Page 59 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

the hist or y of it al y  57

St Francis of
Assisi (1181–1226) Where to See Early
In The Dream of Pope Medieval Italy
Innocent III by Giotto,
painted around 1290– Of the many
95, St Francis holds up churches built
the tottering edifice in this period,
of the Roman church. especially fine
The Franciscans’ rule of examples are
poverty brought about Venice’s San
a religious revival in Marco (p114),
reaction to the wealth Sant’Antonio
of the church. (p162) in Castello dell’
Padua and Imperatore, Prato,
the Duomo was built about 1240.
in Pisa (p328).
The Leaning Tower (p330) also dates back to
the 12th century. Medieval castles include
Monastery of Today’s Riva degli Frederick II’s Castel del Monte in Puglia
Sant’Apollonia Schiavoni (p513) and Castello dell’Imperatore in Prato.

Niccolò Polo, his brother Maffeo
and son Marco prepare to embark.
They sailed first to Acre in the Levant.

Fourth Crusade
Discord between
the leaders of
the crusade and
Pope Innocent III
culminated in
the sacking of
Constantinople
in 1204.

Frederick II
(1194–1250) The emperor
kept a court of poets and
scholars in Sicily. He won
Jerusalem from the Arabs by
diplomacy, but was constantly
at war with the pope and
the cities of Lombardy.

1198 Frederick II 1204 Sacking of Constantinople 1250 Death of Frederick II
becomes king of Sicily
1209 Franciscan Order founded 1260 Urban IV invites Charles of
1155 Frederick Barbarossa 1216 Dominican Anjou to rule Naples and Sicily
crowned Holy Roman Emperor Order founded 1265 Birth of Dante
1150 1200 1250
Frederick Barbarossa 1237 Lombard League defeat 1271 Marco
dressed as a Crusader Frederick at Battle of Cortenuova Polo sets off
1228 Gregory IX excommunicates Frederick II; on journey
1115 Death of 1220 Frederick II crowned struggle between Guelphs (the papal party) to China
Countess Matilda Holy Roman Emperor and Ghibellines (supporters of the emperor)

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