Birth Notes

<b>More information from Genealogics:</b>
Friedrich was born at Jesi near Ancona in Italy, on 26 September 1194, the son of Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich VI and Costanza of Sicily. Friedrich's brilliant and extraordinary life was marred, indeed stifled, by continuing battle with the papacy.

His father had married Costanza, daughter and heir-presumptive of Roger II of Sicily, despite the opposition of Pope Celestine III. In 1191 the pope crowned Heinrich and Costanza emperor and empress. Heinrich then set out to recover Sicily, which had been divided by the feudal barons who had elected Tancred, an illegitimate grandson of Roger II, as king. Heinrich only succeeded by treacherously massacring many of the Sicilian aristocracy.

In 1194, at the age of forty, Costanza gave birth to Friedrich, her only child. In 1197 Heinrich died before he was able to inflict any further cruelties, leaving Costanza as regent to deal with the German soldiers of fortune. However, Costanza was capable and determined, securing the support of Pope Innocent III who crowned both Costanza and her infant son in the summer of 1198. Costanza died on 27 November 1198 and Friedrich II became the ward of the pope while rival factions in Sicily fought for control.
Friedrich was ignored and would have starved had the poorer citizens of Palermo not taken pity and looked after him. At the age of seven he was kidnapped. Fortunately, however, his kidnapper died a few months later, otherwise Friedrich might have been blinded and castrated, as Tancred's son had been by orders of Friedrich's father.
As a youth he led a wild life with grooms and huntsmen, who taught him how ordinary people lived. He studied languages, including Arabic, and was widely read. In his learning he was encouraged by Papal legates and Muslims alike. The Norman kings had made Sicily the most cultivated court in Europe, from which Friedrich now benefited