On This Day In History: Powerful And Controversial Roman Emperor Frederick II Excommunicated – On Sep 29, 1227

AncientPages.com - On September 29, 1227, Frederick II (1194 –1250), one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages, was excommunicated by Pope Gregory IX for his failure to participate in the Crusades.

Brindisi, Augustal of Frederick II, 1220-1250. Image credit: I, Sailko - CC BY-SA 3.0

He was a remarkable person – often called 'the wonder of the world' (stupor mundi ) but also controversial. He spoke six languages (Latin, Sicilian, German, French, Greek, and Arabic).'

Frederick was devoted to science and the arts. He played a significant role in promoting literature through the Sicilian School of poetry. His political and cultural ambitions were enormous, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany and even to Jerusalem.

However, Frederick II had many enemies, especially among the popes, and his dynasty collapsed soon after his death.

He was frequently at war with the Papacy, and Pope Gregory IX went so far as to call him an Antichrist.

At age three, he was crowned King of Sicily as a co-ruler with his mother, Constance of Hauteville, the daughter of Roger II of Sicily. he was also a claimant to the title of King of the Romans from 1212 and holder of that monarchy from 1215. It means he was also King of Germany, Italy, and Burgundy. His other royal title was King of Jerusalem by marriage and his connection with the Sixth Crusade, and the direct successor to the Roman Emperors of Antiquity, Frederick II was the Roman Emperor from his papal coronation in 1220 until his death.

He was also the first king who explicitly outlawed trials by ordeal as they were considered irrational.

After his death, his line quickly died out, and the House of Hohenstaufen ended.

AncientPages.com