Frederick II: A Medieval Emperor

Rating:
Summary: insightful history but...
Review: Caught the flow and facts of Frederick's life,but for greatdiscussion of his architecture,read Castle del Monte By Heinz Goetz.

Rating:
Summary: Average, dry historical book...
Review: David Abulafia's "Frederick II" was a dry book of average quality about a Holy Roman Emperor with a reputation of being enlightened. Abulafia debunks some popular myths about that, and tells of the events of his reign, some with detail that I could not understand. Apparently then in the 13th century as it is now, there was conflict between church and state, each with their own agenda, and only one, pope or emperor could be supreme. Abulafia does make the best of few resources(many records were destroyed in a cowardly act of WWII in 1944), but he doesn't try to explain certain concepts well, and this is the downfall of this work

Rating:
Summary: A disappointing introduction to an enigmatic figure
Review: I was somewhat disppointed by Dr Abulafia's introduction to the enigma of Frederick II Hohenstaufen, other wise known as Stupour Mundi, the Wonder of the World.

Dr Abulafia tries to remove the surreal mystique surrounding his person and his achievements. He attempts, through regular comparisons with Toledo and Aragon , to present Frederic as a man of his time. That he was largely misunderstood, excommunicated and his dynasty exterminated within 20years of his death would suggest otherwise.

Dr Abulafia provides erudition but not soul to this offering and one cannot help but mourn that more humane and reasoned accounts of this brightest of all the hohenstaufen should be treated with so little enthusiasm. His achievements-notably the sixth crusade, which was more a cultural exchange rather than a war demonstrated a belief in the commonality of human beings which transcends race, religion, culture, education, something that was not to find expression in international politics until the latter half of the 20th century.

Whereas german historians in the 1930's were keen to encourage the myth of FREDERIC as a German hero, and Dr Abulafia commendably seeks to explode this myth, alas, he fails to demonstrate what motivated Frederic, and to what aim, beyond dynastic concerns, he challenged the Church, invoking their terrible anger, and the utter destruction of his heritage and bloodline.

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended...
Review: Several prominent historians recommended this book so I decided to read it. I found it extrememly well informed, heavily documented and clearly written. The book covers a number of years in a period once called the "Dark Ages" and now referred to as the Middle Ages. I read this book to further my knowledge of the Middle Ages. Also, although I am interested in the history of England, the Netherlands, France and Italy, and not a devotee of German History per se, my interests led me to Frederick II, the Emperor of Germany, because he once ruled parts of Italy including Sicily.

Abulafia, had access to the Vatican archives to research his book, and thus has been able to recast these years of the Middle Ages, as well as the character of Frederick II. Some call this kind of writing revisionist history, if so, it is revisionism at it's best as Abulafia does not appear to have an "axe to grind" or a preconceived notion of what transpired. He reports the facts as he finds them. For example, many have long admired Frederick as a secular leader who "stood up to the Pope." However, it appears Frederick was a bit more fickle in his relationships with Popes than had been thought. He may have been able to get around Pope Honorius, he met his match in Gregory.

Frederick had promised to go on a crusade to expiate his sins, but he failed to do so. Gregory told Frederick "Do not put yourself in a position where I have to take action against you; go on a crusade as promised or else." Frederick failed to keep his word and Gregory excommunicated him. Abulafia's depiction of the struggle between these two powerful individuals reads like a novel.

An interesting note--the basis of Shakespeare's dueling families in "Romeo and Juliet" is revealed--they were antagonists because one sided with the Pope and his faction, and the other with Frederick. The Waibles and the Welfs of Germany became the Guelfs and Ghibllines of Italy--and precursors to the Protestant and Catholic struggles centuries later.

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended...
Review: Several prominent historians recommended this book so I decided to read it. I found it extrememly well informed, heavily documented and clearly written. The book covers a number of years in a period once called the "Dark Ages" and now referred to as the Middle Ages. I read this book to further my knowledge of the Middle Ages. Also, although I am interested in the history of England, the Netherlands, France and Italy, and not a devotee of German History per se, my interests led me to Frederick II, the Emperor of Germany, because he once ruled parts of Italy including Sicily.

Abulafia, had access to the Vatican archives to research his book, and thus has been able to recast these years of the Middle Ages, as well as the character of Frederick II. Some call this kind of writing revisionist history, if so, it is revisionism at it's best as Abulafia does not appear to have an "axe to grind" or a preconceived notion of what transpired. He reports the facts as he finds them. For example, many have long admired Frederick as a secular leader who "stood up to the Pope." However, it appears Frederick was a bit more fickle in his relationships with Popes than had been thought. He may have been able to get around Pope Honorius, he met his match in Gregory.

Frederick had promised to go on a crusade to expiate his sins, but he failed to do so. Gregory told Frederick "Do not put yourself in a position where I have to take action against you; go on a crusade as promised or else." Frederick failed to keep his word and Gregory excommunicated him. Abulafia's depiction of the struggle between these two powerful individuals reads like a novel.

An interesting note--the basis of Shakespeare's dueling families in "Romeo and Juliet" is revealed--they were antagonists because one sided with the Pope and his faction, and the other with Frederick. The Waibles and the Welfs of Germany became the Guelfs and Ghibllines of Italy--and precursors to the Protestant and Catholic struggles centuries later.