Barbarossa

The Return of the Crusaders
Life Stories for Young People
Translated from the German of Franz Kühn
BY GEORGE P. UPTON Translator of “Memories,” etc.
WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS
CHICAGO A. C. McCLURG & CO. 1906
Copyright A. C. McClurg & Co. 1906 Published September 22, 1906
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.
From whatever point of view we consider Frederick I,—more familiarly known as “Barbarossa,” because of his red beard,—whether as the greatest of the sovereigns of the Holy Roman Empire, or as one of the most gallant of the famous crusade leaders, the story of his life is one of absorbing interest. This little volume includes a sketch of the events which led up to his accession to the throne of Germany, of his various campaigns in Italy after he had received the imperial crown, and of the disastrous third Crusade, in which he took part with Richard the Lion-hearted of England and Philip Augustus of France. The young reader will probably feel most interested in Barbarossa as a Crusader, particularly because in this connection appear the two young knights, Raymond and Conrad, who became the protégés of Barbarossa after the death of their gallant father, Conrad of Feuchtwangen, on the battlefield. Their brave exploits in battle, the adventurous ride of Raymond when he carried to the Emperor the news of the danger of his father and his little band in the valley, the capture of the brothers by the fleeing Turks at Iconium, and the exciting description of the test to which the Sultan exposed them, will appeal to the young from the romantic side, while their noble qualities as Christian knights and their high manly character should make an equally forcible appeal, in these days when knighthood can hardly be said to be in flower.
In making this translation I have endeavored to retain the vigorous descriptions as well as the healthy sentiment and charming simplicity of the author’s moralizing by keeping as closely to the original as possible. The only liberty I have taken with the text is the omission of passages here and there,—without marring the context, however,—so as to make the volume nearly uniform in size with the others in the series. I have invariably characterized Frederick as Emperor, referring to him thus as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire rather than as King of Germany.