The Crusade Of — Frederick Barbarossa

The Redbeard's Requiem: The Tragic Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa

Frederick did not just lead an army; he led a "moving state". Setting out before the more famous Richard the Lionheart and Philip II of France , Barbarossa commanded what was likely the largest single force ever assembled for a crusade. The Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa

: Estimates vary wildly, ranging from 12,000–20,000 highly disciplined troops to chroniclers' claims of over 100,000 . The Redbeard's Requiem: The Tragic Crusade of Frederick

: Because his army was too massive for a sea crossing, Frederick took the grueling overland route through Hungary and the Byzantine Empire . A Gauntlet of Betrayal and Battle ranging from 12