Editing 1228 (section)

==== Sixth Crusade ====
* Summer &ndash; Emperor [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]] sails from [[Brindisi]] with a expeditionary force and arrives in [[Acre, Israel|Acre]] in the [[Middle East]] on [[September 7]]. He disembarks a well-trained and equipped Crusader army (some 10,000 men and 2,000 knights). After his arrival in [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], Frederick is again excommunicated by Pope [[Pope Gregory IX|Gregory IX]], for setting out for the Crusade before he has obtained absolution from his previous ex-communication (see [[1227]]). Many of the local nobility, the [[Knights Templar]] and [[Knights Hospitaller]] deny him their support for the Crusade. Frederick can only rely on his own army and the [[Teutonic Order|Teutonic Knights]], whose Grand Master, [[Hermann von Salza]], is his friend.<ref>[[Steven Runciman]] (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 154. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* Autumn &ndash; Frederick II receives an embassy of Sultan [[Al-Kamil]], including [[Fakhr ad-Din ibn as-Shaikh|Fakhr al-Din ibn as-Shaikh]], at the Hospitaller camp at [[Tel Afek|Recordane]], near Acre. Meanwhile, Al-Kamil is engaged in suppressing a rebellion in [[Syria]] and has concentrated his forces on a siege at [[Damascus]]. Frederick is pressed for time, because his army is not large enough for a major campaign. Al-Kamil, who has full control of [[Jerusalem]], starts diplomatic negotiations.<ref name="runciman-p156">Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 156. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* November &ndash; Frederick II puts pressure on the negotiations by a military display. He assembles his Crusader army and marches down the coast to [[Jaffa]] – which he proceeds to refortify. At the same moment, Ayyubid forces under [[An-Nasir Dawud]], who are not participating in the revolt at Damascus, move to [[Nablus]], to intercept Al-Kamil's supply lines. Al-Kamil breaks off the negotiations, saying that the Crusaders have pillaged several Muslim villages, and only resumes them again when Frederick pays out compensation to the victims.<ref name="runciman-p156"/>