The Crusade Of Frederick Barbarossa Link

: Historical accounts suggest that Saladin , the legendary Muslim leader who had retaken Jerusalem, feared the arrival of Barbarossa and his Germans more than any other crusading contingent.

Frederick did not just lead an army; he led a "moving state". Setting out before the more famous Richard the Lionheart and Philip II of France , Barbarossa commanded what was likely the largest single force ever assembled for a crusade. The Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa

The journey was anything but a peaceful pilgrimage. Frederick had to fight his way through supposed Christian allies and old rivals alike: : Historical accounts suggest that Saladin , the

: Estimates vary wildly, ranging from 12,000–20,000 highly disciplined troops to chroniclers' claims of over 100,000 . The journey was anything but a peaceful pilgrimage

In 1189, the most formidable force in Europe set out for the Holy Land, led by a man whose name still echoes through history: , better known as Barbarossa ("Red Beard"). His participation in the Third Crusade was meant to be the crowning achievement of a legendary reign, yet it ended in a river crossing that changed the course of the Middle Ages. The Might of the German Host