The journey was anything but a peaceful pilgrimage. Frederick had to fight his way through supposed Christian allies and old rivals alike:
The Redbeard's Requiem: The Tragic Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa The Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa
: Historical accounts suggest that Saladin , the legendary Muslim leader who had retaken Jerusalem, feared the arrival of Barbarossa and his Germans more than any other crusading contingent. The journey was anything but a peaceful pilgrimage
: Estimates vary wildly, ranging from 12,000–20,000 highly disciplined troops to chroniclers' claims of over 100,000 . : Because his army was too massive for
: 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
In 1189, the most formidable force in Europe set out for the Holy Land, led by a man whose name still echoes through history: , better known as Barbarossa ("Red Beard"). His participation in the Third Crusade was meant to be the crowning achievement of a legendary reign, yet it ended in a river crossing that changed the course of the Middle Ages. The Might of the German Host
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.