A fresh account of the life and legacy of the legendary Holy Roman emperor.

Frederick Barbarossa—also known as Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor from 1155—was a dominant figure in late-twelfth-century European history. He is remembered as one of the greatest German emperors, for some even as a hero. He brought peace to Germany, fought to maintain control over Italian cities, and engaged in a lengthy dispute with the papacy before his death on a crusade in the Holy Land. Despite his achievements, Frederick I’s reign marked a decline in imperial authority, as regional powers asserted their authority with increased fervor. In this book, G. A. Loud examines this paradox, charting the limitations of monarchical power in medieval Europe. This book is a cogent and fresh analysis of Barbarossa.