Part 24: Crusader Kings: Chapter 24 - Barbarossa: 1280 - 1293

1280 - 1293: Barbarossa

The German King Gerhard Staden passes away in 1280, after ruling Germany for almost 50 years. Though he was a competent ruler who reclaimed the crown of Italy, nevertheless most of the wars he started were failures, and his inability to deal with rebels resulted in several border provinces being lost. Konrad von Hohenzollern, Duke of Swabia, is elected the new King of Germany.

He would be known to history as Konrad Barbarossa.


Konrad's rise to power was not uncontested, as the enemies of the Hohenzollerns had enjoyed the fifty years of weak Staden leadership and were not eager to see their hated rivals return to the throne. Konrad had a small majority of the electors on his side, but not enough to be elected without making concessions. The election became deadlocked, and after several days of heated debate, the argument against Konrad had boiled down to a single point: According to Germanic law, to hold the title Duke of Baden, one must also hold the city of Baden itself, currently in the possession of the Count of Breisgau. Though an old law that had been flouted numerous times over the previous centuries, Konrad's opponents skillfully turned it into a wedge issue by which they could question Konrad's dedication to all Germanic law. If Konrad wanted to become King, he would have to cede Baden. Swallowing his pride, Konrad bequeathed Baden to Otto of Breisgau, silently promising revenge for the loss.


Immediately upon taking the throne, Konrad began the work of reclaiming lands that King Gerhard had let slip away from Germany, beginning with the Staden Duchy of Holstein.


Little resistance is offered, and with Holstein defeated, Konrad moves on to retake lost lands in Pomerania and Tirol.


Things settle down somewhat in 1282, as Konrad returns to Mainz and begin to deal with the day-to-day matters of rulership. The first such matter is a murder - his own spy master has been accused of murdering a rival courtier, though there is little evidence. Konrad has the accused banished to France.


The wave of Catholic reawakening is still sweeping over Italy, and the Cathars, now bereft of a powerful protector, are being harshly persecuted. Forced mass conversions and excecutions have resulted in thousands of Cathars fleeing to Germany, with the Papal inquisitors in hot pursuit. Even the King of Burgundy has renounced his heretical ways and returned to the mother church.


The wars in Russia finally end in March of 1283. The Golden Horde has been driven off once more, their lands divided between Georgia and Lithuania. Finland has succeeded in holding its own and has reclaimed a few of its previously lost provinces.


Shocking news arrive a few months later. For over a century, the Kingdom of Jerusalem has remained a tiny island of catholicism in a sea of heathens. Officially an independent Kingdom, in reality it has been an egyptian protectorate, retaining nominal independence in exchange for the rights of pilgrims of all religions to enter the city, an arrangement that has worked well to keep the peace between Catholics and Muslims in the holy land. However, a few months earlier the il-Khanate attacked Egypt, and now the Mongol hordes have conquered Jerusalem, brutally sacking the holy city.


Almost immediately after the news reach Rome, the newly elected Pope Nicholas IV declares a crusade against Jerusalem, dubbed the Sixth Crusade, and petitions Konrad to lend his armies to the liberation of the holy city. Konrad pledges three armies totaling 60,000 men to the cause.


Led by Konrad himself, the first army of 20,000 leaves the shores of Italy in October.


They arrive in Jaffa almost exactly a year later, attacking the Sheikdom of Tyrus. The independent Sheik of Tyrus controls three provinces along the coast which Konrad hopes to use as a staging base for his armies.


The armies defending Jaffa are quickly defeated, and Konrad sends most of his army up the coast to take Acre and Tyrus while pressing on towards Jerusalem with a couple thousand of his best troops.


To his surprise, he finds only a small Mongol force of a few hundred men defending the city. They are quickly scattered, and the siege begins.


The reason for the absence of the il-Khanate's armies becomes obvious as news reaches Konrad that the Byzantines have launched a major offensive into the heart of the Mongol realm, even reaching the gates of Baghdad.


The second crusading army arrives in January of 1285. Tyrus falls the next month, and Konrad takes the entirety of the Sheik's lands in the peace settlement.


A few days later, Jerusalem falls. The holy city is saved.


The Knights of St. John, having spent a century in exile, are quick to petition Konrad for Acre to be returned to their rule. Konrad accepts.


The Khanate is still far too busy defending Baghdad to care about its western regions. Egypt, on the other hand, is using this opportunity to reclaim its lost territorities, including much of the lands around Jerusalem. Konrad refuses to allow the muslims to steal his prize, and war is declared against Egypt in May.


A mongol army of 20,000 men finally manifests itself in July, launching a disorganized attack against Konrad's forces in Amman. They are beaten back and scattered.



With Acre now restored to them, the Hospitalers lends their aid to the war against Egypt.


As the year turns to 1286, Damascus, Galilee, and parts of Outremer are under Konrad's control.


Jaffa is granted to the Templar Order who, much like the Hospitalers, are eager to return their former lands.


By May of 1286, the first two armies, originally numbering over 40,000 have suffered so many losses and desertions that they now number less than a fourth that number. Egypt chooses this time to launch major attacks Amman and Kefar, driving the crusaders before them.


Fortunately, the third army arrives a mere month later, and with these reinforcements, Konrad successfully repulses the Egyptian attack and retakes the conquered provinces.


The following year is mostly spent besieging various muslim castles, as the crusading armies push ever further south. By August of 1287, most of the holy lands are under Konrad's control, and several new duchies have been created.


A month later, the Pope declares the crusaders victorious, proclaiming that the holy lands are once more in Catholic hands, and sparking a wave of celebrations throughout Germany and Italy.


Desiring to return home to Germany, Konrad sues for white peace with Egypt and the Khanate, bringing the Sixth Crusade to a glorious end.


By the end of 1288, Konrad is back in Mainz and a single quiet year follows. In December of 1289, Konrad learns that the Burgundian King has broken the vows he made to the Pope upon converting back to Catholicism, refusing to persecute the Cathars in his realm, and indeed, secretly helping many of them escape the inquisition. As a result, he has been excommunicated.


Having gained much influence and prestige from his victories in the Sixth Crusade, Konrad spends some of it to gain official sanction from the Pope to return the crown of Burgundy to Germany. Armed with this claim he invades Burgundy in the spring of the following year.


Burgundian resistance is feeble, and Bern, Genua and Lyon fall in quick succession. In March of 1291, the King of Burgundy offers his surrender, and Konrad returns to Mainz in triumph, the first king to wear the three crowns of Germany, Italy and Burgundy in 150 years.



A mere month later, Pope Celestine V crowns Konrad Holy Roman Emperor. Konrad Barbarossa stands at the apex of his power. A couple of quiet years follow, as Konrad secures his control and puts down a few minor uprisings.


His eldest son Waldemar reaches majority in 1293. Waldemar von Hohenzollern is a brilliant prodigy, who excels in every area of rulership. As King of Germany, he might well have eclipsed even his father, but Germanic Succession Law means that he is destined to merely be the Duke of the quiet, stable and prosperous Swabia, where his talents will be largely wasted.


Recognizing the talents of his son, Konrad decides that regardless of Germanic Succession Law, Waldemar is to be a king.

King of Jerusalem.