The Excommunicated Crusader Frederick was hardly out of the harbor before those on board his own ship began to fall ill. The Landgrave of Thuringia was sick before he left and was now near death. Then Frederick himself took sick.
Malaria is a terrible, wasting disease and requires complete rest.
His advisors insisted the Emperor put in to port. After three days at sea, he agreed, and his ship docked at Otranto. Frederick immediately sent word to the Pope to explain what happened, but Gregory would have none of it. He excommunicated Frederick on the spot. The years of repeated delays had finally caught up with him.