Death of Frederick Barbarossa

Life, Death

Roman Emporer Frederick Barabrossa drowns in the Saleph river near Silifke Castle in Cilician Armenia. Frederick took a shortcut along the river on Armenian advice, while his army cross the mountains.

Roman Emporer Frederick Barabrossa drowns in the Saleph river near Silifke Castle in Cilician Armenia. Frederick took a shortcut along the river on Armenian advice, while his army cross the mountains.   Accounts of Frederick's death vary. The History of the Expedition of the Emperor Frederick claims he tried to swim across the river against Armenian advice. The Letter on the Sacred Expedition of the Emperor Frederick I says he went to swim in the river but was taken by the current (Frederick enjoyed swimming, and was a strong swimmer but may have been exhausted after weeks of marching). The Arab chronicler Ibn al-Athir says he went to wash in the river and drowned where the water was barely up to his waist.   When word of Frederick's death reached his army several thousand German soldiers abaondoned the crusade and returned home via ports in Cilicia and Syria. The emperor's son, Frederick, Duke of Swabia pressed on in company of the Hungarian army led by Prince Géza.