He was an intellectually curious and active king, although his religious skepticism and his political interests in Italy made him a frequent enemy of the papacy during his lifetime, he would be excommunicated three times.Īlthough he was busy with many military affairs throughout his life, Frederick's greatest interests were intellectual. (excerpted from the full Frederick II civilopedia)įrederick II was the Holy Roman Emperor and the King of Sicily throughout the first half of the thirteenth century, ruling both domains at the apogee of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. The death of Conradin ended the direct line of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, although many later emperors would be descended from them indirectly. However, he was unsuccessful, and he was eventually executed in 1268 - at just sixteen years of age. Centralization continued to degrade in Germany, and after Frederick's son Conrad IV died in 1254, there ensued a period called the "Great Interregnum" where no contender could attain unanimous recognition as the new emperor.Ĭonradin, the son of Conrad IV, was put forward as a royal candidate in 1261. This war led the Hohenstaufen authority to degrade in Germany Frederick II was more interested in Sicilian affairs once he came of age, further alienating the Hohenstaufen from the German princes. Frederick's uncle, Philip of Swabia, was selected to serve as regent, but a rival faction backed the Welf Otto IV as regent, and civil war ensued. However, Henry died when his son - Frederick II - was only a few years old.
Frederick struggled with finances throughout his reign, but his successor Henry VI married into the royal family of Sicily, providing new revenue to the crown. Frederick presided over eastward expansion and war in Italy, as well as a florescence of Middle High German literature. However, after Lothair died in 1137, Conrad (then the Duke of Franconia) managed to ascend to the throne himself.Ĭonrad died without any adult heirs of his own, so he was succeeded by his nephew, Frederick - the emperor who came to be known as Frederick Barbarossa. These bids for the crown were initially unsuccessful despite the Hohenstaufens' efforts, the next emperor would be Lothair of Supplinburg.
Thus, his two sons - Frederick and Conrad - came to be considered for the imperial throne after Henry V died heirless in 1125.
The first Hohenstaufen duke, Frederick I of Swabia, married a daughter of Emperor Henry IV. The Hohenstaufen dynasty was a family that initially rose to prominence in the Duchy of Swabia in 1079, and went on to rule the Holy Roman Empire from 1138 to 1254.
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