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The emperor Federico II and his diplomatic crousade

23 Dicembre 2020
The emperor Federico II and his diplomatic crousade Foto: Sylvie Freddi Sylvie Freddi
On December 26, 1194 he was born in Jesi Frederick II, who promoted the meeting of Greek, Latin and Arab civilizations.

Translated by Sylvie Freddi

On a cold winter day on December 26, 1194, Federico II, the Puer Apuliae, the Stupor Mundi, was born under a tent in the main square of Jesi. A newborn who will become one of the most powerful men of the time, king of Sicily, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, king of Jerusalem. As a child loved and protected by the popes, as an adult feared excommunicated and even called antichrist.

In the Castle of Melfi, now the seat of the “Federico II literary park”, Pope Urban II announces the first crusade in the Holy Land. One hundred and forty years later Frederick II leaves for the sixth crusade.

This incredible emperor on February 18 1229 signed a treaty with the sultan of Egypt al-Kamil, recovering Jerusalem without a shot being fired but only with his skilful diplomatic policy. The treaty is a rare example of coexistence between the two peoples, an example to be resumed and repeated.

But how does Federico II successfully undertake the sixth crusade without shedding blood?

At the pressure of Pope Gregory IX, he organizes a crusade but at the last second he withdraws, citing the presence of an epidemic. The pope, who did not already see him favorably, excommunicates him.

Meanwhile, the Emir Fakhr ad-Din, under the orders of the Sultan of Egypt al-Kamil, sent his emissary to Palermo to meet Frederico II. The emir wants to know more about that powerful man who married the daughter of John of Brienne, king of Jerusalem, thus becoming heir to the throne of this mythical holy city.

The emir is amazed to see Federico's intellectual vivacity, as well as his tolerance towards the Saracens of Sicily. His court is a meeting place between Greek, Latin, Germanic, Arab and Jewish cultures.

A long epistolary friendship begins between the Emir and Federico in which they discuss scientific and philosophical problems. From the Arabic versions, Greek authors including Aristotle, Plato and Ptolemy are translated into Latin. In Federico's hands there is also a treatise on hunting, which will strongly inspire his incredible work "De arte venandi con avibus".

But Federico continues to receive pressure from the pope to organize a crusade. He is reluctant to wage a war, but to get Jerusalem back he instead begins secret negotiations directly with the Sultan of Egypt al-Kamil. Relying on his diplomatic skills, he exchanges letters and gifts, al-Kamil even sends him exotic animals including dromedaries, camels and an elephant. The sultan has an intellectual curiosity very similar to that of Federico, loves to argue with the scholars of grammar and jurisprudence, and he himself is a poet whose verses have been handed down to us. Like Federico, al-Kamil avoids unnecessary bloodshed as much as possible, thus making it possible to open negotiations on the cession of Jerusalem to Christians.

Federico II in the plain of Barletta has a magnificent throne raised and, after having superimposed the pilgrims' cross on the imperial robes, announces his departure for the sixth crusade. After a long diplomatic voyage in the Mediterranean, he enters the port of Acre and from there camps in Jaffa, near the camp of his now friend Emir Fakhr ad-Din. The two camps frequent each other, there is no talk of religion but discusses the geometry of Euclid, the aphorisms of Averroe and the philosophy of Aristotle. Federico is appreciated for his knowledge in medicine, dialectics and geometry and recognized as a disciple of the Arabs of Sicily.

Finally, on February 18, 1229, Federico II, king of Sicily and emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, met the sultan al-Kamil in Jaffa and together they signed the treaty.

Federico takes possession of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and a strip around Acre. The city is open to all, the walls are demolished and the communities can live together peacefully.

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