 Taking advantage of the hostility of other German princes to Henry, who had successfully established a powerful and contiguous state comprising Saxony, Bavaria and substantial territories in the north and east of Germany, Frederick had Henry tried "in absentia" for insubordination by a court of bishops and princes in 1180.Declaring that Imperial law overruled traditional German law, the court had Henry stripped of his lands and declared him an outlaw.Frederick then invaded Saxony with an Imperial army to bring his cousin to his knees.