Frederick I

surnamed Barb a ro a, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, son of Frederick, Duke of Suabia; born in 1121, and was chosen to succeed his uncle Conrad III. in 1152. He had accompanied Conrad to Palestine five years previously, and his great qualities had already appeared. He was crowned at Aix-la- Chapelle a few days after his election. His great ambition was to secure the independence of the empire, and, above all, to be master of Italy, but after repeated efforts he gave up his attacks on the Pope and the Lombard towns. In 1188 he a umed the cro , set out in the following year on the third crusade, was opposed on the arch by the Greek emperor and t! - ~ ltan, arrived in Asia, and was drowncu while cro ing a river.