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AbstractThe article examines the role of the medieval Sibylline tradition in the development of the idea of crusade at the end of the eleventh century. It compares a set of sources that include references to this prophetic material, with a special focus on Benzo of Alba’sAd Heinricum IV Imperatorem and Pseudo Alcuin’sVita Antichristi ad Carolum Magnum. In particular, this article pursues the following objectives: 1) it examines the impact of the Sibylline prophetic tradition in shaping expectations on the future liberation of the Holy Sepulchre within an eschatological scenario; 2) it analyses the function of this prophetic “proto-crusading” motif as a legitimization tool for the aspirations to universal kingship shared by both German Salian emperors and French Capetian kings; and 3) it highlights the role played by the conquest/liberation of Jerusalem as a pivotal event in the implementation of universal rulership.

In a passage from De abroganda missa private, Frederick the Wise was celebrated by Luther as the one who made possible the liberation of the “Holy Sepulchre” of the Scriptures, held captive by “papists”. In doing so, the German reformer drew from the ancient eschatological prophecy of the “Last World Emperor”, originated in the Syriac environments of the seventh century, rapidly spread in Latin Christianity during the Middle Ages. Since the death of Frederick II, numerous versions and adaptations of this prophecy scattered all over the Empire and announced the advent of a “Third Frederick”, who was supposed to emerge from darkness and complete the Church Reformation set up by the Swabian emperor but never accomplished because of his sudden and unexpected disappearance and the utter hostility of the Popes. The article sheds light on the developments of this prophecy from the Late Middle Ages up to the Reformation writings of sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

The long pollen sequences from four volcanic lakes of the Lazio region are presented in order to outline the history of flora and vegetation on the Tyrrhenian side of Central Italy during the last hundred thousand years. The four long pollen records correlate satisfactorily with each other and reflect climatic changes at least at regional scale. Particular attention is paid to the development of arboreal vegetation during the last glacial. The local name “Lazio Complex” is given to the seven main fluctuations of trees of the Pleniglacial (from about 60,000 to about 30,000 years B.P.). The history of Zelkova, Abies, Picea, Fagus, Corylus, Ulmus, Carpinus betulus, Tilia in central Italy is outlined.