Barbarossa (1122-1190) - Holy Roman
Emperor. He was elected King of Germany
vowed to take up the cross at the Diet of
Mainz in 1188 and embarked (1189) on the
Third Crusade, in conjunction with the
French, led by king Philip Augustus, and
the English, under Richard the Lionheart.
He organized a grand army of 100,000 men,
including 20,000 knights (numbers disputed)
and set out on the overland route to the
Holy Land. The Crusaders passed through
Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria and then
entered Byzantine territory, arriving at
Constantinople in the autumn of 1189.
Matters were complicated by a secret
alliance between the Emperor and Saladin.
After some initial victories, Frederick
drowned in the Saleph River on 10 June
1190. His death disorganized his army and
many deserted, were killed by the Turks,
or even committed suicide. The remaining
5000 joined up with the English and French.
Frederick Barbarossa
flanked by his two
children, King Henry VI (L.)
and Duke Frederick VI.
From the Welf Chronicle
mmdtkw.org