destroys his army. Enters Rome during a 4th invasion of Italy

Returns to Italy having made a generous alliance with the German Princes

Defeated by the Lombard League & forced to make peace at the peace of Venice

Makes peace with Alexander II who rescinds his excommunication

Frederick supported a succession of Popes before finally making peace with Alexander in 1177

Under the Peace of Venice, Milan is granted sel-Government

Under the Peace of Venice, Verona is granted sel-Government

Under the Peace of Venice, Milan is granted sel-Government

Under the Peace of Venice, Verona is granted sel-Government

Peace is concluded with the Pope & the Emperor regains his power in Italy. Milan & Verona are given self Government

The Emperor Frederick falls on his knees before Alexander III & obtains absolution

Crowned King of Burgundy

Drives Henry the lion into exile, who takes refuge in the court of Henry II

The Peace of Constance ends war between the Lombard towns, the Pope & Frederick I

The Peace of Constance ends war between the Lombard towns, the Pope & Frederick I

Fredericks heir marries the Norman heiress of Sicily, Constanza di Apulia

Marries his son Henry VI to the heiress of Sicily making peace with Siciliy

The marriage of Constanza di Apulia splits Sicily from its Allies, the Papal States

Wins the Battle of Iconium

Captures Konya in Anatolia

Drowns in Cilcia crusading in Anatolia trying to save the latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. Death of Frederick I Barbarossa