To many people, a leader is measured not on performance, but on stature and poise. In the past months, many have criticized President Bush for lacking the outward qualities of a great leader. Though they have no real problems with his actions, they pick apart his demeanor. They take every nuance of his speech and say that this is indicative of a lack of intelligence. They look at his gestures and facial expressions and criticize how this presents our country to the rest of the world. These people are looking at appearance; they value a leader's outward presentation more than his performance in private. This idolization of the epic leader is found throughout history, and evidences itself regularly in cinema. Mel Gibson's portrayal of William Wallace in Braveheart is the epitome of this characterization. Physically strong, emotionally determined, and with the ability to inspire his people through his words, Wallace looks every bit the part of a great leader. Rahewin's description of Frederick's physical characteristics in the end of The Deeds of Frederick Barbarossa is significant because it describes many things about his ability as a leader, and serves to connect Frederick to great rulers of the past.
In The Deeds of Frederick Barbarossa, it is said that Frederick's "gait is firm and steady" (332). On the surface, it wouldn't seem that this would tell us a great deal about Frederick's leadership. In fact, it would be very easy to pass by this small quote, deeming it unimportant. And yet if we look closer, these few words can tell us a great tell about Frederick's qualities. The word firm has many definitions. WordNet says that firm is "strong and sure" and "not liable to fluctuate." A great leader must appear to be in control of the situation at all times because in the heat of conflict, people will look for their leader to find the assurance that all will be well. Regardless of the events occurring, an epic leader must exude confidence and calm the nerves of the people. Physical appearance is paramount in this search for confidence. A person with a firm and steady gait is a person on a mission. It is a person who knows a destination, and is single-minded in its pursuit.
Resolve means little without the authority to effect execution. Authority has many forms. It can be given power, such as that held by a ruler or elected official, or it can be an attitude. Much like a leader must instill confidence that all is well, a leader must have the authority to assure his people that his way is the right way. Rahewin says that Frederick's "entire bearing [is] manly" (332). Webster's defines manly characteristics as brave, courageous, resolute, and noble. A leader who presents himself with manly authority is resolute in his freedom from doubt; he believes in his position, and will cause others to believe as well. Rahewin further emphasizes his point by saying that Frederick has an "air of dignity and authority" (332). Once again this dignity and authority is not something a person is born with, or something assigned or granted, but a quality that must be produced. Authority in the face of adversity demands a certain breed of mettle, but a courageous nature alone is not enough to become authoritative. True authority is a characteristic that must be striven for.
Along with being resolute and authoritative, a great leader must also be wise. Rahewin says that Frederick's "eyes are sharp and piercing" (331). By saying that Frederick's eyes are sharp, Rahewin tells us that Frederick is able to see all that is going on in his kingdom. A great leader must have a firm grasp on all that goes on around him, and be well versed in all issues pressing against his kingdom. WordNet defines piercing as "having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions." A leader with piercing eyes is able to distinguish small details that might otherwise go undetected. This allows him to fairly judge complicated situations. Piercing eyes also carry the connotation of being able to see what is on the inside, and being able to see through falsity. It is crucial that a great leader be able to determine the truth from all that is presented to him. Frederick's wisdom is also reflected in his skills as an orator. Wisdom does little good if he who possesses it is unable to convey what he knows to those who need to know it. Rahewin says that Frederick's "voice [is] clear" (332). Elsewhere in The Deeds, there is a quotation of a speech that Frederick gave to his men. After the speech it is said that "his words were applauded by the entire audience" and "a kind of divine enthusiasm inspired the soldiers" (206). Of another speech it is said that all "marveled and were amazed that one who was not a scholar and who was yet little more than a youth had displayed the gift of so great wisdom and eloquence in his speech" (235). Frederick's ability to clearly convey that which he knew was essential to his ability to lead.
A great leader must be active among his people, paying personal attention to their needs and allowing himself to be approachable by them. Much attention is given to Frederick's youthfulness and energy. Rahewin says he possesses a "youthful vivacity" and yet the "gravity of a king" (205). Otto says that Frederick is a "most redoubtable youth" (60). Frederick was one with his people, engaging in sport with them, and laying "aside for a while his regal dignity" (332). Frederick's energy allowed him to engage in a multitude of enterprises in a short span of time. His physical characteristics are similar to the common man -- "he is shorter than very tall men" -- but yet he still possesses a greatness that sets him apart -- "but taller and more noble than men of medium build" (331). Rahewin also says that Frederick's "whole face is bright and cheerful" (331). A cheerful demeanor makes someone approachable, and able to be talked to. A stearn or menacing demeanor will distance a leader from his people. Though a menace may inspire fear, it will never truly earn trust and respect. This is a crucial characteristic for a great leader, that his people trust and love him, and yet that he still possess characteristics that allow him to be above them and exert authority over them.
Extravagance has ruined many great leaders. The unwise use of resources is a sure way to open a kingdom up to trouble. Frederick avoided this problem through sensibility. Rahewin tells that Frederick "wears his native costume and is neither extravagant nor frivolous in dress -- yet is not meanly clad" (333). A great leader recognizes what is a necessity and provides accordingly, but does not spend in excess on indulgences. And yet, an overly frugal nature doesn't instill confidence in the well being of a nation. Therefore Rahewin writes that Frederick believed in both "restraint and royal abundance" (332).
Otto and Rahewin used their work to connect Frederick with other great medieval rulers. This served the purpose of showing that Frederick's qualities were similar to those of the greats. As was common practice at the time, they copied sentences and even paragraphs of other works and incorporated them into their own. While today this would be considered plagiarism, in medieval times it was nothing of the sort. Instead, medieval readers would note the similarity and think more highly of the author and view the subject in light of the person to which the subject was being compared. In The Deeds of Frederick Barbarossa, Frederick is compared to historical rulers both directly and through this copying of prose. In the beginning of his physical description of Frederick, Rohewin says that "divine, august Frederick is (as a certain writer says of Theoderic) in character and appearance such a man that he deserves to be studied even by those not in close touch with him" (311). Rohewin then goes on to base his description of Frederick on that author's description of Theodoric. In this way he ties Frederick into Theodoric's greatness, something the people of the day would be very familiar with and impressed by. Though Theodoric is the only outright comparison in The Deeds of Frederick Barbarossa, he is not the only ruler to which Frederick is compared. Rohewin also borrows heavily from Einhard's description of Charlesmagne, adapting them only slightly in order to make them applicable to Frederick.
Frederick Barbarossa reigned over a great period in Germanic history. He was emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, and was responsible for greatly increasing its territory. He was highly involved with the church, challenging papal authority and leading troops on the Third Crusade. Forever to be remembered in the annals of medieval history, Frederick was the greatest ruler of his day. Physical characteristics, though not necessarily what defined him as a ruler, were very important in his power. These physical characteristics and their description in The Deeds of Frederick Barbarossa are extremely useful in our understanding of Frederick as a great leader.