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How did Frederick I preserve some imperial authority in Italy after the Peace of Constance?

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Medieval manuscript miniature showing Frederick I as a crowned crusader holding an orb and scepter, with Henry of Schaftlarn kneeling and presenting a book to him. — Frederick I Frederick I as a Crusader with (right) Henry of Schäftlarn dedicating to him a copy of the *History of the First Crusade* by Robert of St. Remy; miniature from a manuscript in the Vatican Library.

In the Peace of Constance of 1183, Frederick I (Barbarossa) was forced to renounce the specific royal regalia he had previously claimed at Roncaglia following his military defeat at the Battle of Legnano.12

Despite these concessions, Frederick successfully preserved imperial authority by retaining the administrative rights of the crown and securing the fealty of the Lombard cities. By formalizing this agreement, he managed to salvage a significant portion of his power, allowing him to stabilize his position in Italy and recover from the losses he had endured in Rome. Following this settlement, he shifted his strategic focus toward building a new power base in Tuscany and securing the spoils and regalia of vacant bishoprics and abbacies.12