As opiats were quite dangerous to dose they would probably only be used as an analgetic, but not in a dosage neccessary for a full anasthetic. But together with local methods this should have been enough to dramatically decrease the pain experianced during castration.
The arabic scientists were...
Frederick could try to use several older agreements between the Holy See and the Patriarch, that placed southern Italy under Constantinoples control, to get rid of the popes influence. As the papal clerics would never be loyal to such a plan Frederick would have to build his own system of...
The Byzantine Empire made extensive use of eunuchs in important positions in church and at court. Several Patriarchs of Constantinople were eunuchs.
Therefore, Frederick could have used a system of castrated officials to turn the Empire of the west in a more eastern direction. Thereby...
Frederick II of Hohenstaufen employed moorish eunuchs after he conquered Sicily.
What if he had adopted the custom of castrating young men to serve as court officials in the imperial administration?
Would other european rulers adopt it? Would their be eunuchs in Europe today?