In 1207 Philip became so strong that Innocent was constrained to
reconsider his position, and suggested to Otto the propriety of
renouncing his claims. But in June, 1208, Philip was treacherously
murdered at Bamberg by his faithless vassal, Otto of Wittelsbach, to
whom he had refused his daughter's hand. It was no political crime,
but a deed of private vengeance. It secured, however, the position of
Otto, for the ministeriales now transferred their allegiance to him,
and there was no Hohenstaufen candidate ready to oppose him. Otto,
moreover, did not scruple to undergo a fresh election which secured
for him universal recognition in Germany. By marrying Beatrice, Philip
of Swabia's daughter, he sought to unite the rival houses, while he
conciliated Innocent by describing himself as King "by the grace of
God and the Pope." Next year he crossed the Alps to Italy, and bound
himself by oath, not only to allow the papacy the privileges that he
had already granted, but to grant complete freedom of ecclesiastical
elections, and to support the Pope in his struggle against heresy. In
October, 1209, he was crowned Emperor at Rome. After ten years of
waiting, Innocent, already master of Italy, had procured for his
dependent both the German kingdom and the Roman Empire.

Despite his preoccupation with Italy and Germany, the early years of
Innocent's pontificate saw him busily engaged in upholding the papal
authority and the moral order of the Church in every country in
Europe. No consideration of the immediate interests of the Roman see
ever prevented him from maintaining his principles even against
powerful sovereigns who could do much to help forward his general
plans. The most conspicuous instance of this was Innocent's famous
quarrel with Philip Augustus of France, when to vindicate a simple
principle of Christian morals he did not hesitate to abandon the
alliance of the "eldest son of the Church" at a time when the fortunes