Frederick II (l. 1194-1250 CE) was the king of Sicily (r. 1198-1250 CE), Germany (r. 1215-1250 CE), Jerusalem (r. 1225-1228 CE), and also reigned supreme as the Holy Roman Emperor (r. 1220-1250 CE). He was born in Jesi in 1194 CE but spent his childhood in Palermo. He belonged to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty (1079-1268 CE) of Swabia, which ruled over the Holy Roman Empire from 1138 CE to 1268 CE. His life was spent struggling over the power dynamics with the medieval church, though he failed in subduing the Papacy, later European rulers would follow in his footsteps and succeed. He is most famous, however, for his involvement in the Sixth Crusade (1228-1229 CE) which returned Jerusalem to Crusader dominion via a peace settlement with the Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt: al-Kamil, but his efforts remained unappreciated. The Papacy used religious propaganda to preach a crusade against him, but he died naturally in 1250 CE. He also founded the University of Naples in 1224 CE, the first-ever state university in medieval Europe.
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Timeline
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1194Frederick II is born in Jesi, Italy.
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1197Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI, Frederick II's father, dies.
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1198 - 1250Frederick II rules over Sicily.
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1198Constance of Sicily, Frederick II's mother, dies.
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1198 - 1208Philip of Swabia, Frederick II's uncle, rules over Germany.
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1208Philip of Swabia was murdered.
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1209Frederick II marries Constance of Aragon and begins consolidating his hold over Sicily.
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1209 - 1215Otto IV rules Germany.
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1211Frederick II's first son, Henry VII, is born.
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1215 - 1250Frederick II rules over Germany.
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1215Frederick II defeats Otto IV, with the help of Philip Augustus of France.
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1218Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV dies.
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1218Yolande dies giving birth to Frederick II's second son: Conrad IV.
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1220 - 1250Frederick II rules over the Holy Roman Empire.
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1220Frederick II is crowned as the Holy Roman Emperor in Rome.
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1220Assizes of Capua enacted to gain control over Sicily.
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1221Assizes of Messina enacted.
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1222Frederick II's first wife, Constance of Aragon, dies.
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1224Frederick II establishes the University of Naples.
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1225 - 1228Frederick II rules as the king of Jerusalem.
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1225Frederick II marries Yolande/Isabella II of Jerusalem.
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1227Frederick II departs for a Crusade but turns back due to illness.
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1228 - 1229The Sixth Crusade is formed by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. It achieves through diplomacy Christian control of Jerusalem.
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7 Sep 1228Frederick II arrives in the Levant on the Sixth Crusade.
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1229 - 1230Frederick II's first war with the Papacy.
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18 Feb 1229The Treaty of Jaffa is signed between Frederick II and al-Kamil to hand over Jerusalem to Christian rule.
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1230Treaty of Cepranno signed between Frederick II and Pope Gregory IX.
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1231Constitutions of Melfi.
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1235Frederick II's son Henry VII revolts in Germany. Revolt is crushed.
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1236 - 1242Multiple Mongol armies attack western Asia, Russia, Poland, and Hungary.
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1237Battle of Cortenuova, Frederick II defeats the Lombards.
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1241Battle of Giglio, a decisive naval victory for the imperial fleet of Frederick II against the Genoese.
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1241Rome barely escapes Frederick II's grasp, as Gregory IX dies and the emperor turns back.
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1242Henry VII, King of Germany, dies.
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1245Innocent IV excommunicates and deposes Frederick II.
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1248Battle of Parma, imperial forces of Frederick II are routed by the Lombards.
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1249Battle of Fossalta, imperial forces are defeated by the army of Bologna.
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1250Frederick II dies.
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1250Battle of Cingoli, decisive imperial victory against an invasion force sent to Sicily.
