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and named in Alexandria； in honor of the pope and in contempt of
Frederick。
Guido the anti…pope died； and Giovanni of Fermo was appointed in his
stead； who； being favored by the imperialists； lived at Montefiascone。
Pope Alexander being at Tusculum； whither he had been called by the
inhabitants； that with his authority he might defend them from the
Romans； ambassadors came to him from Henry； king of England； to
signify that he was not blamable for the death of Thomas ？Becket；
archbishop of Canterbury； although public report had slandered him
with it。 On this the pope sent two cardinals to England； to inquire
into the truth of the matter； and although they found no actual charge
against the king； still； on account of the infamy of the crime； and
for not having honored the archbishop so much as he deserved； the
sentence against the king of England was； that having called together
the barons of his empire； he should upon oath before them affirm his
innocence； that he should immediately send two hundred soldiers to
Jerusalem； paid for one year； that； before the end of three years； he
should himself proceed thither with as large an army as he could draw
together； that his subjects should have the power of appealing to Rome
when they thought proper； and that he should annul whatever acts had
been passed in his kingdom unfavorable to ecclesiastical rule。 These
terms were all accepted by Henry； and thus a great king submitted to a
sentence that in our day a private person would have been ashamed of。
But while the pope exercised so great authority over distant princes；
he could not compel obedience from the Romans themselves； or obtain
their consent that he should remain in Rome； even though he promised
to intermeddle only with ecclesiastical affairs。
About this time Frederick returned to Italy； and while he was
preparing to carry on new wars against the pope； his prelates and
barons declared that they would abandon him unless he reconciled
himself with the church； so that he was obliged to go and submit to
the pope at Venus； where a pacification was effected； but in which the
pope deprived the emperor of all authority over Rome； and named
William； king of Sicily and Puglia； a coadjutor with him。 Frederick；
unable to exist without war； joined the crusaders in Asia； that he
might exercise that ambition against Mohammed； which he could not
gratify against the vicars of Christ。 And being near the river Cydnus；
tempted by the clearness of its waters； bathed therein； took cold； and
died。 Thus the river did a greater favor to the Mohammedans than the
pope's excommunications had done to the Christians； for the latter
only checked his pride； while the former finished his career。
Frederick being dead； the pope had now only to suppress the contumacy
of the Romans； and； after many disputes concerning the creation of
consuls； it was agreed that they should elect them as they had been
accustomed to do； but that these should not undertake the office； till
they had first sworn to be faithful to the church。 This agreement
being made； Giovanni the anti…pope took refuge in Mount Albano； where
he shortly afterward died。 William； king of Naples； died about the
same time； and the pope intended to occupy that kingdom on the ground
that the king had left only a natural son named Tancred。 But the
barons would not consent； and wished that Tancred should be king。
Celestine III。； the then pope； anxious to snatch the kingdom from the
hands of Tancred； contrived that Henry； son of Frederick should be
elected emperor； and promised him the kingdom on the condition that he
should restore to the church all the places that had belonged to her。
To facilitate this affair； he caused Gostanza； a daughter of William；
who had been placed in a monastery and was now old； to be brought from
her seclusion and become the wife of Henry。 Thus the kingdom of Naples
passed from the Normans； who had been the founders of it； to the
Germans。 As soon as the affairs of Germany were arranged； the Emperor
Henry came into Italy with Gostanza his wife； and a son about four
years of age named Frederick； and； as Tancred was now dead； leaving
only an infant named Roger； he took possession of the kingdom without
much difficulty。 After some years； Henry died in Sicily； and was
succeeded in the kingdom by Frederick； and in the empire by Otho； duke
of Saxony； who was elected through the influence of Innocent III。 But
as soon as he had taken the crown； contrary to the general
expectation； he became an enemy of the pope； occupied Romagna； and
prepared to attack the kingdom。 On this account the pope
excommunicated him； he was abandoned by every one； and the electors
appointed Frederick； king of Naples； emperor in his stead。 Frederick
came to Rome for his coronation； but the pope； being afraid of his
power； would not crown him； and endeavored to withdraw him from Italy
as he had done Otho。 Frederick returned to Germany in anger； and；
after many battles with Otho； at length conquered him。 Meanwhile；
Innocent died； who； besides other excellent works； built the hospital
of the Holy Ghost at Rome。 He was succeeded by Honorius III。； in whose
time the religious orders of St。 Dominic and St。 Francis were founded；
1218。 Honorius crowned Frederick； to whom Giovanni； descended from
Baldwin； king of Jerusalem； who commanded the remainder of the
Christian army in Asia and still held that title； gave a daughter in
marriage； and； with her portion； conceded to him the title to that
kingdom： hence it is that every king of Naples is called king of
Jerusalem。
CHAPTER V
The state of ItalyBeginning of the greatness of the house of
EsteGuelphs and GhibellinesDeath of the Emperor Frederick II。
Manfred takes possession of the kingdom of NaplesMovements of
the Guelphs and Ghibellines in LombardyCharles of Anjou invested
by the pope with the kingdom of Naples and SicilyRestless policy
of the popesAmbitious views of pope Nicholas III。Nephews of
the popesSicilian vespersThe Emperor Rodolph allows many
cities to purchase their independenceInstitution of the jubilee
The popes at Avignon。
At this time the states of Italy were governed in the following
manner： the Romans no longer elected consuls； but instead of them； and
with the same powers； they appointed one senator； and sometimes more。
The league which the cities of Lombardy had formed against Frederick
Barbarossa still continued； and comprehended Milan； Brescia； Mantua；
and the greater number of the cities of Romagna； together with Verona；
Vicenza； Padua； and Trevisa。 Those which took part with the emperor；
were Cremona； Bergamo； Parma； Reggio； and Trento。 The other cities and
fortresses of Lombardy； Romagna； and the march of Trevisa； favored；
according to their necessities； sometimes one party； sometimes the
other。
In the time of Otho III。 there had come into Italy a man called
Ezelin； who； remaining in the country； had a son； and he too had a son
named Ezelin。 This person； being rich and powerful； took part with
Frederick； who； as we have said； was at enmity with the pope；
Frederick； at the instigation and with the assistance of Ezelin； took
Verona and Mantua； destroyed Vicenza； occupied Padua； routed the army
of the united cities； and then directed his course towards Tuscany。
Ezelin； in the meantime； had subdued the whole of the Trevisian March；
but could not prevail against Ferrara； which was defended by Azone da
Este and the forces which the pope had in Lombardy； and； as the enemy
were compelled to withdraw； the pope gave Ferrara in fee to this
Azone； from whom are descended those who now govern that city。
Frederick halted at Pisa； desirous of making himself lord of Tuscany；
but； while endeavoring to discover what friends and foes he had in
that province； he scattered so many seeds of discord as occasioned the
ruin of Italy； for the factions of the Guelphs and Ghibellines
multiplied；those who supported the church taking the name of
Guelphs； while the followers of the emperor were called Ghibellines；
these names being first heard at Pistoia。 Frederick； marching from
Pisa； assailed and wasted the territories of the church in a variety
of ways； so that the pope； having no other remedy； unfurled against
him the banner of the cross； as his predecessor had done against the
Saracens。 Frederick； that he might be suddenly abandoned by his
people； as Frederick Barbarossa and others had been； took into his pay
a number of Saracens； and to bind them to him； and establish in Italy
a firm bulwark against the church； without fear of papal maledictions；
he gave them Nocera in the kingdom of Naples； that； having a refuge of
their own； they might be placed in greater security。 The pontificate
was now occupied by Innocent IV。； who； being in fear of Frederick；
went to Genoa； and thence to France； where he appointed a council to
be held at Lyons； where it w