The crusade starts in May 1189 with the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Frederick Barbarossa, marching his army on land. Baudolino and the pilgrims sail on a trading ship towards Constantinople to safeguard Frederick’s safe passage through Armenia; they have to change clothing though to blend in with the flashy Armenians, Greeks traders or Gypsy fortune tellers roaming at the Golden Horn. The ship’s captain has to change the flag and wait for the morning mist to rise and the heavy chain between the Constantinople and Galata towers to be lowered. Constantinople beauty amazes the pilgrims. Kings Richard the Lionheart of England and Philip II of France will start sailing towards Jerusalem on the Mediterranean sea only in the spring of 1191.