2020-01-27 Mon

Fredrick I also known as Fredrick Barbarossa was duke of Swabia, German King, and Holy Roman Emperor from 1152 until his death in 1190.

Historians consider him among the Holy Roman Empire's greatest medieval emperors. He combined qualities that made him appear almost superhuman to his contemporaries: his longevity, his ambition, his extraordinary skills at organization, his battlefield acumen and his political perspicacity. He was named Barbarossa by the northern Italian cities which he attempted to rule: Barbarossa means "red beard" in Italian; in German, he was known as Kaiser Rotbart, which has the same meaning.

He challenged papal authority and sought to establish German predominance in Western Europe. He engaged in a long struggle with the cities of northern Italy (1154–83), sending six major expeditions southward. He died while on the Third Crusade to the Holy Land.

The above shown 1 Pfenning was issued under his reign. The obverse of a coin depicts crowned Frederick enthroned facing, holding raised sword and globus cruciger; star in right field. The reveres of a coin engraved Palace with four turrets; star above.

Image Source: https://collectgram.com