On June 28, 1228, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II launched the Sixth Crusade from Brindisi, despite being excommunicated by Pope Gregory IX. Frederick had been delayed by illness and political conflicts, but he ultimately set sail for the Holy Land. His crusade was notable for its diplomatic, rather than military, approach, culminating in a treaty with the Egyptian sultan that restored Jerusalem to Christian control without a major battle.

The Sixth Crusade, and Frederick II's unconventional approach to it, was widely discussed in chronicles and poems of the period. The emperor's excommunication and his diplomatic triumph over the Muslims provided a dramatic narrative for writers like the poet and chronicler Salimbene di Adam. The crusade's story contributed to the literary tradition of the crusading epic, offering a complex portrait of a ruler who defied papal authority and achieved his goals through negotiation.