[3] As the new Duke finally received his land in 1195, he still faced the restitution of the English hostages and the ransom money paid for Richard of England's life.

Richard had been pressing hard for the return of both hostages and money, egged on by Adalbert III of Bohemia, Archbishop of Salzburg.

Yet by March 1196, Pope Celestine III had intervened, approving of Adalbert's conduct and severely censuring the late Duke Leopold V.[3] There were long delays before the Crusade would go under way.

In September, they sailed under the leadership of Conrad, Archbishop of Mainz & Chancellor of Germany from Messina and arrived weeks later to Acre,[4][6] where command of the German forces was assumed under Conrad of Mainz and Marshal Henry of Kalden, whose presence brought the displeasure of the French forces under Queen Isabella I of Jerusalem.

The German Princes, however, Frederick included, had denied the authority of Marshal Henry and had called for an election of a Commander.

The Germans marched forth again, reconquering the estates around Byblos Castle (Gibelet) and restoring the land link to the County of Tripoli.

They marched against Damascus and even laid siege to Toron when suddenly, news had arrived of Emperor Henry VI's death on Michaelmas Eve.

In the end, Frederick, along with the remaining Germans, had called for an armistice with Al-Adil, who acknowledged King Amalric's rule over the reconquered lands.