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December 26, 1194

 

Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, was born on December 26, 1194. His home base was his kingdom of Sicily and there he had a royal collection of animals, including big cats This was a royal tradition. Hatshepsut, millenia before, kept wild animals in captivity. The Roman emperors had cheetahs, defanged, and declawed, covered in gold dust, kept in their palaces. Frederick was just acting like a king.

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