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During his reign, Frederick II of Swabia enjoyed a remarkable relationship with the Arab world. At the time, Sicily was a meeting place of different cultures and acted as a bridge between Christian Europe and the Muslim Middle East. The emperor, known for his policies of religious tolerance, actively promoted the translation of Arabic works into Latin, contributing to the spread of Arabic scientific and philosophical knowledge in Europe. Nevertheless, when faced with Saracen uprisings that threatened the stability of the Kingdom of Sicily, Frederick took drastic and bloody measures. Between 1224 and 1246, Frederick forced the rebellious Saracens of Sicily to relocate to Apulia, in the town of Lucera: this was a veritable deportation involving the displacement of at least 20,000 people. However, Frederick II commissioned the construction of a fortified complex on the town's hill, including an imperial palace, a mint, residences and a large mosque, accommodating the customs and traditions of the new inhabitants.
The deported Saracens, skilled farmers, ranchers, and expert artisans also proved their worth as fighters, becoming the backbone of Frederick's army, specializing as formidable archers and serving as the ruler's bodyguards. An ancient Muslim primary source reports that Frederick promoted the construction of a scientific institute in Lucera with the aim of cultivating all branches of the Arabic sciences. After Frederick II's death in August 1300, the colony was first ghettoized and then cruelly destroyed by Charles II of Anjou and Pope Boniface VIII.
