Page:Outlines of European History.djvu/537

 Popes a?td Emperors 457 rival German princes to get themselves made king of Germany and of the constant interference of the popes who sided now with this one and now with that. It happened that one of the greatest of all the popes, Innocent III, was ruling during Fred- erick IPs early years. After trying to settle the terrible disorder in Germany he decided that Frederick should be made Emperor, hoping to control him so that he would not become the dan- gerous enemy of the papacy that his father and grandfather had been. As a young man Frederick made all the promises that Innocent demanded, but he caused later popes infinite anxiety. Frederick II was nearsighted, bald, and wholly insignificant Character of in person ; but he exhibited the most extraordinary energy and Frederick 1 1, ability in the organization of his kingdom of Sicily, in which he 12 12-1250 was far more interested than in Germany. He drew up an elaborate code of laws for his southern realms and may be said to have founded the first modern well-regulated state, in which the king was indisputably supreme. He had been brought up in Sicily and was much influenced by the Mohammedan culture which prevailed there. He appears to have rejected many of the opinions of the time. His enemies asserted that he was not even a Christian, and that he declared that Moses, Christ, and Mohammed were all alike impostors. We cannot stop to relate the romantic and absorbing story His bitter of his long struggle with the popes. They speedily discovered the^pfpacy" that he was bent upon establishing a powerful state to the south of them, and upon extending his control over the Lombard cities in such a manner that the papal possessions would be held as in a vise. This, they felt, must never be permitted. Consequently almost every measure that Frederick adopted aroused their suspicion and opposition, and they made every effort to destroy him and his house. His chance of success in the conflict with the head of the Frederick Church was gravely affected by the promise which he had asTmg'o^f made before Innocent Ill's death to undertake a crusade. Jerusalem He was so busily engaged with his endless enterprises that he