Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor facts for kids

Frederick Barbarossa was a powerful German king and emperor who lived a long time ago, from 1122 to 1190. He is famous for being a strong leader and a brave soldier. People remember him for trying to take Jerusalem back for Christians during a big journey called the Crusades.

Frederick was born in 1122 in a monastery in a place called Altdorf, which is now known as Weingarten. His mother was named Judith.

Why He Was Called "Redbeard"

Frederick's most famous nickname was Barbarossa. This means "Redbeard" in Latin. "Barba" is the Latin word for beard, and "Rossa" means red. He got this name because he had a very noticeable red beard!

Becoming King and Emperor

Frederick was raised in a strict way. When he was 20 years old, on March 4, 1142, he became the King of Germany. Later, he also became the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. This was a very important title in Europe at that time.

Frederick had a cousin named Henry the Lion. Henry wanted to be king and emperor too, so he was often angry with Frederick. They were enemies for many years.

Family and Crusades

In 1156, Frederick married a lady named Beatrix. They had many children together.

Frederick Barbarossa took part in the Third Crusade. This was a huge journey where Christian armies tried to take back control of Jerusalem. Sadly, Frederick never reached Jerusalem himself. It is believed that he drowned in the River Saleph in 1190. Even though he died on the way, his soldiers carried his body to Jerusalem and buried him there.

Images for kids

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  Crusaders besieging Damascus in 1148

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  13th-century stained glass image of Frederick I, Strasbourg Cathedral

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  Penny or denier with Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, struck in Nijmegen

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  Pavia, Basilica of San Michele Maggiore, the five stones above which the throne was placed during coronation of Frederick I.

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  Wax seal of Frederick I, used in the imperial residence of Pfalz Wimpfen

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  Frederick's so-called baptismal cup, silver, partly gilded, Aachen c. 1160

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  The Barbarossa Chandelier in Aachen Cathedral was donated by Frederick sometime after 1165 as a tribute to Charlemagne.

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  Frederick Barbarossa, middle, flanked by two of his children, King Henry VI (left) and Duke Frederick VI (right). From the Historia Welforum

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  The now secularised St Peter's Church at Petersberg Citadel, Erfurt, where Henry the Lion submitted to Barbarossa in 1181

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  Path of the Third Crusade, Frederick Barbarossa's path in red

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  Frederick Barbarossa depicted during the Third Crusade

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  A German expedition led by Johann Nepomuk Sepp to excavate the bones from the ruins of the Crusader Cathedral of Tyre, 1879

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  Frederick Barbarossa as a crusader, miniature from a copy of the Historia Hierosolymitana, 1188

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  Frederick sends out the boy to see whether the ravens still fly.

See also

In Spanish: Federico I Barbarroja para niños