The Tree of Europe · Person

Frederick II of the Holy Roman Empire

«Stupor Mundi»

A Hohenstaufen emperor, King of Sicily and Jerusalem, and an exceptional figure in thirteenth-century Mediterranean politics. His conflict with the papacy and his Sicilian court shaped an era.

1194 – 1250EmperorHohenstaufen · ES

Explore this family · Spanish Atlas Back to people

Contemporary representationFrederick II with his falcon, from De arte venandi cum avibusAnonymous illuminator · Late thirteenth centuryVatican Apostolic LibraryPublic domain · PDM 1.0 · Source

Biography

Life of Frederick II of the Holy Roman Empire

A child in Sicily

The son of Emperor Henry VI and Constance of Sicily, he was born in Jesi in 1194. Orphaned very young, he grew up in Palermo under Pope Innocent III’s guardianship. In 1212 he travelled to Germany to contest the crown with Otto IV.

References: Treccani · Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

Emperor and King of Jerusalem

Crowned emperor in Rome in 1220, he governed mainly from Sicily, where he promulgated the Constitutions of Melfi (1231) and founded the University of Naples. While excommunicated, he led a crusade that obtained Jerusalem through negotiation with Sultan al-Kamil in 1229.

References: Treccani · Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

Conflict with the papacy

His confrontation with the popes and Lombard cities dominated his reign. The Council of Lyon deposed him in 1245. He died at Castel Fiorentino in 1250, and the Hohenstaufen dynasty fell under his descendants. His contemporaries called him stupor mundi.

References: Treccani · Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 1194 Documented

Death: 1250 Documented

Role: Emperor

Dynasty: Hohenstaufen · ES

Territories: Holy Roman Empire (ES) · Sicily (ES) · Germany (ES) · Jerusalem (ES) · Swabia (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns

King · Sicily · Reign Pending review1198–1250Effective rule

King of the Romans · Germany · Reign Pending review1212–1250Effective rule

Emperor · Holy Roman Empire · Empire Pending review1220–1250Effective rule

King · Jerusalem · Reign Pending review1225–1228Jure uxoris

Duke · Swabia · Duchy Documented1212–1216Effective ruleStaufen ducal jurisdiction; cities, lordships and bishoprics retain their own rights.

Family network

Recorded relationships

Partners

Constance of Aragon · ESDocumentedIsabella of England · ESPending reviewIsabella II of Jerusalem · ESPending review

Children

Manfred of SicilyHenry VII of Hohenstaufen · ESConrad IV of GermanyMargaret of Sicily · ES

Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

Follow the changing territories and offices of Frederick II of the Holy Roman Empire. Each title retains its own status.

Period

Governments in 1225

SicilyKing
View titles and jurisdictions
- Sicily · ESKing · Effective rule1198–1250
Holy Roman Empire (Germany)2 titles and offices
View titles and jurisdictions
- Germany · ESKing of the Romans · Effective rule1212–1250
- Holy Roman Empire · ESEmperor · Effective rule1220–1250
JerusalemKing
View titles and jurisdictions
- Jerusalem · ESKing · Jure uxoris1225–1228

Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

10 recorded claims · 6 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
1194
The authority record gives the birth as 1194.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Friedrich II., Heiliges Römisches Reich, Kaiser · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
1250
The authority record gives the death as 1250.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Friedrich II., Heiliges Römisches Reich, Kaiser · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Family and relationships (1/3 with a precise source)

Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Constance of Aragon
The authority record identifies Constance of Aragon (GND 136421490) as spouse.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Friedrich II., Heiliges Römisches Reich, Kaiser · Relationships: spouse → GND 136421490
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
Marriage or partnershipPending review
Isabella of England
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
Marriage or partnershipPending review
Isabella II of Jerusalem
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·

Governments (1/5 with a precise source)

GovernmentPending review
King · Sicily · 1198–1250
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
King of the Romans · Germany · 1212–1250
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
Emperor · Holy Roman Empire · 1220–1250
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
King · Jerusalem · 1225–1228
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentDocumented
Duke · Swabia · 1212–1216
Staufen ducal jurisdiction; cities, lordships and bishoprics retain their own rights.
Universidad de Friburgo · Stälin, cronología de Suabia · Frederick II 1212–1216, Henry VII 1217–1235, Conrad IV 1235–1254, Conradin 1254–1268.
Reviewed on 2026-10-08 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Biographical and contextual references (4)

Editorial history

2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.