| Sons of Barbarossa |
Heinrich VI, 1165 – 1197, was king of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor from 1190-1197. He
was the son of the emperor Friedrich Barbarossa and Beatrix of Burgundy, and at four years old was
crowned King of the Romans at Bamberg in June 1169. After receiving the Empire from his father,
he engaged in a Crusade from 1189 to 1190. He wed Constance of Sicily 1186. After the death of
her father William II of Sicily in 1189, Heinrich added the Sicilian crown to his own.
was the son of the emperor Friedrich Barbarossa and Beatrix of Burgundy, and at four years old was
crowned King of the Romans at Bamberg in June 1169. After receiving the Empire from his father,
he engaged in a Crusade from 1189 to 1190. He wed Constance of Sicily 1186. After the death of
her father William II of Sicily in 1189, Heinrich added the Sicilian crown to his own.
In Rome in 1191, Heinrich and Constance were crowned Emperor and Empress
by Pope Celestine III., but the barons of southern Italy chose Tancred, a local
relative of the Norman ruling family as their king. Heinrich besieged Naples,
but he had to quit after his army was devastated by a plague and the
Salernitane had taken his wife prisoner and brought her to Tancred.
Moreover, Heinrich the Lion had revolted again, forcing him to return to
Northern Germany. However, a lucky thing happened: Leopold, the duke of
Austria, had taken the king of England Richard I. as a prisoner,and Heinrich
managed to receive an English ransom of 150,000 silver marks.
by Pope Celestine III., but the barons of southern Italy chose Tancred, a local
relative of the Norman ruling family as their king. Heinrich besieged Naples,
but he had to quit after his army was devastated by a plague and the
Salernitane had taken his wife prisoner and brought her to Tancred.
Moreover, Heinrich the Lion had revolted again, forcing him to return to
Northern Germany. However, a lucky thing happened: Leopold, the duke of
Austria, had taken the king of England Richard I. as a prisoner,and Heinrich
managed to receive an English ransom of 150,000 silver marks.
| "Now fare you well and ride, closest of all men, chosen one that I so desire most again. I'll die with longing for you every day: not even God can pay me back, in all the world, for what I'll lack," said she, "while you're away." "It was your fortune, good friend, that we lay face to face: I touch you in my mind and still feel your embrace. I want you to feel the thoughts I hold, since you are what is best in them, as the setting of a noble gem adorns a work of gold." |
His son, Emperor Friedrich II., the last Staufer, was regarded not
only as one of the most fascinating ruler personalities of the Middle
Ages, but also as a scientist. After observations of birds for many
decades, he wrote an extremely detailed text book about the falcon
hunt under the title "De venandi cum avibus" or "The Art of Hunting
with Birds." The scientific accuracy and information of the text are
enriched by the glorious illustrations.
only as one of the most fascinating ruler personalities of the Middle
Ages, but also as a scientist. After observations of birds for many
decades, he wrote an extremely detailed text book about the falcon
hunt under the title "De venandi cum avibus" or "The Art of Hunting
with Birds." The scientific accuracy and information of the text are
enriched by the glorious illustrations.
His contemporaries called him stupor mundi, and the "astonishment of the world." Friedrich II,
Holy Roman Emperor of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, was born on December 26, 1194. His 40 year
old mother was said to have given birth to the child publicly in a marketplace. Unlike most Holy
Roman emperors, Friedrich spent little of his life in Germany. His mother, Constance, was the
daughter of Roger II of Sicily, and he was raised and lived most of his life in Sicily. After his father
Heinrich VI died at 31, Friedrich came under the guardianship of the pope, who neglected him. In
Palermo, he grew up like a street urchin, roaming city streets crowded with pirates, beggars, foreign
merchants and adventurers. When he was 14 years old, pope Innocent III, arranged his marriage to
Constance, the 25 years old daughter of the king of Aragon.
Holy Roman Emperor of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, was born on December 26, 1194. His 40 year
old mother was said to have given birth to the child publicly in a marketplace. Unlike most Holy
Roman emperors, Friedrich spent little of his life in Germany. His mother, Constance, was the
daughter of Roger II of Sicily, and he was raised and lived most of his life in Sicily. After his father
Heinrich VI died at 31, Friedrich came under the guardianship of the pope, who neglected him. In
Palermo, he grew up like a street urchin, roaming city streets crowded with pirates, beggars, foreign
merchants and adventurers. When he was 14 years old, pope Innocent III, arranged his marriage to
Constance, the 25 years old daughter of the king of Aragon.
Later, the Pope supported Friedrich as a legitimate king to act as a balance to Emperor Otto who was
in disfavor. In 1212, Friedrich was brought to Rome and given him a papal indoctrination. Soon,
Friedrich made a voyage and with the pope's blessing conquered Otto's empire without spilling a
drop of blood. Friedrich was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in Rome by Honorius III on November
22, 1220, while his oldest son Heinrich simultaneously took the title of King of the Romans.
in disfavor. In 1212, Friedrich was brought to Rome and given him a papal indoctrination. Soon,
Friedrich made a voyage and with the pope's blessing conquered Otto's empire without spilling a
drop of blood. Friedrich was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in Rome by Honorius III on November
22, 1220, while his oldest son Heinrich simultaneously took the title of King of the Romans.
Friedrich died peacefully on December 13, 1250 in Castel Fiorentino near Lucera, in Puglia. At the
time of his death, his preeminent position in Europe was challenged but not lost: his testament left his
legitimate son Conrad IV the Imperial and Sicilian crowns. Son Manfred received the principate of
Taranto and the government of the Kingdom, Heinrich got the Kingdom of Arles and that of
Jerusalem, and his grandson, the son of Heinrich VII, was entrusted the Duchy of Austria and the
Marquisate of Styria. His will was that all the lands he had taken from the Church were to be
returned to it, all the prisoners freed, and the taxes reduced.
time of his death, his preeminent position in Europe was challenged but not lost: his testament left his
legitimate son Conrad IV the Imperial and Sicilian crowns. Son Manfred received the principate of
Taranto and the government of the Kingdom, Heinrich got the Kingdom of Arles and that of
Jerusalem, and his grandson, the son of Heinrich VII, was entrusted the Duchy of Austria and the
Marquisate of Styria. His will was that all the lands he had taken from the Church were to be
returned to it, all the prisoners freed, and the taxes reduced.
The last legitimate male heir of the Hohenstaufen dynasty was Friedrich's grandson Conradin, son of
Conrad IV. Born March 25, 1252 at Burg Wolfstein near Landshut, he held the titles of Duke of
Swabia, King of Jerusalem and Sicily. He invaded Italy in 1268 to reclaim his Kingdom from Charles
of Anjou, but lost and was captured at the Battle of Tagliacozzo and publicly executed in Naples at
age 16, on October 29, 1268.
Conrad IV. Born March 25, 1252 at Burg Wolfstein near Landshut, he held the titles of Duke of
Swabia, King of Jerusalem and Sicily. He invaded Italy in 1268 to reclaim his Kingdom from Charles
of Anjou, but lost and was captured at the Battle of Tagliacozzo and publicly executed in Naples at
age 16, on October 29, 1268.
In 1284 Friedrich's ghost resurfaced in the form of a very convincing impostor, Tile Kolup, who
impersonated the emperor so expertly that even those who had known the true Friedrich believed
him. Kolup was captured and executed, but rumors persist to this day that Kolup had been another
illegitimate son of Friedrich II.
impersonated the emperor so expertly that even those who had known the true Friedrich believed
him. Kolup was captured and executed, but rumors persist to this day that Kolup had been another
illegitimate son of Friedrich II.
He also had the young William blinded and castrated and many
Sicilian nobles burned alive. At that point he was the most
powerful monarch of the Mediterranean and Europe, since
Sicily added money without comparison in Europe. In 1194, he
had a son Friedrich, the future emperor and king of Sicily and
Jerusalem. In 1197, a revolt took place, mainly in southern
Sicily where Arabs were the majority of the population, but his
soldiers mercilessly suppressed it. In the same year, Heinrich
felt himself ready for a Crusade, but on September 28, he died
of malaria in Messina. Heinrich was intelligent, eloquent and
fluent in Latin and knowledgeable as to Roman law. He was a
patron of prophets and poetry, and probably composed the
song "Kaiser Heinrich." The poem on the right is about a lady
and her love, "Rîtest du nu hinnen"
Sicilian nobles burned alive. At that point he was the most
powerful monarch of the Mediterranean and Europe, since
Sicily added money without comparison in Europe. In 1194, he
had a son Friedrich, the future emperor and king of Sicily and
Jerusalem. In 1197, a revolt took place, mainly in southern
Sicily where Arabs were the majority of the population, but his
soldiers mercilessly suppressed it. In the same year, Heinrich
felt himself ready for a Crusade, but on September 28, he died
of malaria in Messina. Heinrich was intelligent, eloquent and
fluent in Latin and knowledgeable as to Roman law. He was a
patron of prophets and poetry, and probably composed the
song "Kaiser Heinrich." The poem on the right is about a lady
and her love, "Rîtest du nu hinnen"
With this money he raised a powerful army. In the following April of 1194, he solved the problem
with Heinrich the Lion. In February, Tancred died, leaving a 7 year old boy, William III, as heir.
Heinrich entered Palermo, in the Kingdom of Sicily in November and was crowned king.
with Heinrich the Lion. In February, Tancred died, leaving a 7 year old boy, William III, as heir.
Heinrich entered Palermo, in the Kingdom of Sicily in November and was crowned king.
Friedrich remained emperor until his death in 1250, and King of Sicily from 1198 to 1250. He was
excommunicated twice, and even called the anti-Christ by Pope Gregory IX, as his empire was
frequently at odds with the Papal States. In 1224, Friedrich II confirmed the inhabitants of Terra
Prussia, Prussian Lands, as Reichsfreie under authority of the emperor, accountable only to the
empire and the church and exempted from service to or jurisdiction of any local dukes. Later in
1224, the pope authorized bishop William of Modena as Legate in Prussia. In 1226, by means of the
Golden Bull of Rimini, he confirmed the legitimacy of rule by the Teutonic Knights under their
headmaster Hermann von Salza over the Prussian lands east of the Vistula.
excommunicated twice, and even called the anti-Christ by Pope Gregory IX, as his empire was
frequently at odds with the Papal States. In 1224, Friedrich II confirmed the inhabitants of Terra
Prussia, Prussian Lands, as Reichsfreie under authority of the emperor, accountable only to the
empire and the church and exempted from service to or jurisdiction of any local dukes. Later in
1224, the pope authorized bishop William of Modena as Legate in Prussia. In 1226, by means of the
Golden Bull of Rimini, he confirmed the legitimacy of rule by the Teutonic Knights under their
headmaster Hermann von Salza over the Prussian lands east of the Vistula.
Known for his unusual tolerance, Friedrich did not exterminate the Saracens of Sicily, but allowed
them to settle and build mosques and serve in his army as his bodyguards. He had a genuine thirst
for knowledge and it is believed that he knew Arabic very well. Because of his lifelong interest in
Islam, as well as his religious scepticism (he is said to have denounced Moses and Jesus as being
frauds and deceivers of mankind), some saw him as "the Hammer of Christianity," or at least a
dissenter from Christendom.
them to settle and build mosques and serve in his army as his bodyguards. He had a genuine thirst
for knowledge and it is believed that he knew Arabic very well. Because of his lifelong interest in
Islam, as well as his religious scepticism (he is said to have denounced Moses and Jesus as being
frauds and deceivers of mankind), some saw him as "the Hammer of Christianity," or at least a
dissenter from Christendom.
He loved Falconry, and maintained up to 50 hawkers a time for his court, even acquiring
birds from Greenland. Friedrich maintained a mobile zoo, with which he used to impress
the cold cities of Northern Italy and Europe, and it included hounds, elephants, giraffes,
cheetahs, lynxes, leopards and exotic birds. In 1232, he sent the Egyptian sultan a rare
white bear in exchange for a planetary worth 20,000 marks as Friedrich was also
attracted by stars and had filled his court with astrologers and astronomers. He
communicated with major scholars of the time both in Europe and abroad, and he
enacted several legal reforms.
birds from Greenland. Friedrich maintained a mobile zoo, with which he used to impress
the cold cities of Northern Italy and Europe, and it included hounds, elephants, giraffes,
cheetahs, lynxes, leopards and exotic birds. In 1232, he sent the Egyptian sultan a rare
white bear in exchange for a planetary worth 20,000 marks as Friedrich was also
attracted by stars and had filled his court with astrologers and astronomers. He
communicated with major scholars of the time both in Europe and abroad, and he
enacted several legal reforms.
Sadly, all of Friedrich's heirs met unlucky fates. Friedrich's son Heinrich had been born in 1211 in
Sicily, son of Friedrich's first wife Constance of Aragon. After quarrelling with his father and forming
an alliance with the Lombard League, he was captured by Friedrich's forces and imprisoned from
1236; he died in Martirano in 1242, after an attempted suicide. Friedrich's son Conrad IV, born of his
second wife Yolande de Brienne in 1228 in Andria, Apulia. Yolande died in childbirth. Conrad IV
became King of Jerusalem at birth, and in 1237 was elected German king and future emperor in
Vienna. In 1250, he succeeded his father as King of Sicily, as well. Conrad died May 21, 1254 of
malaria in an army camp in Lavello.
Sicily, son of Friedrich's first wife Constance of Aragon. After quarrelling with his father and forming
an alliance with the Lombard League, he was captured by Friedrich's forces and imprisoned from
1236; he died in Martirano in 1242, after an attempted suicide. Friedrich's son Conrad IV, born of his
second wife Yolande de Brienne in 1228 in Andria, Apulia. Yolande died in childbirth. Conrad IV
became King of Jerusalem at birth, and in 1237 was elected German king and future emperor in
Vienna. In 1250, he succeeded his father as King of Sicily, as well. Conrad died May 21, 1254 of
malaria in an army camp in Lavello.
Friedrich's illegitimate son Manfred, King of Sicily, was born in 1231 of Bianca, the daughter of
Count Bonifacio Lancia. Manfred initially acted as regent for Conrad's son Conradin, and after 1258
as King of Sicily, but after Friedrich's continuing conflicts with the Pope, he was placed under papal
interdict. Manfred died February 26, 1266 in battle near Benevento against Charles of Anjou, brother
to the French King. His wife Helena, and also their sons Friedrich, Heinrich and Enzio died in prison
after lifelong solitary confinement,"raised like animals, never even learning human speech." In 1249,
son Enzio held the titles of King of Sardinia and Imperial vicar in Northern Italy before life
imprisonment in Bologna. He died in 1272.
Count Bonifacio Lancia. Manfred initially acted as regent for Conrad's son Conradin, and after 1258
as King of Sicily, but after Friedrich's continuing conflicts with the Pope, he was placed under papal
interdict. Manfred died February 26, 1266 in battle near Benevento against Charles of Anjou, brother
to the French King. His wife Helena, and also their sons Friedrich, Heinrich and Enzio died in prison
after lifelong solitary confinement,"raised like animals, never even learning human speech." In 1249,
son Enzio held the titles of King of Sardinia and Imperial vicar in Northern Italy before life
imprisonment in Bologna. He died in 1272.
| The Manesse Codex |
The Manesse Codex or Große Heidelberger Liederhandschrift is an
illuminated manuscript in codex form copied and illustrated with 137
miniatures between 1305-1340 in Zürich, compiled at the request of
the patriarchal Manesse family of Zürich. It contains the texts of love
songs in Middle High German by important poets, several of whom
were famous rulers. The term for these poets, Minnesänger,
combines the words for "romantic love" and "singer", reflecting the
poetry's content, which adapted troubadour tradition to Germany.
illuminated manuscript in codex form copied and illustrated with 137
miniatures between 1305-1340 in Zürich, compiled at the request of
the patriarchal Manesse family of Zürich. It contains the texts of love
songs in Middle High German by important poets, several of whom
were famous rulers. The term for these poets, Minnesänger,
combines the words for "romantic love" and "singer", reflecting the
poetry's content, which adapted troubadour tradition to Germany.
The entries are approximately ordered by the social status of the
poets, starting with the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI down
through various dukes, counts and knights to commoners.
poets, starting with the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI down
through various dukes, counts and knights to commoners.
An ancient map shows a village and a field marked “Vogelwaidt” with a related house of a village
long deserted, and scholars found evidence of the Christian name Walther in that region. Others
point to Tirol, the home of several well-known Minnesingers. It was here that the young poet with
strong views learned his craft under an old master and spent a happy part of his life. From there, he
wandered from court to court, singing for his lodging and his food, ever hoping to be saved from
poverty by an admiring patron.
long deserted, and scholars found evidence of the Christian name Walther in that region. Others
point to Tirol, the home of several well-known Minnesingers. It was here that the young poet with
strong views learned his craft under an old master and spent a happy part of his life. From there, he
wandered from court to court, singing for his lodging and his food, ever hoping to be saved from
poverty by an admiring patron.
He spent time under Duke Bernhard of Carinthia, the landgrave of Thuringia and Dietrich I of
Meissen where he complained that he had received neither money nor praise for his services. When
the death of the Emperor Heinrich VI (1197) initiated the struggle between empire and papacy,
Walther, although a devout Catholic, threw himself passionately on the side of German independence
and unity. From Emperor Frederick II, he finally received his overdue recognition and also a small
fief near Würzburg.
Meissen where he complained that he had received neither money nor praise for his services. When
the death of the Emperor Heinrich VI (1197) initiated the struggle between empire and papacy,
Walther, although a devout Catholic, threw himself passionately on the side of German independence
and unity. From Emperor Frederick II, he finally received his overdue recognition and also a small
fief near Würzburg.
In or around 1224, after a trip to Vienna, he seems to have settled on his fief where he was active in
urging the German princes to take part in the crusade of 1228, and may have even accompanied the
crusading army as far as Tirol. He died about 1230, and was buried at Würzburg. He was said to
have left instructions that after his death, the birds were to be fed at his tomb daily.
urging the German princes to take part in the crusade of 1228, and may have even accompanied the
crusading army as far as Tirol. He died about 1230, and was buried at Würzburg. He was said to
have left instructions that after his death, the birds were to be fed at his tomb daily.
After the Thirty Years War and the conquest of Heidelberg, the collection ended up for decades in
the library of the French scholar Jacques Dupuy who willed it to the king of France. Since 1657, it
was in the possession of the royal library in Paris until it found its way home to Heidelberg in 1888,
where it is now kept. One picture is of Herr Walther von der Vogelweide.
the library of the French scholar Jacques Dupuy who willed it to the king of France. Since 1657, it
was in the possession of the royal library in Paris until it found its way home to Heidelberg in 1888,
where it is now kept. One picture is of Herr Walther von der Vogelweide.