Explanation: Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor (despite the name, ruling over mostly German states, and only part of Italy), engaged in the Sixth Crusade at the behest of the Catholic Church to (yet again) attempt to reclaim the Holy Land for Christendom!

Freddy boy landed in the Levant with an army that was, uh, not really in any sort of shape to take on the whole Muslim world, and with many of the local crusader states uncooperative towards the whole endeavor based on the usual backbiting, infighting, tribalist bullshit that sabotages every large undertaking. Because of this, and due to internal turmoil amongst the Ayyubid Sultanate, Frederick II negotiated the Treaty Of Jaffa after some military posturing, resulting in Jerusalem being returned to Christian control and a truce for ten years being declared. Not bad for what seemed like a hopeless cause at the landing!

Pope Gregory IX was less-than-pleased, as he hated Frederick II’s guts to begin with, and tried to invade Sicily while Frederick II negotiated in the Levant. When Frederick II returned, he was not particularly pleased by the surprise war himself, and ejected the Papal-led coalition from Sicily by military force.

“The vicar of Christ trying to conquer his neighbors is normal, as is defeating him in battle if you can. Everyone involved is still a good Christian.” is the weirdest thing about medieval Europe to me.

Negotiations? … but what about the military industrial complex? Won’t someone think of the military industrial complex? YOU MONSTERS!!

But without the crusades, we wouldn’t have “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”