: Because his army was too massive for a sea crossing, Frederick took the grueling overland route through Hungary and the Byzantine Empire . A Gauntlet of Betrayal and Battle
The journey was anything but a peaceful pilgrimage. Frederick had to fight his way through supposed Christian allies and old rivals alike:
The Redbeard's Requiem: The Tragic Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa
: Estimates vary wildly, ranging from 12,000–20,000 highly disciplined troops to chroniclers' claims of over 100,000 .