History of Frederick the Second, emperor of the Romans : From chronicles and documents published within the last ten years.

Front matter

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Preface

THE history of the Emperor Frederick the Second has long been a favourite study with Continental scholars. Muratori has treated the subject hke a priest ; Giannone hke a lawyer. Von Eaumer has handled it with national pride ; Holler with ultramontane rancour. Indeed it is not easy for an Itahan or a German to write with calm impartiality on this reign, a decisive epoch in the history of the two nations. France has supplied more candid judges in the persons of Cherrier and Breholles.

It was not until lately that England furnished any important contributions to the study of the Emperor's life. A few hues in Gibbon, a few pages in HaUam contained all the information respecting it that was readily accessible to an Enghsh student. But of late years Dr. Milman has drawn the attention of his countrymen to this grand subject. In his History of Latin Christianity he devotes a whole volume to Innocent III. and Frederick II., the greatest of Popes and the greatest of Emperors. The glowing

VI PBEFACE

ing colours, in which the Dean has pourtrayed the characters and events of that wonderful half century, render any second attempt to delineate the same period a very hazardous experiment.

I must plead in excuse, that since Dr. Milman wrote, several French and Latin monuments of Frederick's age, never before published, have been given to the world. I would especially instance the invaluable Chronicle of Fra SaHmbene, the Burnet of the Thirteenth Century ; this has been often consulted by previous writers, but was never printed until the year 1857.* Another record of the same age, the Chronicon de rebus in Itah^ gestis (always cited by me as ' Chronicon,' for the sake of brevity), the work of a zealous GhibeUine, long lay unnoticed in the British Museum until it was published by M. Huillard-Br^holles.f

This gentleman, and his generous Msecenas the Due de Luynes, have laid every enquirer into Frederick's times under the deepest obhgation. To them we owe the Historia Diplomatica Friderici Secundi, a collection of three thousand charters and letters bearing upon the Emperor's reign, almost one third of which were before unknown to the world ; a few previously-unpubhshed chronicles of Frederick's age are included in the work. I need not say that I have

■\ See ' Clironioon Placentinum,' by Br^holles,

PREFACE VU

made full use of this vast storehouse, the existence of which did not come to my knowledge until after I had begun my own book. Any letter or fact, for which I do not give a reference, will be found in the Historia Diplomatica, that imperishable monument of a French scholar's industry, of a French nobleman's HberaUty. I have paid particular attention to the admirable preface which M. Breholles has prefixed to the Latin documents. Nor is this the only service he has rendered to hterature ; I can promise a rich treat to any antiquarian who will look out the word Huillard-BrehoUes in the Catalogue of the British Museum.

I might speak of his kindness to myself when I visited him in Paris, kindness, I suspect, not very often recorded in the annals of Hterature ; of his books of reference readily placed in my hands ; of his unpubUshed manuscripts cheerfully lent to me to be transcribed. It is in the power of others to test his accuracy, which surpasses even that of Von Eaumer. I must place on record the invariable kindness which I received in Paris ; every one, from M. Breholles and M. Cherrier down to the doorkeepers of the hbraries, lent me all the aid in their power. I must pay a grateful tribute to Alma Mater for her latest institution, the School of Law and Modern History ; I have to thank Dr. Milman for the advice he gave me as to the books I should consult ; my warmest gratitude is due to Sir Thomas Phillips for the liberality with which he threw open

VIU PREFACE

to me his unrivalled treasures of books and manuscripts at Middlehill. Nor can I be silent on the promptness with which the authorities at the British Museum attended to my suggestions as to the purchase of new books. Few writers have had the paths of Hterature rendered so smooth to them as I have had. Few have had the advantage of following such guides, as Von Eaumer, Milman, Cherrier, and Breholles have been to me.

The four opening chapters of my work are introductory. The first of these is derived from the histories of Giannone and Amari ; the second from Hallam. The third is the shortest possible abstract of a great part of Von Eaumer's noble work. The fourth is mainly inspired by Dr. Milman, though I have added much new matter taken from lately pubhshed Franciscan writings of the Thirteenth Century. From the end of the fourth chapter to the end of the book I have searched for myself in the old chronicles of the time, contained in Bouquet, Muratori, Pertz, Bohmer, and other collections.

The most careless reader will not fad to remark the resemblance between some of the events in Frederick's reign and those which are signalizing the year 1862. I have been careful to draw attention to the Princes around his throne, such as the Dukes of Lorraine, Bavaria, and Brunswick ; the Margraves of Meissen and Baden ; the Counts of Wurtemberg and Savoy ; and the Burgraves of

PREFACE IX

Nuremberg ; all of whom have left descendants in the male line to fill the European thrones of our own day. Other lines have been less permanent ; I cannot help smiling, on looking over my manuscripts begun in the autumn of 1858, to see how many sentences Napoleon, Cavour, and Garibaldi have forced me to strike out. Rejoicing that better days seem to be in store for the interesting nations over which Frederick reigned, I end by asking the indulgence of the pubhc for an author's first attempt.

T. L. KINGTON.

Contents

THE FIRST VOLUME.

Chapter I. Sicily And Southern Italy — The Kingdom

A.D.

400. Alaric in Southern Italy

500. St. Benedict — The Lombard conquerors

600. Gregory the Great — Constans defeated

800. Charlemagne baffled — The Saracens

827. Their conquests in Sicily

Their treatment of the Christians 877. They take Syracuse . 900. Conquests of Ibrahim Ibn Ahmed 948. The Kelbite dynasty — Palermo described

The Sicilian Saints .... 900. The Greeks and Saracens in Southern Italy 983. The Emperor Otho defeated — The two Rituals

1016. The arrival of the Normans

1040. They wrest Apulia from the Greeks

1053. Their investiture by the Popes .

1060. They conquer the Lombards and free cities

1090. Roger conquers the Sicilian Saracens

1101. Death of Roger the Great Count

1130. Roger the first King of Sicily .

1154. His wars — William the Bad

1166. William the Good — The Arts .

PAGE

Xll

A.D.

1189. Tancred the Usurper — His death 1194. Gloomy prospects of the Kingdom

PAGE

CHAPTEK II.

GERMANY AND NOKTHEKN ITALY-THE EMPIRE.

400. The German conquerors — Clovis 500. Theodoric — Charles Martel 750. Christianity — Conquests of Charlemagne 888. Separation of France and Germany 962. Otho links Italy to Germany 1024. Conrad the Salic — Azzo . 1039. Henry the Third— HUdebrand . 1073. Struggle between the Church and Empire

The German throne elective

The free cities of Germany

The names of her chief cities .

The cities of Northern Italy

Rome, the capital of the Empire

Milan, Venice, Pisa, Genoa

Florence in the olden time

Chapter III. The House Of Hohenstaufen

1030. Frederick von Buren — Frederick Duke of Suabia

1105. His sons Frederick and Conrad .

1127. Their wars with the Guelfs

1138. Conrad is elected King of Germany

1147. He leads the Second Crusade

1152. Frederick the First, Barbarossa

1155. He destroys Tortona

His coronation at Rome

1157. His power in Eastern Europe

1158. He leads an army into Italy He holds a Diet at Roncaglia

1160. He takes Crema

A.D. PAGE

1162. He destroys Milan 52

He drives the Pope into banishment ... 53

1163. He punishes Mayence ..... 54

1167. The Lombard League formed against him . . 55 He loses his army at Eome . . . . 56

1168. He flies back to Germany ..... 57 1174. He besieges Alessandria — Battle of Lignano 58 1177. He makes peace with the Pope at Venice . 59 1181. He overthrows Henry the Lion — Peace of Constance 60 1186. He marries his son to the heiress of Sicily . . 61

1189. He leads the Third Crusade .... 62

1190. He is drowned in Asia Minor .... 63

1191. Henry the Sixth besieges Naples . . 64

1194. His cruelties at Palermo ..... 65

1195. He portions out Italy among his followers 66 He wishes to make the Empire hereditary . 67

1196. His cruelties in Southern Italy ... 68

1197. His death at Messina — Sudden change . . 69

CHAPTEE IV.

THE PONTIFICATE OF INNOCENT III,

1198. Innocent's character . . . .

His management of Italy

Spain — Constantinople — England

The rise and progress of the Church

The Dissenters 1208. The Crusade against Languedoc

Enthusiasm enlisted on the side of the Church

The Dominicans and Franciscans 1224. The Franciscans in England

Jealousy of the secular clergy .

Defence of the friars

Their popularity among all classes

Enthusiasm awakened by them .

Runaway children ... 1255. Reproof addressed to the Two Orders

Amazing strength of Rome

Her wisdom . . . .

XIV

CHAPTEE V.

HISTORY OF FREDERICK THE SECOND.

A.D. PAGE

1198. Innocent's Italian policy . . . 87

He drives out the Germans ... 88

1194. The birth of Frederick the Second ... 89

1197. Verses by Peter of Eboli upon it ... 90 The childhood of Frederick .... 91

1198. His coronation at Palermo . . . . 92 Bargain of his mother with Innocent ... 93 Her death — Stories of Frederick's childhood . 94

1199. Markwald invades Apulia ..... 95 He assails Sicily . . . . 96 Innocent's measures to check him 97

1200. An army is sent against him .... 98 His defeat at Palermo . . . . 99 He seizes on Frederick's person . .100 Innocent calls in Walter de Brienne . . . 101

1201. EebeUion of Walter of Palear .... 102 Innocent's apology for his policy . . . 103

1202. Death of Markwald ... . . 104 Rebellion of William Kapparon . . . . 105

1205. Prowess and death of Walter de Brienne . 106

1206. Innocent's rebuke to Peter of Celano . . . 107 Sicily insulted by Genoa and Pisa . . . 108 Complaint of Frederick to the Kings of earth . 109 His education at Palermo . . . . . 110

1207. Innocent's advice to him ..... Ill

1208. Innocent holds a parliament at San Germano . 112 His letters to the King of Arragon . . . 113

1209. Frederick's first dispute with Rome . . . 114 His marriage with Constance of Arragon . . 115

1212. Birth of his son Henry .... 116

Frederick's grants to the Apulian Churches . 117

To Cava and Bari ...... 118

To the Cathedral of Palermo . . . . 119

To the burghers of Palermo . . . . 120

To Monreale and Messina . . . . 121

To Cefalu and to the Templara . . . 122

To the Teutonic Order . ... 123

XV

1210. The Emperor Otho invades Apulia He is excomnnmicated by Innocent

1211. He overruns the mainland

The German Princes elect Frederick His character, as described by them

1212. He accepts the Crown of Germany

PAGE

124 125 126 127 128 129

CHAPTEE VI.

1212. Frederick's engagements to Innocent He goes to Eome His interview with Innocent Bad policy of the Papacy .

Frederick's concessions He sails to Genoa His reception at Pavia He crosses the Alps , He reaches Haguenau He rewards his friends His German ministers His journey to Vaucouleurs His election at Frankfort .

His coronation at Mayence

1213. He traverses Suabia He punishes all criminals .

His grant to the Pope at Egra He ravages Saxony .

1214. His grants to the Churches Otho is defeated at Bouvines Frederick makes his way into Brabant He rewards the Duke of Bavaria He meets the Prelates of Aries .

1215. He goes to Halle He enters Aix-la-Chapelle He is crowned and takes the Cross His homage to the bones of Charlemagne He enters Cologne ....

He sends Berard to the Lateran Council The deposition of Otho is there confirmed

1216. Frederick holds a Diet at Wurzburg .

VOL. I. a

XVI

A.D.

1216. Pope Innocent is succeeded by Honorius III. Hermann von Salza arrives ...

Queen Constance and her son Henry in Germany

1217. Frederick sends four envoys to Honorius He seizes on Leipsic .

The Fifth Cmsade is begun

1218. Death of the Emperor Otho Birth of Eodolph of Habsburg Defeat of the Duke of Lorraine The siege of Damietta is begun

1219. Frederick's zeal for the Crusade Itahan affairs are brought before him He excites the suspicions of the Pope End of the civil war in Germany The lands of Matilda assured to Eome Respites granted by Honorius The conquest of Damietta .

1220. Fredericli's schemes .

The House of Hohenlohe .

Frederick's excuses to the Pope Promises of the Roman Senator The Diet of Frankfort

Frederick's son is elected King of the Romans Frederick's charter to the Princes It breaks up Germany Business transacted at the Diet Frederick's excuses to the Pope The Diet of Augsburg The business there transacted Frederick recrosses the Alps Azzo of Este — The Treaty with Venice Backwardness of Conrad the Chancellor Frederick reaches Bologna His dealings with Genoa .

His treachery to Faenza His Coronation at Rome The Order of the ceremony The Princes there present Frederick's nine Edicts on the occasion Quarrel between Pisa and Florence . The Pope secures his temporal power The succours for Palestine

PAGE

THE FIEST VOLUME

XVU

1220. Frederick regulates Northern Italy He returns to his Kingdom Remonstrance addressed to him by the Pope Affairs of the realm of Aries

PAGE

204 205 206

CHAPTER VII.

1220. Frederick's two projects . . . . Previous disorders throughout the Kingdom Turbulence of the nobles .

Disgrace , of Diephold Privileges brought before the Capuan Court

1221. Explanations offered to the Pope Frederick passes through Apulia He reaches Palermo .

The Counts of Celano rebel

1222. Archbishop Luke of Cosenza Trick played on St. Francis The revolt of the Saracens in Sicily They are transplanted to Lucera Their misdeeds at G-irgenti Frederick at Precina .

He protects the monasteries

1223. Variety of business brought before him The Counts of Celano are subdued The conditions of peace Frederick punishes the cities and nobles

1224. He makes an end of the Saracen revolt His dealings with the House of Montferrat The French subjects of the Empire The case of the Bishop of Cefalu

1227. Frederick supplies Rome with corn His policy in his Kingdom His taxes .....

1221. His preparations for the Crusade Cardinal Ugolino in Lombardy .

Anxiety of the Pope .

His reproaches addressed to Frederick The Sicilian suocom-s sent to Egypt Defeat of the Crusaders in the Nile a2

XVlll

A.D.

1221. 1222. 1223.

1224 1225.

Damietta is given back to the Moslem

The real author of the disaster .

The Pope and Emperor meet at Veroli

The earthquakes in Lombardy .

John de Brienne, King of Jerusalem .

The meeting at Ferentino .

Frederick's second marriage is discussed

Disputes as to vacant Sees .

Preparations for the Crusade

Frederick and John at Melfi

The treaty of San Germano

Frederick's German grants

Affairs of Germany .

Murder of Archbishop Engelbert

Henry's marriage — Affairs of Upper Italy

Queen Yolande at Acre

Her marriage to the Emperor

Frederick's quarrels with King John .

His conduct to his bride

The Teutonic Order is transferred to Prussia

Honorius rebukes the Emperor .

Frederick's childhood was guarded by Eome

Yet he afterwards oppressed her

He gives way .....

Fury of Faenza against him

The Lombard League is renewed

King Henry crosses the Brenner

But is stopped by Verona

The business transacted at Parma

Declaration of the Prelates

Frederick at Cremona

He civiUzes the Italians

The assembly at San Donino

The Lombards are placed under the Ban

Frederick visits Tuscany .

His complaints to Honorius

The Crusade against the Albigenses .

The prayers used in behalf of Palestine

Honorius advises reconciliation with King John

His award between the Empire and the Lombards.

His death . . . .

PAGE

XIX

CHAPTER VIII.

1227. Election of Pope Gregory IX. . His character ....

Very diiFerent from that of Honorius His warning to the Lombards .

And to the Emperor Preparations for the Crusade Mortality among the Crusaders .

Frederick sails, but turns back . He is excommunicated by the Papacy Recapitulation of his life .

His misconduct about Damietta .

Remarks on the excommunication Frederick defies Rome He is remonstrated with by Gregory State of affairs in Palestine The truce is broken

Frederick's defence His letter to England

1228. His dealings with his clergy

He renews his preparations for the Crusade

Gregory excommunicates him again .

But is driven from Rome .

Death of the Empress Yolande .

The Parliament at Barletta

Frederick is bound for the East

He revokes the Countess Matilda's bequest

He sails to Cyprus ....

He seizes the King and his uncle

He reaches Acre

His comrades greet him heartily

But turn against him at the Pope's bidding

Mutinous spirit of the Templars and others

The walls of Jaifa are rebuilt

Sultan Kamel is disposed to treat

Outrages on the Christians

Frederick's friendship for the enemy

1229. His high demands His popularity among the Moslem

PAGE

XX

A.D.

1229. Their sorrow at losing Jerusalem The treaty is made .

Its nine articles ....

Letters of the Patriarch and Von Salza Frederick goes to Jerusalem His behaviour to the Moslem He protects them in their rights He is crowned at the Holy Sepulchre Von Salza's speech on the occasion Eage of the Patriarch Injustice of the Church party Frederick's own account .

He gives cause for scandal at Acre Malice of the Templars Frederick's grants to his friends Joy of the Germans and Italians Complaints of the Patriarch Frederick returns to Cyprus

1228. The Emperor's Viceroy invades the Pope's lands Gregory retaliates

1229. He sends Cardinal Pelagius into the Kingdom Who takes many towns The Pope calls upon other countries for aid He sends Cardinal Otho to rouse Germany John de Brienne and the Lombards invade Apuha The Pope rebukes Pelagius for his cruelty Frederick returns from Palestine He is excommunicated again He drives out the Papal invaders Remarks on his government He justifies his conduct — He takes Sora Peace is proposed ....

1230. The German Princes arrive to make it The conference at San Germane Engagement of the Princes Absolution of Frederick He visits the Pope at Anagni They discuss the affairs of Lombardy . Frederick returns to his Kingdom Suspicions of the Pope Further causes of dispute .

Frederick and Gregory as lawgivers .

PAGE

XXI

CHAPTER IX.

PAGE

Gregory's habits ....

Contrasted witli those of Frederick

Confusion in the Kingdom of Sicily

Feudalism in France — The new Constitutions . 364

The Sicilian nobles lose their criminal jurisdiction 365

Peter de Vinea ....

Stories about him

The officers of the Kingdom

The Grand Justiciary

The Justiciaries in the provinces

The Judges and Notaries .

The Baihffs ....

The Master Chamberlains .

VenaUty of the Magistrates

The Executive power

The Captains of the Kingdom

Administration of justice .

Steps in an action at law .

Outlawry .....

Contumacy ; the Indictment

The Advocates ....

Frederick's favour to the weak .

The Ordeal

The Duel

It is regidated by Frederick

The Criminal law

The Defensa — Rape

Death a frequent punishment

The Torture

The office of CasteUan

New Castles built ....

Arsenals — The Admiral

His privileges . . . .

Frederick as a merchant .

His dealings with the Moslem Sultans

His coinage . ...

He adds new taxes ....

He tries to lighten them .

His farms .....

xxu

PAGE

His Stud 400

Comments of the Popes on his government . . 401

The golden age of Sicily — The Nobles . . 402

Their vassals ....... 403

Frederick demands back his own vassals . . 404

Feudal services ...... 405

Privileges of knights ..... 406

Marriages of nobles ...... 407

The right of female succession granted . . 408

The Jus Protimeseos ; Dowries .... 409

Knights in the field ...... 410

The old Houses— The Poor . . . 411

A Calabrian law-suit . . . 412

The Abbot of San Stefano di Bosco . . 413

Tyranny at Polla 414

Frederick's favour to the poor — Serfdom • . 415

The Middle Classes ... . . 416

The towns lose their old privileges . . 417

An Itahan household described . . 418

Difference between the North and the South . 419

Artizans and shopkeepers ..... 420

The taxes on common articles . . 421

The first Parliament 422

Frederick's influence on other Kingdoms . 423

A Ghibelline prophecy — The Sicilian Church . 424

Many Sees kept vacant ..... 425

Statutes of Mortmain; anger of the Pope . 426

He rebukes the Archbishop of Capua . . . 427

Vices of the clergy . . . . . . 428

Jealousy between the regulars and seculars . 429

The Time of the Hallelujah . . . 430

The Paterine heretics ... 431

They are denounced by Frederick . . . 432

He forbids usury .... . 433

The Jews in Sicily ._ . . . . . 434

The Mohammedans at Lucera . . . 435

The Sicihan Questions . . . . 436

Answered by Ibn Sabin . . . 437

His reputation ...... 438

The medical schools at Salerno . . . 439

Master Theodore the PhUbsopher . . • 440

Leonard Fibonacci and Algebra . . . 441

XXIU

PAGE

Frederick's gift to the University of Bologna

He founds the University of Naples .

He afterwards restores it .

Its Professors ...

Study of Aristotle revived ....

The Greek Language ....

Grosseteste — Old prophecies

Michael Scott

Stories about him

Frederick's experiments

His jokes about Transubstantiation

Nicholas the Fish — Frederick's treasures .

His buildings .

His new cities ......

Altamura, Monteleone, Agosta .

Lombard emigration — Aquila founded

Italian Architecture ....

Italian Poetry

Frederick's own poems

Other poets of the time

Frederick's Treatise on Hawking

His private hfe

Attempt to revive his Court

His Secretaries

Outrage at Trani ; Brother Jordan

Hermann von Salza .....

The Inquisition in Germany

The envoys from Eastern Sultans

The banquet ....

Frederick's children ; his wild beasts

His sports ....

His treasures . . . .

His character — his treachery .

His cruelty

His harem ... . .

His vices exaggerated — his children

Bianca Lancia ... . .

Frederick's appearance

Sahmbene's opinion of him

XXIV

CHAPTEK X.

A.D.

1234. 1232.

Correspondence between Frederick and Gregory

Their measures against the Paterines .

Von Salza in Germany — Eaynald disgraced

An earthquake — Departure of De Brienne

Folly of the Templars in Palestine

The Lombards renew their League

Frederick goes to Ravenna

He welcomes the German Princes

But misses many old friends

He quarrels with the Genoese .

But receives them back into favour .

The Aristocracy protected; heresy denounced

The persecuting spirit of the age

Frederick's intolerance explained

He turns his back on the Pope's Legates

He goes to Venice and Friuli

His agreement with his son Henry

His edict in favour of the German Princes

His dealings with Worms .

He meets the new Duke of Austria .

Peace is enforced in Lombardy .

The House of Eomano

Characters of Eccehn

And of Alberic ....

Frederick's interview with Alberic

Criticisms on John of Vicenza .

His sermons in favour of peace .

State of affairs at Milan

King Henry's rebellion

Frederick returns to his Kingdom

His alliance with the Papacy

Arrival of Gerard Maurisius

Frederick subdues his rebels

He fails to succour the Papacy .

His cruelties at Messina

He destroys various towns in Sicily .

He complains of the Pope's dealings with Lombardy

The Romans rebel against Gregory

PAGE

XXV

A.D.

1234. Frederick's interview with the Pope . He attacks Eiapampini He flies back to his Kingdom — Citta di Castello, Intrigues in Palestine ....

Gregory defeats the Romans Excuses of King Henry ....

He complains of his father Frederick's sorrow at the state of Germany He consults the Pope on his English marriage

1235. Gregory strengthens the hands of Frederick The Emperor's letters to the German Princes His journey into the North He is annoyed by the Duke of Austria He suppresses Henry's revolt He imprisons Henry ....

1242. His letter on Henry's death 1238. His advice to Conrad

1235. He sends envoys to England He secures the hand of the Princess Isabella Her bridal equipment ...

Her arrival at Cologne She is married to Frederick at Worms Her pedigree .....

Frederick's treatment of the German rebels The Diet of Mayence The Constitution of fifteen chapters . Improvements in German law .

Frederick's favour to Otho of Brunswick His grant to Otho ....

Glory of Frederick at this time . The renown of his House .

Deposition of King Henry Reparation made to the loyalists The rebel Bishops are summoned to Rome The brilliant Court at Haguenau

1236. The Jews are accused of child murder Frederick's alliance with England His harsh treatment of Wolfehn The story of St. Elizabeth .

The translation of her relics at Marburg Frederick's devotion on the occasion . State of Architecture at this time

PAGE

XXVI

CONTENTS OF THE FIEST VOLUME

1236. Germany inferior to other lands Tlie Churcli at Marburg Frederick's dealings with Austria Charges brought against her Duke Another obstacle is at hand

PAGE

561 562 563 564 565

173, 209, 332, 361,

3, 21, 1*,

6,

EERATA.

for Grostete reai Grosseteste.

KybuTg „ Kiburg.

Biandrate.

Lesina.

Eicordana.

Severino.

THE HISTOEY

OF

FREDEEICK THE SECOND.

CHAPTEE I.

SICILY AND SOUTHERN ITALY — THE KINGDOM. A.D. 400 — A.D. H94.

N

OW that the eyes of Europe are kept fixed upon chap.