Emperor Frederick II (26 December 1194 – 13 December 1250) was King of Sicily from 1198, King of Germany from 1212, King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor from 1220 and King of Jerusalem from 1225. He was the son of emperor Henry VI of the Hohenstaufen dynasty and of Constance, heiress to the Norman kings of Sicily. He was born in Jesi in Le Marche 26 December in 1194. He died in 13 December 1250 in Torremaggiore.

He ruled a vast area, beginning with Sicily (from age 3) and stretching through Italy all the way north to Germany. He spoke six languages and was an avid patron of science and the arts, such as literature and poetry. After his death his line did not survive, and the House of Hohenstaufen came to an end.

Frederick played a major role in promoting literature and on what was to become the modern Italian language. He was also the first king to formally outlaw trial by ordeal. After his death his line did not survive, and the House of Hohenstaufen came to an end, and the Holy Roman Empire entered a long period of decline until the reign of Charles V, 250 years later.

See: Castel del Monte.

Source: Wikipedia (abridged).