Board Thread:News and Announcements/@comment-24398225-20150505142828/@comment-7700555-20150506103755

The pope for the most part supported anyone who impeded the unification of Sicily with the Holy Roman Empire, which in this case was Philip via Swabia. Note that the pope then turned on Otto too, and Otto was excommunicated.

When I said same problems as Frederick II, I meant he too would quarrel with the pope. He too would have wars in Italy. So either way he probably weakens central authority too, or doesn't as much as loses more easily.

The war between France and England was much more than some German attack. The entire conflict between Philip and Otto was essentially a proxy war; Philip was aligned with the French while Otto was aligned with the English. England's eventual defeat was a major reason why Otto ended up losing in the end.