Editing Third Crusade (section)

===Diplomatic preparations===
Shortly after the Strasbourg assembly, Frederick dispatched legates to negotiate the passage of his army through their lands: Archbishop [[Conrad of Wittelsbach|Conrad of Mainz]] to Hungary, [[Godfrey of Wiesenbach]] to the Seljuk sultanate of Rûm and an unnamed ambassador to the Byzantine Empire. He may also have sent representatives to Prince [[Leo I, King of Armenia|Leo II of Armenia]].{{sfn|Freed|2016|p=480}}

Because Frederick had signed a treaty of friendship with Saladin in 1175,{{sfn|Freed|2016|p=355}} he felt it necessary to give Saladin notice of the termination of their alliance.{{efn|There is a published correspondence, almost certainly forged, between Frederick and Saladin concerning the end of their friendship.{{sfn|Freed|2016|p=626 n.44}}}} On 26 May 1188, he sent Count [[Henry II of Dietz]] to present an ultimatum to Saladin. The sultan was ordered to withdraw from the lands he had conquered, to return the [[True Cross]] to the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] and to make satisfaction for those Christians who had been killed in his conquests, otherwise Frederick would abrogate their treaty.{{sfn|Freed|2016|pp=480–481}}

A few days after Christmas 1188, Frederick received Hungarian, Byzantine, Serbian, Seljuk and possibly Ayyubid envoys in [[Nuremberg]]. The Hungarians and Seljuks promised provisions and safe-conduct to the crusaders. The envoys of [[Stefan Nemanja]], grand prince of Serbia, announced that their prince would receive Frederick in [[Niš]]. An agreement was reached with the Byzantine envoy, [[John Kamateros (logothetes tou dromou)|John Kamateros]], but it required Godfrey of Würzburg, Frederick of Swabia and Leopold of Austria to swear oaths for the crusaders' good behaviour. Bishop [[Hermann of Katzenelnbogen|Hermann of Münster]], Count [[Rupert III of Nassau]], the future [[Henry III of Dietz]] and the imperial chamberlain [[Markward von Neuenburg]] with a large entourage{{efn|Sources give their entourage as 100, 300 or 500 knights.{{sfn|Freed|2016|p=481}}}} were sent ahead to make preparations in Byzantium.{{sfn|Freed|2016|pp=480–481}}