From his uncommon personal attractions he was called Frederic the Handsome.

His character was in conformity with his person, for to the most chivalrous bravery he added the most feminine amiability and mildness.

He was a candidate for the imperial throne, and would probably have been elected but for the unpopularity of his despotic father.

The diet met, and on the 27th of November, 1308, the choice fell unanimously upon Henry, Count of Luxemburg.
This election deprived Frederic of his hopes of uniting Bohemia to Austria, for the new emperor placed his son John upon the Bohemian throne, and was prepared to maintain him there by all the power of the empire.

In accomplishing this, there was a short conflict with Henry of Carinthia, but he was speedily driven out of the kingdom.
Frederic, however, found a little solace in his disappointment, by attaching to Austria the dominions he had wrested from the lords he had beheaded as assassins of his father.