The journey was anything but a peaceful pilgrimage. Frederick had to fight his way through supposed Christian allies and old rivals alike:
: Estimates vary wildly, ranging from 12,000–20,000 highly disciplined troops to chroniclers' claims of over 100,000 . The Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa
In 1189, the most formidable force in Europe set out for the Holy Land, led by a man whose name still echoes through history: , better known as Barbarossa ("Red Beard"). His participation in the Third Crusade was meant to be the crowning achievement of a legendary reign, yet it ended in a river crossing that changed the course of the Middle Ages. The Might of the German Host The journey was anything but a peaceful pilgrimage
: Because his army was too massive for a sea crossing, Frederick took the grueling overland route through Hungary and the Byzantine Empire . A Gauntlet of Betrayal and Battle His participation in the Third Crusade was meant
The Redbeard's Requiem: The Tragic Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa