History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 89, the Baron's Crusade.

Hello again.

Last week we saw Emperor Frederick II returned to Europe after the conclusion of his crusade.

As we stated in last week's episode, what followed for the crusader states and Cyprus was a lengthy period of instability.

From his imperial seat in Sicily, Emperor Frederick wanted to rule over his territories both in the kingdom of Cyprus and the kingdom of Jerusalem,

but this was easier said than done.

The noble families of both kingdoms had long been accustomed to ruling themselves,

and the desire to do so again emerged as soon as Frederick departed from the Holy Land.

In a move designed to rest control back from these pesky nobles,

Emperor Frederick sent a small army, comprising some 600 knights, 100 sergeants, 700

foot soldiers and 3,000 Marines to Acre in 1231 under the leadership of his Imperial Legate,

Richard Philangeri.

What followed was a chaotic civil war.

Villangeri's attempt to impose German imperial rule by force were resisted by the local nobility, headed by John Iblen from the Kingdom of

Acre and young King Henry of Cyprus.

Battles and sieges raged across the kingdom of Acre.

The conflict finally simmered to a close in 1236, with the death of John Iblen following a riding accident.

Around the same time Emperor Frederick seemed to be coming to terms with the fact that he couldn't extend his autocratic

style of rule to his kingdoms in the Middle East.

And Pope Gregory 9th suggested that in the absence of their rightful sovereign,

Emperor Frederick's son Conrad, the kingdom of Acre should be administered by the Kingdom of Cyprus.

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