Hello and welcome to the history of the Germans, Episode 61, the Peace of Venice.

This week we'll talk about the Great Peace Conference in Venice, where Barbarossa is finally reconciled with the papacy, the Lombards and the Sicilians.

It is also the time he has to bend the

knee before the implacable foe, Pope Alexander III, in a grand ceremony before all of Europe.

As before, there is an episode website at Historyof the Germans.com slash 61-2. I don't know why you have to put a dash-2 there,

but I have to. So it's 61-2 at history of the Germans.com. And there you can find the

transcript, maps and images to follow along. And by the way, I finally re-recorded episode 59.

Now sniffle-free. Yes, it's 14 days later

than expected. Before we start, just a reminder, the history of the Germans podcast is advertising

free, thanks to the generous support from patrons. And you can become a patron too and enjoy

exclusive bonus episodes and other privileges from the price

of a latte per month. All you have to do is sign up at patreon.com slash history of the

Germans or on my website History of the Germans.com. You find all the links in the show notes.

And thanks a lot to Stephanie, Erica and Sean who've already signed up.

So, let's go back to where we left off last week.

On June 5th, 1176, Barbarossa reappears in Pavia, having lost the encounter with the Melaneses Adleiniano.

His armor, sword and lance as well as his treasure, have been left on the field of battle. Even though he still had some military capabilities

left, his campaign had hit the end of the road. Like in 1167-68 after the loss of the army before Rome, the emperor goes incommunicado.

Just one charter is produced in the six months following Lignano.

We hear about illness, possibly another bout of malaria.

It is at this stage that Barberossa finally gives up on his imperial dream.

He gives his archbishops, namely Wichmann of Mark de Bourke and Christian of

...