# Death of Barbarossa (1190)

URL: https://germany-history.com/timeline/1190-death-of-barbarossa
Location: Saleph River, Anatolia
Categories: ruler-change

Leading a large army on the Third Crusade, Frederick Barbarossa drowned crossing the Saleph River in Anatolia on 10 June 1190. His army largely disintegrated. Legend later said he slept beneath the Kyffhäuser mountain, waiting to restore the empire.

## Why it matters
The Kyffhäuser legend became a powerful symbol of German national longing.

Ruler at the time: [Henry VI](https://germany-history.com/rulers/henry-vi)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia – Third Crusade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Crusade)
- [Wikipedia – Frederick Barbarossa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Barbarossa)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica – Third Crusade](https://www.britannica.com/event/Third-Crusade)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica – Frederick Barbarossa](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederick-I-Holy-Roman-emperor)