Frederick Barbarossa and the Third Crusade

[The Lawspeaker]

Explaining one important aspect of the Third Crusade: the full story of Frederick Barbarossa's incredible crusade, including his ordeal in the Byzantine Empire, and his standoff with the Seljuk Turks of Iconium.

[Turxanthus]

Saladin was allied with Byzantium and Cilician Armenians.
Turks of Iconium were, sometimes openly sometimes secretly, supporting Crusaders against Saladin as the geopolitical context required.
And Crusaders had way more problems with Greeks than with the Turks.

Arslan II gave free passage to Germans, the skirmishes were out of political correctness and not to appear a collaborating comprador. Iconium was part of the theater stage.

Conclusion: Even in high Middle Ages when everyone was bigot, still, Religion was a lot but it was not Everything.