 While his forces were already on their way to the Holy Land, Henry VI died before his departure in Messina on 28 September 1197.The emerging throne conflict between his brother Philip of Swabia and the Welf rival Otto of Brunswick made many higher-ranking crusaders return to Germany in order to protect their interests in the next imperial election.The nobles remaining on the campaign captured the Levant coast between Tyre and Tripoli before returning to Germany.