Hello and welcome to the History of the Germans, episode 76, from Urchin to Emperor.

This week we'll go back 20 years and pick up the other strain of our history of the Owen Stauffen.

These last three episodes we focused on events in Germany and the struggle

between Philip of Swabia and Otto IV. Today we take a closer look at the early years of

Frederick II before he came to Germany and took over. Little is known, but much has been written

about the youth of Emperor Frederick II, not only because it was exceedingly turbulent, but much has been written about the youth of Emperor Fredik II, not only

because it was exceedingly turbulent, but also because it forged a man who burst on the

European stage aged 14, already displaying many of those personality traits that would make

him known as the stupomundi, the astonishment of the world.

How did he become who he became?

Now before we start, just a reminder, the history of the Germans podcast is advertising

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All you have to do is sign up at patreon.com slash history of the Germans or on my website

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Now let us go back to 1194.

Emperor Henry the 6 is still sitting on his throne.

Not only that, he had just been crowned King of Sicily, the fulfillment of all his ambitions.

In that year, on December 26th, the day of St. Stephen in the city of Jezee was born to him

a son, Frederick, by his wife Constance, who had been in her 40th year and baron for so long.

We rarely know the birthdays of even the most important personalities in the Middle Ages.

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