In Germany, on the other hand, an entirely different policy was pursued.
The concessions granted by Frederick in 1220, together with the
Privilege of Worms, dated the 1st of May 1231, made the German princes
virtually independent. All jurisdiction over their lands was vested in
them, no new mints or toll-centres were to be erected on their domains,
and the imperial authority was restricted to a small and dwindling area.
A fierce attack was also made on the rights of the cities. Compelled to
restore all their lands, their jurisdiction was bounded by their
city-walls; they were forbidden to receive the dependents of the
princes; all trade gilds were declared abolished; and all official
appointments made without the consent of the archbishop or bishop were
annulled. A further attack on the Lombard cities at the diet of Ravenna
in 1231 was answered by a renewal of their league, and was soon
connected with unrest in Germany. About 1231 a breach took place between
Frederick and his elder son Henry, who appears to have opposed the
Privilege of Worms and to have favoured the towns against the princes.
After refusing to travel to Italy, Henry changed his mind and submitted
to his father at Aquileia in 1232; and a temporary peace was made with
the Lombard cities in June 1233. But on his return to Germany Henry
again raised the standard of revolt, and made a league with the Lombards
in December 1234. Frederick, meanwhile, having helped Pope Gregory
against the rebellious Romans and having secured the friendship of
France and England, appeared in Germany early in 1235 and put down this
rising without difficulty. Henry was imprisoned, but his associates were
treated leniently. In August 1235 a splendid diet was held at Mainz,
during which the marriage of the emperor with Isabella (1214-1241),
daughter of John, king of England, was celebrated. A general peace
(_Landfrieden_), which became the basis of all such peaces in the
future, was sworn to; a new office, that of imperial justiciar, was
created, and a permanent judicial record was first instituted. Otto of
Brunswick, grandson of Henry the Lion, duke of Saxony, was made duke of
Brunswick-Lueneburg; and war was declared against the Lombards.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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