Frederick VI, Duke of Swabia facts for kids

Frederick VI of Hohenstaufen was a powerful duke who lived a long time ago, from 1167 to 1191. He was the Duke of Swabia, a very important region in what is now Germany. He became duke in 1170 and held this title until he sadly passed away during a big battle called the Siege of Acre.

Early Life and Family

Frederick VI was born in February 1167 in a place called Modigliana in Italy. His father was Frederick I Barbarossa, a very famous emperor. His mother was Beatrice I, Countess of Burgundy.

Frederick was actually the third son of the Emperor. When he was born, his name was Conrad. But in 1170, his older brother, Frederick V, passed away. So, young Conrad took the name Frederick and became Frederick VI, the new Duke of Swabia.

Because Frederick was still very young when he became duke, his father, Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, appointed a trusted noble named Degenhard von Hellenstein to help manage the Duchy of Swabia. This person was like a governor for the young duke.

A Royal Betrothal

When Frederick VI was about 14 years old, in 1181, he was promised in marriage to a seven-year-old princess from Denmark. Her father was King Valdemar I of Denmark. The young princess even came to Germany to prepare for her future marriage.

However, things did not go as planned. Years later, the princess's brother, who was now King Canute VI of Denmark, refused to give the agreed-upon dowry (a gift of money or property). Because of this, Emperor Frederick I decided to send the princess back to Denmark in 1187. She was still very young and had not married Frederick. Some historians believe this princess might have been Ingeborg, who later married King Philip II of France.

A Grand Celebration

In 1184, a huge celebration took place in Mainz, Germany. It was called the Diet of Pentecost. At this event, Frederick VI and his brother, Henry VI, were officially recognized as knights by their father, the Emperor. This was a very important ceremony.

Many princes and knights attended this grand event. They gave gifts like horses, fancy clothes, gold, and silver to other knights and performers. There were also exciting riding events where knights showed off their skills with shields, banners, and lances. It's said that around 20,000 people were there, including the Emperor and his sons.

The celebration was supposed to last for several days. However, a big storm hit, causing tents and even a wooden church to collapse. Some people were hurt or even died. Many believed this was a sign from above, so the celebration ended early.

Joining the Crusade

In 1188, Frederick VI made a serious promise to join his father on a holy war called the Third Crusade. This was a journey to the Holy Land to fight for control of Jerusalem.

On May 11, 1189, Frederick set out with the Crusader army from Regensburg. On their journey, they traveled through the Kingdom of Hungary. Here, Frederick was promised in marriage again, this time to Constance, a daughter of King Béla III. King Béla was an ally of Frederick's father. Sadly, Frederick's early death prevented this marriage from happening. Constance later married King Ottokar I of Bohemia.

Leading the Army

Frederick VI played an important role in his father's army during the Crusade. He commanded the front part of the army, while his father led the rear. He fought bravely in battles like the Battle of Philomelion and the Battle of Iconium in May 1190.

Tragically, Frederick's father, Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, died on June 10, 1190, in the Saleph River. After this great loss, Frederick VI took command of the German Crusader forces. He led them south towards Antioch.

Many Crusaders decided to leave the army and sail home from Antioch. But Frederick VI was determined to continue to Jerusalem with the remaining soldiers. In a city called Tripoli, many of his companions became very sick with malaria. Because of this, only about 700 knights arrived with him in October 1190 to attack the city of Acre.

While at Acre, Frederick VI wrote to his brother, Henry VI, asking for help to get official recognition for a hospital in Acre. Frederick himself also became sick with malaria. He passed away on January 20, 1191, and was buried in Acre. Since the city was still controlled by Saladin's troops, the remaining Crusaders could not enter it. After Frederick VI's death, many of the remaining Crusaders left the Holy Land.

See also

• Dukes of Swabia family tree

Sources

• Hansmartin Schwarzmaier (1989). "Friedrich V. (Konrad), Herzog von Schwaben (1167–1191)" (in German). Lexikon des Mittelalters, IV: Erzkanzler bis Hiddensee. Stuttgart and Weimar: J. B. Metzler. col. 960–961. ISBN 3-7608-8904-2.