While camping outside Constantinople torrents of rainfall filled the rivers and the flood water washed away many hundreds of the king's men and horses. ^[1]

At the age of fifty-nine, Conrad of Germany died. His son, at the age of six, was too young to rule so Conrad nominated his nephew, Frederick Barbarossa, to succeed him.

Barbarossa was crowned as emperor by Pope Adrian IV in Rome. ^[2]

Frederick Barbarossa laid siege to the important city in northern Italy in an attempt to bring the area under his control. The city fell within a month.

Barbarosa again laid siege to Milan. It took a year to before the city surrendered, and this time it was razed to the ground.

At Mainz Cathedral, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa took the Cross showing his intention to travel to the Holy Land.  ^[3]

In early May 1189, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa garthered his army at Ratisbon (now called Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany). He had ensured that his lands were safe while he was away on crusade and left his eldest son Henry in charge of the country. ^[3]

The large army of German crusaders marched towards Constantinople on the way to the Holy Land. But Isaac II, the Byzantine Emperor, had sided with Saladin and was attempting the stop them by attacking the crusaders. But the German army was too strong and they captured Adrianople. A peace treaty was signed by Isaac and Frederick of Germany, the crusaders' leader, that ensured the Germans were given supplies and free passage through to the Holy Land.