Outremer
The Sixth Crusade
Despite the difficulties, Frederick did what he could. In November he occupied Jaffa and rebuilt the walls. Then he opened negotiations with the Sultan al-Kamil, who had his own difficulties and was ready to reach some accommodation. They signed an agreement on 18 February 1229.
By the agreement, the Christians got Jerusalem and Jaffa, plus a narrow corridor connecting the two. They also received Bethlehem, Nazareth, and all of western Galilee including two important castles, Montfort and Toron. There was to be a truce of ten years and prisoners on both sides were released. Because al-Kamil was feuding with Bohemond at the time, Antioch was excluded from the peace.
This was a significant symbolic achievement for Frederick. Not since before Saladin had the Christians had secure access to the sacred places of their faith. It was, however, a precarious arrangement that the Egyptians could topple any time they pleased. The walls of Jerusalem were not to be rebuilt. Neither it nor Bethlehem or Nazareth could be defended against the smallest raid.
Nevertheless, Frederick was able to enter Jerusalem on 17 March 1229. It wasn't much of a triumph, for of all the military orders, only his loyal Teutonic Knights accompanied him. The Patriarch of Jerusalem refused to attend, and only a handful of the Palestinian barons came. The only clergy in attendance were the Emperor's own. When he attended Mass the next day at the Holy Sepulchre, there were no local clergy, only his own soldiers. With no one to perform the coronation, he crowned himself.
Frederick then proceeded to tour the city, including a visit to the Muslim holy places. When he entered the Dome of the Rock and a Christian priest tried to follow, Frederick himself threw the man out, saying that the pigs (the Muslim disparaging term for Christians) had been let into the city. He ordered that the muzzeins be allowed to sound the call to prayer. While we may see this as tolerance for other religions, even pious Muslims were shocked. They expected a Christian to behave like a Christian, whereas Frederick seemed to them to be a man of no faith at all.
The following day, Peter of Caesarea arrived and placed Jerusalem under interdict by order of the Patriarch. Frederick, furious, left at once. He went to Jaffa and then up the coast to Acre, arriving on 23 March. Nearly the entire baronage, as well as the local population, was hostile. There were fights in the streets between the locals and his men. He made a few arrangements, but mostly he prepared to leave. He tried to sneak out early on 1 May, but word leaked of his leaving and he and his men were pelted by the locals on their way to the docks. Thus ended the Sixth Crusade.