Reinterpreting the Role and Significance of the Two-Emperor Problem in Frederick I and Isaac II Angelos’ Conflict During the Third Crusade.

This paper examines the conflict between Frederick Barbarossa and Isaac II Angelos during the Third Crusade (1189-1190) through the lens of the "Problem of Two Emperors." Traditionally, Isaac has been blamed for obstructing Frederick's journey through Byzantine territory. However, this study argues that the conflict was rooted in a deeper ideological struggle over imperial titles and sovereignty, driven by Frederick's imperial ambitions to consolidate his claims to the Roman throne. By incorporating the framework of the Two Emperor Problem, this research recontextualises Isaac's actions, revealing the Byzantine perspective often overlooked in existing scholarship. This work utilises primary sources such as Choniates' Historia and various Western accounts to explore the intitulatio conflict and its significance in Byzantine-Crusader relations. The study also critiques previous historiography, highlighting the need for a balanced understanding of the Two Emperor Issue and its role in shaping the conflict. This research contends that the confrontation between Frederick and Isaac inevitably resulted from Frederick's imperialistic pursuits, with the Problem of Two Emperors playing a key yet temporary role in their six-month confrontation.