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the time of bis death in 1190, per–
forming his self-appointed function
of leading Cbristians in a crusade
against Moslem "infidels." He
drowned in tbe Kalykadnus River
in Asia Minor, apparently wbile
swimniing in it or crossing it.
His empire had already passed
tbe zenitb of its power. With his
death, tbe inexorable European pro–
cess of disintegration occurred. In
just over two generations after his
death, the papacy crushed the Ho–
henstaufens, and a time of chaos
ravaged the Holy Roman Empire.
The one hundred year historical
cycle of supreme power ended in
shambles.
Years 1152-1190: Frederick Bar–
barossa ·and His Holy Roman Ero–
pire. In 1152, Frederick I of
Hohenstaufen is elected emperor by
the German nobles. Frederick de–
sires to enbance the ancient glory
and power of tbe Roman Empire,
but on a completely German foot–
ing. He is to succeed to a remark–
able degree. His first objective is to
impose order and stability in Ger–
many. Private wars and feuds are
forbidden. Imperial supremacy is
tben re-established over Poland, Bo–
hemia, Hungary and Burgundy.
A chronicler willlater note, "Dur–
ing all his
reig~
nothing was dearer
to bis heart than the re-estab–
lishment of tbe Empire of Rome on
its ancient basis." Frederick evokes
the names of Charlemagne and Otto
the Great during bis reign. He sees
bimself as a military man wbo wins
bis own kingdoms.
In 1157, Frederick I adds tbe epi–
tbet
sacrum
to the title of tbe ero–
pire. It is now tbe
Holy
Roman
Empire, baving its own spiritual
mission. In Frederick's philosophy,
it is God who gives the empire.
When asked from whom bis office is
received, if not from the pope, Bar–
barossa laconically answers, "From
God alone!" A few years later, tbe
canonist Huguccio will state this
concept in legal terms: "He who is
cbosen by tbe election of the princes
alone is the true emperor, even be-
24
fore he has been confirmed by the
pope."
Frederick and the succeeding Ho–
henstaufens will surround their
Sa–
crum Romanum lmperium
with
Roman majesty. Frederick 1 as–
cribes the greatest importance to
celebrating the liturgy of the church
as the liturgy of the Holy Roman
Empire.
Also in 1157, Barbarossa has bis
well-known encounter with the pa–
pallegates at Besanc;on. Here, Fred–
erick I claims, "We bold our
kingdom and our empire not as a
fief of the pope but by election of
the princes from God alone." As a
symbol of bis temporal indepen–
dence, Barbarossa has Charlemagne
canonized in 1165. The move is un–
precedented. Clearly, in all bis ac–
tions, Barbarossa is coming into
conflict with papal aspirations.
But Barbarossa is a political real–
ist. He understands that agreement
with the pope is necessary if his rule
is to be recognized as being legiti–
mate. A public ceremony signifying
this end is called for. The peace cel–
ebrations between Frederick I and
Pope Alexander III are carefully
stage managed. They take place at
Venice on July 24-25, 1177.
Frederick divests himse1f of bis
mantle. Tbe emperor then pros–
trates himself as a sinner before tbe
Pope and kisses his foot. The ritual–
istic abasement is followed by an
elevation. Witb tears in bis eyes, the
Pope raises the emperor to his feet.
The assembled Germans shout with
joy: tbe
regnum
and
sacerdotium
are
again united.
But unity and peace are to be
short-lived. Though bis son Henry
V1 (1190-1197) brings the empire to
a pinnacle of power - he acquires
Sicily through marriage - signs of
decay are becoming visible. Henry
plans to conquer the Byzantine ero–
pire. But he settles for a close al–
liance through marriage. His
brother Philip is betrothed to Irene,
daughter of eastem emperor Isaac
Angelus 11. Tbe kings of Armenia
and Cyprus become Henry's vassals.
Henry then begins to make Ger-
many, imperial Italy and Sicily the
broad base of a hereditary Ho–
henstaufen empire.
Tbe papacy looks at tbe grandiose
Hohenstaufen plans with horror.
Witb Germany and imperial Italy in
tbe nortb and the Sicilian empire in
tbe soutb, tbe pope will be sur–
rounded. A political pincer move–
ment can make him a mere vassal of
the Hohenstaufen clan. This must
not happen. Tbe pope·must not be
isolated in central ltaly, the papacy
reasons. Out of these confticting
aims and the basic pbilosopbical
differences between German emper–
ors and the papacy, the fabric of·the
final struggle will be woven.
Years 1197-1254: The Destruc–
tion of the Hohenstaufen Dynasty.
Civil war ravages Germany for a
decade after Henry's death. On Oc–
tober 4, 1209, an emperor is finally
crowned at Rome by Pope Innocent.
His name is Otto IV. By the end of
November 1210, Otto IV is excom–
municated. Frederick 11 is elected
antiking and is finally made em–
peror in 1215.
In the previous year, Philip Au–
gustus of France, Frederick Il's ally,
had defeated the forces of Emperor
Otto IV at Bouvines. Philip cap'–
tured the gilded imperial eagle and
dispatched it to bis Hohenstaufen
ally. The Pope was merely confer–
ring, in 1215, a
de jure
approval on a
de Jacto
situation.
But Frederick 11 is not interested
in Germany; he visits it only rarely
to make sweeping concessions to the
German princes. He is a megaloma–
niac who envisions bimself as the
reincamation of tbe Roman emper–
ors and as one possessing messianic
qualities. At least, this is the
prop~
ganda being issued by him and his
advisors. Both Frederick
JI
and his
court draw parallels between bis life
and that of Christ.
Frederick uses Aristotelian meta–
physics to rationalize bis political
philosophy. The ancient Roman
idea of the universal rule of peace
and justice within the framework of
a
totalitarian
state is accepted. It is
no wonder that Frederick will be
PLAIN TRUTH March 1974