The Staufer Dynasty

Guelphs & Ghibellines

The Staufer Dynasty, also known as the Hohenstaufen, comprised of a dynasty of German kings who reigned during the Middle Ages (1138–1254). The three members of the dynasty—Frederick I (1155), Henry VI (1191) and Frederick II (1220)—had ascended to kingship as Dukes of Swabia and crowned as Holy Roman Emperors. 

In addition to Germany, they also ruled the Kingdom of Sicily (1194–1268) and the Kingdom of Jerusalem (1225–1268), and proudly portrayed themselves as the successors of the ancient Romans and their traditions. 

Frederick I (1122 - 1190), was the first of the dynasty and ruled as the Holy Roman Emperor from 1155 until his death. He was elected King of Germany in Frankfurt (1152) and later also crowned as King of Burgundy (1178).

Frederick I was the son of Duke Frederick II (of the Hohenstaufen dynasty) and Judith, daughter of Henry IX, Duke of Bavaria, from the rival House of Welf. Frederick descended from the two leading families in Germany and was chosen to reign by the Empire's seven German princes—the Archbishops of Cologne, Mainz, and Trier, the Duke of Saxony, the Count Palatine of the Rhine, the Margrave of Brandenburg, and the King of Bohemia—who had been entitled to take part in the election of the Holy Roman Emperor. 

Named “Barbarossa” by the northern Italian cities which he attempted to rule and “Kaiser Rotbart” in Germany, both meaning “red beard,” Frederick I recognized an antipope named Victor, in opposition to the legitimate pontiff in Alexander (1159). He later led the destruction of Milan (1162), but was defeated by the forces of the Lombard League at the battle of Legnano (1176). As such, he was forced to agree to the peace treaty of Constance (1183), where the liberties of the Italian cities were secured.

However, jealousy between the Italian cities prevented the success of the treaty and, after the death of Frederick I’s son and successor, Henry VI (1197), a power struggle began in Germany and Italy between the other rival claimants for the Empire: Henry's brother (Philip of Swabia d. 1208) and Otho of Bavaria.

It is theorized that around this time the names of the factions were introduced into Italy: "Guelfo," the Italian form of "Welf" (Dukes of Bavaria - House of Welf), and "Ghibellino," the Italian form of "Waiblingen" (Dukes of Swabia - House of Waiblingen).

As the princes of the house of Hohenstaufen (Ghibellini) were opponents of the pope, "Guelph" and "Ghibelline" were used to describe supporters of the Church and the Empire, respectively. 

Frederick II (1194–1250) was the son of emperor, Henry VI of the Hohenstaufen dynasty and Constance, heiress to the Norman kings of Sicily. He was orphaned at the age of four years when he inherited the Empire and the Kingdom of Sicily (1198) from his parents. He later became the King of Germany (1212), the King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor (1220), and the King of Jerusalem (1225). 

Frederick II grew up in Palermo, the capital of the Norman Kingdom (once the seat of an Arab Emirate) and gained exposure to different races and religions that intertwined and coexisted. This profoundly influenced Frederick II. His childhood and adolescence years opened his mind to a brighter future and contributed to the young prince’s complex and extraordinary personality. 

He spoke six languages (Latin, Sicilian, Middle High German, Langues d'oïl or old French, Greek, and Arabic), was an avid patron of science and the arts. He played a major role in promoting literature through the Sicilian School of poetry and had a significant influence on what became the modern Italian language.

In 1224, Frederick II founded the University of Naples and reorganized the Salerno School of Medicine to initiate the first professorship of Anatomy. He was also the first king to formally outlaw trial by ordeal, an ancient judicial practice by which the guilt or innocence of the accused was determined by subjecting them to an unpleasant or painful experience; their innocence was assumed if they survived. 

Frederick II’s rule is remembered very favorably. Historian, Donald Detwiler described Federick II as “a man of extraordinary culture, energy, and ability,” a contemporary chronicler called him “stupor mundi” (the wonder of the world), Nietzsche labeled him as “the first European”, and many historians refer to him as “the first modern ruler.” 

In Sicily and southern Italy, Frederick II established a very modern, centrally governed kingdom with an efficient bureaucracy. He is famous for his administration of the territory, the various castles he constructed for his military defense, and his restoration of pre-existing Roman structures that formed part of the road network.

The most fascinating building he administered construction of is Castel del Monte in Apulia, now an Unesco heritage site. Through this he ensured that the Staufer network of watchtowers and castles stretched from Southern Germany all the way to Sicily and some experts claim that Villa I Busini was built around a Staufer Tower. 

To honor the Staufer Dynasty and the original Ghibellines, the tower at Villa I Busini has been named Torre di Ghibellini.

Frederick II of Hohenstaufen died in Florence in 1250, at the age of 56 years, and this marked the beginning of the end for the Staufen Dynasty.