February 18- Frederik II regains Jerusalem

I'm glad to have the opportunity to mention once again everybody's favourite medieval Holy Roman Emperor Frederik II, �Stupor Mundi�, who on February 18, 1229 signed a treaty with Al Kamil, the Abbuyid Sultan of Egypt, that would regain possession of the Holy Cities of Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem for the Christian Crusaders.
Although the Sixth Crusade had set out in 1228 under Frederik's leadership to conquer Jerusalem that since Saladin's recapture of the city in 1178 had been once again under Arab control, the eventual success of the quest was nothing short of a miracle, and could be contributed to Frederik's personality, his reputation in the Islamic world.
Frederik II of Hohenstaufen, grandson of Frederik I Barbarossa who had died in Turkey during the Third Crusade, was a highly unusual figure amongst the Kings of Europe who had embarked on the Palestine adventure. Although King of Germany and Duke of Swabia, Frederik by far preferred to rule from the Italian territories that he had inherited (which in itself might be proof of his wisdom), and during his long reign he made his palace in Palermo, Sicily into the political and cultural of the Empire.
Highly educated, he was multi-lingual and unlike most of his peers could actually read and write, and interested both in arts and science, he surrounded himself with a collection of the leading intellectuals and artists of his time and, even more unusual, by no means only with Christians. His religious beliefs have been the issue of many a debate, during his life-time he has was accused of most heresies, of being a secret Muslim or even an atheist, but whatever the true nature of his faith, for a 13th European ruler he was extraordinarily tolerant. He counted a number of Islamic scholars amongst the members of his court, and his personal bodyguard consisted exclusively of Saracen warriors.



Frederik II, "Stupor Mundi"


His religious unreliability secured him the constant animosity of the Papal authorities, although the continuous power-struggle between Pope and Emperor in Italy might have been the more profane but also more important reason. He was excommunicated twice and stood still under the ban of the Church, when in 1228 he finally embarked on the Crusade he had rather rashly vowed to undertake when he had succeeded as Emperor. He had done his best to delay the journey, but finally had to bow to the pressure to fulfill his pledge to liberate Jerusalem from Muslim rule.
He couldn't have come at a better time, the Abbuyid rulers of the Near-East had fought a long civil war ,the nominal ruler of Palestine, Al-Kamil, the Sultan of Egypt, was preoccupied with securing his reign and was trying to avoid an open military conflict with the crusading Emperor. Frederik , having learned from the failures of previous Crusades, was not to sure about his abilities to take Jerusalem by force, and was only too happy to talk rather than fight.
So it came, that after long negotiations, Sultan and Emperor came to an agreement and on February 18, 1229 signed a ten year long truce that would return the Holy Cities of Christendom under Christian control. Not surprisingly, neither did the treaty increase the Sultan's popularity in the Muslim world, nor were the Christian lords of Palestine satisfied with the peaceful outcome of the Sixth crusade, as it had not guaranteed the permanent safety of their little fiefdoms.
Frederik, however, entered Jerusalem in triumph in march 1229 and was duly crowned King of Jerusalem, despite his claims to the title being rather shaky. He returned to Europe shortly after, where his achievement to regain Jerusalem was finally recognised and even the Pope could bring himself to lift the ban on the Emperor.
If Frederik's peaceful recapture of Jerusalem was the result of a rare understanding between Christian and Muslim rulers, helped by the Emperor's enlightened religious tolerance, or simply was a fortunate exploitation of the existing power constellations in Palestine, can be debated. May be both, but in any case Frederik succeeded where many others failed and Christian pilgrims could enjoy another ten years of worship at the Holy places until Jerusalem finally fell again in 1244 to the Muslims.

What else happened on this day?

1546 Martin Luther, the rebellious monk who began the Protestant Reformation in Germany, died in Eisleben.

1564 Michelangelo, Italian Renaissance painter and sculptor, died in Rome



Complete list of events:


Wikipedia