Editing Pope Gregory IX (section)

===Struggle with Frederick II===
[[File:Giorgio Vasari, Scomunica di Federico II da parte di Gregorio IX, 1572-73, 03 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Fanciful 16th c. fresco depicting Gregory excommunicating [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]] in the [[Sala Regia (Vatican)|Sala Regia]], by [[Giorgio Vasari]]. Since few details where provided to the artist, the excommunication scene is given generically. Fredrick is shown pointing to a book with the word "Concilium" shown, possibly a reference to the general council that the emperor attempted to call to depose Gregory.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jong |first1=Jan L. de |title=The power and the glorification : papal pretensions and the art of propaganda in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries |date=2012 |publisher=Pennsylvania State University Press |location=University Park |isbn=9780271062372 |pages=140−141}}</ref>]]
At the coronation of Frederick II in Rome, 22 November 1220, the emperor made a vow to embark for the Holy Land in August 1221. Gregory IX began his pontificate by suspending the [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]], for dilatoriness in carrying out the promised [[Sixth Crusade]]. Frederick II appealed to the sovereigns of Europe complaining of his treatment. The suspension was followed by [[excommunication]] and threats of deposition, as deeper rifts appeared. Frederick II went to the [[Holy Land]] and in fact managed to take possession of [[Jerusalem]]. Gregory IX distrusted the emperor, since Rainald, the imperial Governor of Spoleto, had invaded the Pontifical States during the emperor's absence.<ref name=ott/> In June 1229, Frederick II returned from the Holy Land, routed the papal army which Gregory IX had sent to invade Sicily, and made new overtures of peace to the pope. The war of 1228–1230 is known as the [[War of the Keys]].

Gregory IX and Frederick came to a truce, but when Frederick defeated the [[Lombard League]] in 1239, the possibility that he might dominate all of Italy, surrounding the [[Papal States]], became a very real threat. A new outbreak of hostilities led to a fresh excommunication of the emperor in 1239 and to a prolonged war. Gregory denounced Frederick II as a [[Christian heresy|heretic]] and summoned a council at Rome to give point to his [[anathema]]. Frederick responded by [[Battle of Meloria (1241)|trying to capture or sink]] as many ships carrying prelates to the synod as he could. Eberhard II von Truchsees, [[Archbishopric of Salzburg|Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg]], in 1241 at the Council of [[Regensburg]] declared that Gregory IX was "that man of perdition, whom they call Antichrist, who in his extravagant boasting says, 'I am God, I cannot err'."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=YTAuAAAAYAAJ The Methodist Review Vol. XLIII], No. 3, p. 305.</ref> He argued that the Pope was the "little horn" of Daniel 7:8:<ref>Daniel {{bibleverse-nb||Daniel|7:8|31}}</ref>

<blockquote>A little horn has grown up with eyes and mouth speaking great things, which is reducing three of these kingdoms – i.e. Sicily, Italy, and Germany – to subserviency, is persecuting the people of Christ and the saints of God with intolerable opposition, is confounding things human and divine, and is attempting things unutterable, execrable.<ref>Article on "Antichrist" from Smith and Fuller, [https://books.google.com/books?id=zM0UAAAAYAAJ ''A Dictionary of the Bible''], 1893, p. 147</ref></blockquote>

The struggle only ended with Gregory IX's death on 22 August 1241. The pope died before events could reach their climax; it was his successor, [[Pope Innocent IV|Innocent IV]], who in 1245 declared a [[crusade]] that would finish the Hohenstaufen threat.