Frederick II (26 December 1194 – 13 December 1250) was one of the most powerful
Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the
House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous. However, his enemies, especially the popes, prevailed, and his dynasty collapsed soon after his death. Historians have searched for superlatives to describe him, as in the case of Professor Donald Detwiler, who wrote:
Viewing himself as a direct successor to the
Roman Emperors of Antiquity, he was
Emperor of the Romans from his papal coronation in 1220 until his death; he was also a claimant to the title of
King of the Romans from 1212 and unopposed holder of that monarchy from 1215. As such, he was
King of Germany,
of Italy, and
of Burgundy. At the age of three, he was crowned
King of Sicily as a co-ruler with his mother,
Constance of Hauteville, the daughter of
Roger II of Sicily. His other royal title was
King of Jerusalem by virtue of marriage and his connection with the
Sixth Crusade.