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Death of Henry VI

Type Event Region Europe Time 1197

On 28 September 1197, Emperor Henry VI and King of Sicily died of malaria or fever near Messina at 31, interrupting the imperial crusade and sparking…

Timeline

  1. 1197Messina · MessinaIn the summer and autumn of 1197, Henry VI contracted malaria or a fever in Sicily while preparing the crusade fleet; his condition rapidly worsened and he could no longer personally lead the expedition.
  2. 1197Sicily · SicilyHenry VI died on 28 September 1197 at the age of only 31. His only son Frederick II was an infant, the widow Constance served as regent, and the Hohenstaufen imperial cause fell into a leadership vacuum.
  3. 1197–1198Holy Roman Empire · Holy Roman EmpireAfter the emperor's death, the imperial crusade lost unified command and the German princes acted independently; meanwhile the German electors split over the imperial succession, ultimately triggering the dual-emperor conflict of 1198.

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