Outremer
Frederick II
In August 1225, Count Henry of Malta arrived with an entourage at Acre to take Yolanda back to Italy for her marriage. Before she left, she was crowned Queen, so that her marriage would then make Frederick King of Jerusalem.
She arrived at Brindisi in October, where she was met by John of Brienne and her future husband. The were married at Brindisi on 9 November. Jerusalem once again had a king, and one of the most powerful monarchs in all Europe besides.
The next day, 10 November, Frederick abruptly left town with his new bride, without even talking to John. The old man was no longer Regent, and technically had no claim, but the action was rude at the very best. John hurried after the Emperor. When he caught up with him, Yolanda confided in tears that Frederick had seduced on of her cousins who was travelling with her. John and Frederick quarrelled mightily. The Emperor declared that John was no longer regent and so deserved nothing in particular, and he even seized control of the money King Philip had given.
John of Brienne went to Rome for help. He got sympathy, but no practical help, for indeed there was nothing anyone could do. Frederick now ruled Jerusalem, and he sent Thomas d'Aquino to Acre to serve as bailli until he should arrive.
He was still under his pilgrim's vow, and the new pope, Gregory IX, was determined to hold him to it. At Gregory's prodding, Frederick sent a thousand men to Syria in 1227, but they did little except wait for their Emperor.
Yolanda was sent to Palermo, where she gave birth to a son, Conrad, on 25 April 1228. But the birth was more than she could bear, and she died on the first of May, at the age of sixteen. Jerusalem now had a King and an heir, but its Queen was dead and John of Brienne was an outcast, and the Kingdom was in effect ruled by foreigners.
Frederick set out on his crusade at last on 28 June 1228. When he arrived in Cyprus, he immediately intervened in the affairs of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. He summoned John d'Ibelin, Lord of Beirut, to Limassol, where he demanded that Ibelin turn the city over to him. John refused. At a banquet, Frederick posted men with drawn swords behind his guests as he repeated his demands, but John would not budge, claiming that the dispute could only be settled by the High Court. The Emperor had to settle for some hostages (which included John's own sons).
A few weeks of negotiations followed. At the result, Frederick was recognized as the overlord of Cyprus and as the Regent for Jerusalem, rather than what he wanted, which was to be the direct lord of Cyprus and the King of Jerusalem. He got agreement that the Jerusalem matter would be heard before the High Court in Acre. He appointed Amalric Barlais and some others as baillis of Cyprus, released his hostages, and set sail on 3 September.
After arriving in Palestine, the Emperor must have thought he'd finally be able to arrange matters to his liking, but he was again thrown off his plan when word arrived that he had been excommunicated a second time (for having gone on crusade without papal permission). At once, the Templars, the Hospitallers and the Patriarch refused to have anything to do with him. The barons were already hostile, and now even his own troops were uncertain whether they should continue to serve on a mission that had been condemned by the pope.