Otto the Great

"Otto I" redirects here. For other uses, seeOtto I (disambiguation).

Otto the Great
Depiction of Otto on his seal in 968
Holy Roman Emperor
Reign	2 February 962 – 7 May 973
Coronation	2 February 962 Rome
Predecessor	Berengar I
Successor	Otto II
King of Italy
Reign	25 December 961 – 7 May 973
Coronation	10 October 951 Pavia
Predecessor	Berengar II
Successor	Otto II
King of East Francia(Kingdom of Germany)
Reign	2 July 936 – 7 May 973
Coronation	7 August 936 Aachen Cathedral
Predecessor	Henry the Fowler
Successor	Otto II
Duke of Saxony
Reign	2 July 936 – 7 May 973
Predecessor	Henry the Fowler
Successor	Bernard I
Born	(912-11-23)23 November 912 PossiblyWallhausen,East Francia
Died	7 May 973(973-05-07)(aged 60) Memleben,Holy Roman Empire
Burial	Magdeburg Cathedral
Spouse	Eadgyth of England(m. 930–946) Adelaide of Italy(m. 951–973)
Issue	William, Archbishop of Mainz Liutgarde, Duchess of Lorraine Liudolf, Duke of Swabia Matilda, Abbess of Quedlinburg Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor
Dynasty	Ottonian
Father	Henry the Fowler
Mother	Matilda of Ringelheim
Signum manus

Otto I(23 November 912 – 7 May 973), traditionally known asOtto the Great(German:Otto der GroßeItalian:Ottone il Grande), orOtto of Saxony(German:Otto von SachsenItalian:Ottone di Sassonia), wasEast Frankishking from 936 andHoly Roman Emperorfrom 962 until his death in 973.He was the eldest son ofHenry the FowlerandMatilda of Ringelheim.

Otto inherited theDuchy of Saxonyand the kingship of the Germans upon his father's death in 936. He continued his father's work of unifying allGerman tribesinto a single kingdom and greatly expanded the king's powers at the expense of the aristocracy. Through strategic marriages and personal appointments, Otto installed members of his family in the kingdom's most important duchies. This reduced the various dukes, who had previously been co-equals with the king, to royal subjects under his authority. Otto transformed the church in Germany to strengthen royal authority and subjected its clergy to his personal control.

After putting down a brief civil war among the rebellious duchies, Otto defeated theMagyarsat theBattle of Lechfeldin 955, thus ending theHungarian invasions of Western Europe.The victory against thepaganMagyars earned Otto a reputation as a savior ofChristendomand secured his hold over the kingdom. By 961, Otto had conquered theKingdom of Italy.Following the example ofCharlemagne's coronation as "Emperor of the Romans" in 800, Otto was crowned emperor in 962 byPope John XIIin Rome.

Otto's later years were marked by conflicts with the papacy and struggles to stabilize his rule over Italy. Reigning from Rome, Otto sought to improve relations with theByzantine Empire,which opposed his claim to emperorship and his realm's further expansion to the south. To resolve this conflict, the Byzantine princessTheophanumarried his sonOtto IIin April 972. Otto finally returned to Germany in August 972 and died atMemlebenin May 973. Otto II succeeded him.

Otto has beenconsistently depicted in historiographythrough different eras as a successful ruler. He is also reputed to be a great military commander, especially on the strategic level– this also means that the empire this talent recreated was too vast for contemporary administrative structures and could only be governed as a confederacy.Modern historians, while not denying his strong character and his many fruitful initiatives, explore the emperor's capability as a consensus builder – a process that goes in parallel with greater recognition of the nature of consensus politics in Medieval Europe (especially Western and Central parts) as well as different roles played by other actors in his time.

Historian David Bachrach notes the role of the bureaucracy and administration apparatus which the Ottonians inherited from the Carolingians and ultimately from the Ancient Romans, and which they developed greatly themselves: "It was the success of the Ottonians in molding the raw materials bequeathed to them into a formidable military machine that made possible the establishment of Germany as the preeminent kingdom in Europe from the tenth through the mid-thirteenth century." Bachrach highlights in particular the achievements of the first two Ottonian rulers, Henry I and Otto the Great in creating this situation. Their rules also marked the start of new, vigorous literary traditions.The patronage of Otto and his immediate successors facilitated a so-called "Ottonian Renaissance"of arts and architecture. As one of the most notable Holy Roman emperors, Otto's footprint in artistic depictions is also considerable.

Early life and family

Otto was born on 23 November 912, the oldest son of theDuke of Saxony,Henry the Fowlerand his second wifeMatilda,the daughter ofDietrich of Ringelheim,a Saxon count inWestphalia.Henry had previously marriedHatheburg of Merseburg,also a daughter of a Saxon count, in 906, but this marriage was annulled, probably in 909 after she had given birth to Henry's first son and Otto's half-brotherThankmar.Otto had four full siblings:Hedwig,Gerberga,HenryandBruno.

Background

On 23 December 918,Conrad I,King ofEast FranciaandDuke of Franconia,died.According toThe Deeds of the Saxons(originally titled inLatinasRes gestae saxonicae sive annalium libri tres) by the Saxon chroniclerWidukind of Corvey,Conrad persuaded his younger brotherEberhard of Franconia,the presumptive heir, to offer the crown of East Francia to Otto's father Henry.Although Conrad and Henry had been at odds with one another since 912, Henry had not openly opposed the king since 915. Furthermore, Conrad's repeated battles with German dukes, most recently withArnulf, Duke of Bavaria,andBurchard II, Duke of Swabia,had weakened the position and resources of theConradines.After several months of hesitation, Eberhard and the other Frankish and Saxon nobles elected Henry as king at theImperial DietofFritzlarin May 919. For the first time, a Saxon instead of a Frank reigned over the kingdom.

Burchard II of Swabia soon swore fealty to the new king,but Arnulf of Bavaria did not recognize Henry's position. According to theAnnales iuvavenses,Arnulf was elected king by the Bavarians in opposition to Henry, but his "reign" was short-lived; Henry defeated him in two campaigns. In 921, Henry besieged Arnulf's residence at Ratisbon (Regensburg) and forced him into submission. Arnulf had to accept Henry's sovereignty; Bavaria retained some autonomy and the right to invest bishops in the Bavarian church.

Heir apparent

12th-century stained glass depiction of Otto I,Strasbourg Cathedral

Otto first gained experience as a military commander when the German kingdom fought againstWendishtribes on its eastern border. While campaigning against the Wends/West Slavs in 929, Otto's illegitimate sonWilliam,the futureArchbishop of Mainz,was born to a captive Wendish noblewoman.With Henry's dominion over the entire kingdom secured by 929, the king probably began to prepare his succession over the kingdom. No written evidence for his arrangements is extant, but during this time Otto is first called king (Latin:rex) in a document of theAbbey of Reichenau.

While Henry consolidated power within Germany, he also prepared for an alliance withAnglo-Saxon Englandby finding a bride for Otto. Association with another royal house would give Henry additional legitimacy and strengthen the bonds between the two Saxon kingdoms. To seal the alliance, KingÆthelstanof England sent Henry two of his half-sisters, so he could choose the one which best pleased him.Henry selectedEadgythas Otto's bride and the two were married in 930.

Several years later, shortly before Henry's death, an Imperial Diet atErfurtformally ratified the king's succession arrangements. Some of his estates and treasures were to be distributed among Thankmar, Henry, and Bruno.But departing from customaryCarolingianinheritance, the king designated Otto as the soleheir apparentwithout a prior formal election by the various dukes.

Reign as king

Coronation

Side view of theThrone of CharlemagneatAachen Cathedral,where Otto was crowned King of Germany in 936

Henry died from the effects of acerebral strokeon 2 July 936 at his palace, theKaiserpfalzinMemleben,and was buried atQuedlinburg Abbey.At the time of his death, all of the various German tribes were united in a single realm. At the age of almost 24, Otto assumed his father's position asDuke of SaxonyandKing of Germany.His coronation was held on 7 August 936 inCharlemagne's former capital ofAachen,where Otto was anointed and crowned by Hildebert, the Archbishop of Mainz.Though he was a Saxon by birth, Otto appeared at the coronation in Frankish dress in an attempt to demonstrate his sovereignty over theDuchy of Lotharingiaand his role as true successor to Charlemagne, whose last heirs in East Francia had died out in 911.

According to Widukind of Corvey, Otto had the four other dukes of the kingdom (from the duchies ofFranconia,Swabia,BavariaandLorraine) act as his personal attendants at the coronation banquet:Arnulf I of Bavariaasmarshal(or stablemaster),Herman I, Duke of Swabiaascupbearer,Eberhard of Franconiaassteward(orseneschal) andGilbert of LorraineasChamberlain.By performing this traditional service, the dukes signaled cooperation with the new king, and clearly showed their submission to his reign.

Despite his peaceful transition, the royal family was not harmonious during his early reign. Otto's younger brother Henry also claimed the throne, contrary to his father's wishes. According to her biography,Vita Mathildis reginae posterior,their mother had favored Henry as king: in contrast to Otto, Henry had been "born in the purple"during his father's reign and shared his name.

Otto also faced internal opposition from various local aristocrats. In 936, Otto appointedHermann BillungasMargrave,granting him authority overa marchnorth of theElbe Riverbetween theLimes SaxoniaeandPeene Rivers.As military governor, Hermann extracted tribute from thePolabian Slavsinhabiting the area and often fought against theWestern Slavictribes of theLutici,Obotrites,andWagri.Hermann's appointment angered his brother,Count Wichmann the Elder.As the elder and wealthier of the two, Wichmann believed his claim to the office was superior to his brother's. Additionally, Wichmann was related by marriage to thedowager queenMatilda.In 937, Otto further offended the nobility through his appointment ofGeroto succeed his older brotherSiegfriedas Count and Margrave of a vastborder regionaroundMerseburgthat abutted theWendson the lowerSaale.His decision frustrated Thankmar, Otto's half-brother and Siegfried's cousin, who felt that he held a greater right to the appointment.

Rebellion of the dukes

Central Europe,919–1125. TheKingdom of Germanyincluded the duchies ofSaxony(yellow),Franconia(blue),Bavaria(green),Swabia(orange) andLorraine(pink left). Various dukes rebelled against Otto's rule in 937 and again in 939.

Arnulf, Duke of Bavaria, died in 937 and was succeeded by his sonEberhard.The new duke quickly came into conflict with Otto, as Eberhard opposed the king's sovereignty over Bavaria under the peace treaty between King Henry and Arnulf. Refusing to recognize Otto's supremacy, Eberhard rebelled against the king. In two campaigns in the spring and fall of 938, Otto defeated and exiled Eberhard from the kingdom and stripped him of his titles. In his place, Otto appointed Eberhard's uncleBerthold,a count in theMarch of Carinthia,as the new Duke of Bavaria on the condition that Berthold would recognize Otto as the sole authority to appoint bishops and to administer royal property within the duchy.

At the same time, Otto had to settle a dispute between Bruning, a Saxon noble, and Duke Eberhard of Franconia, the brother of the former kingConrad I of Germany.After the rise of a Saxon to kingship, Bruning, a local lord with possessions in the borderland between Franconia and Saxony, refused to swear fealty to any non-Saxon ruler. Eberhard attacked Bruning's Helmern castle nearPeckelsheim,killed all of its inhabitants and burned it down. The king called the feuding parties to his court atMagdeburg,where Eberhard was ordered to pay a fine, and his lieutenants were sentenced to carry dead dogs in public, which was considered a particularly shameful punishment.

Infuriated with Otto's actions, Eberhard joined Otto's half-brother Thankmar, Count Wichmann, andArchbishop Frederick of Mainzand rebelled against the king in 938.Duke Herman I of Swabia, one of Otto's closest advisors, warned him of the rebellion and the king moved quickly to put down the revolt. Wichmann was soon reconciled with Otto and joined the king's forces against his former allies. Otto besieged Thankmar atEresburgand although the latter surrendered, he was killed by a common soldier named Maincia or Meginzo at the altar of the Church of St. Peter. Otto mourned his half-brother and praised his courage but the killer was not punished.Following their defeats, Eberhard and Frederick sought reconciliation with the king. Otto pardoned both after a brief exile inHildesheimand restored them to their former positions.

War in France

Shortly after his reconciliation, Eberhard planned a second rebellion against Otto. He promised to assist Otto's younger brother Henry in claiming the throne and recruited Gilbert, Duke of Lorraine, to join the rebellion. Gilbert was married to Otto's sister Gerberga of Saxony, but had sworn fealty to KingLouis IVofWest Francia.Otto exiled Henry from East Francia, and he fled to the court of King Louis. The West Frankish king, in hopes of regaining dominion over Lorraine once again, joined forces with Henry and Gilbert. In response, Otto allied with Louis's chief antagonist,Hugh the Great,Count of Paris,and husband of Otto's sisterHedwige.Henry capturedMerseburgand planned to join Gilbert in Lorraine, but Otto besieged them atChevremontnearLiège.Before he could defeat them, he was forced to abandon the siege and moved against Louis, who had seizedVerdun.Otto subsequently drove Louis back to his capital atLaon.

While Otto gained some initial victories against the rebels, he was unable to capture the conspirators and end the rebellion. Archbishop Frederick sought to mediate peace between the combatants, but Otto rejected his proposal. Under Otto's direction, Duke Herman of Swabia led an army against the conspirators into Franconia and Lorraine. Otto recruited allies from theDuchy of Alsacewho crossed theRhine Riverand surprised Eberhard and Gilbert at theBattle of Andernachon 2 October 939. Otto's forces claimed an overwhelming victory: Eberhard was killed in battle, and Gilbert drowned in the Rhine while attempting to escape. Left alone to face his brother, Henry submitted to Otto and the rebellion ended. With Eberhard dead, Otto assumed direct rule over the Duchy of Franconia and dissolved it into smaller counties and bishoprics accountable directly to him. The same year, Otto made peace with Louis IV, whereby Louis recognized his suzerainty over Lorraine. In return Otto withdrew his army and arranged for his sister Gerberga (the widow of Gilbert) to marry Louis IV.

In 940, Otto and Henry were reconciled through the efforts of their mother. Henry returned to East Francia, and Otto appointed him as the newDuke of Lorraineto succeed Gilbert. Henry had not dropped his ambitions for the German throne and initiated another conspiracy against his older brother. With the assistance of Archbishop Frederick of Mainz, Henry planned to have Otto assassinated on Easter Day, 941, at Quedlinburg Abbey. Otto discovered the plot and had the conspirators arrested and imprisoned atIngelheim.The king later released and pardoned both men only after they publicly performedpenanceon Christmas Day that same year.

Consolidation of power

The decade between 941 and 951 was marked by Otto's exercise of undisputed domestic power. Through the subordination of the dukes under his authority, Otto asserted his power to make decisions without their prior agreement. He deliberately ignored the claims and ranks of the nobility, who wanted dynastic succession in the assignment of office, by freely appointing individuals of his choice to the kingdom's offices. Loyalty to Otto, not lineage, was the pathway towards advancement under his rule. His mother Matilda disapproved of this policy and was accused by Otto's royal advisers of undermining his authority. After Otto briefly exiled her to her Westphalian manors atEngerin 947, Matilda was brought back to court at the urging of his wife Eadgyth.

The nobility found it difficult to adapt to Otto, as the kingdom had never before followed individual succession to the throne. Whereas tradition dictated that all the sons of the former king were to receive a portion of the kingdom, Henry's succession plan placed Otto at the head of a united kingdom at the expense of his brothers. Otto's authoritarian style was in stark contrast to that of his father. Henry had purposely waived Church anointment at coronation as a symbol of his election by his people and governing his kingdom on the basis of "friendship pacts" (Latin:amicitia). Henry regarded the kingdom as a confederation of duchies and saw himself as afirst among equals.Instead of seeking to administer the kingdom through royal representatives, as Charlemagne had done, Henry allowed the dukes to maintain complete internal control of their holdings as long as his superior status was recognized. Otto, on the other hand, had accepted Church anointment and regarded his kingdom as a feudal monarchy with himself holding the "divine right"to rule it. He reigned without concern for the internal hierarchy of the various kingdoms' noble families.

This new policy ensured Otto's position as undisputed master of the kingdom. Members of his family and other aristocrats who rebelled against Otto were forced to confess their guilt publicly and unconditionally surrender to him, hoping for a pardon from their king. For nobles and other high-ranking officials, Otto's punishments were typically mild and the punished were usually restored to a position of authority afterwards. His brother Henry rebelled twice and was pardoned twice after his surrenders. He was even appointed Duke of Lorraine and later Duke of Bavaria. Rebellious commoners were treated far more harshly; Otto usually had them executed.

Otto continued to reward loyalvassalsfor their service throughout his tenure as king. Although appointments were still gained and held at his discretion, they were increasingly intertwined with dynastic politics. Where Henry relied upon "friendship pacts", Otto relied upon family ties. Otto refused to accept uncrowned rulers as his equal. Under Otto, the integration of important vassals took place through marriage connections. King Louis IV of France had married Otto's sister Gerberga in 939, and Otto's sonLiudolfhad married Ida, the daughter ofHermann I, Duke of Swabia,in 947. The former dynastically tied the royal house of West Francia to that of East Francia, and the latter secured his son's succession to the Duchy of Swabia, as Hermann had no sons. Otto's plans came to fruition when, in 950, Liudolf becameDuke of Swabia,and in 954 Otto's nephewLothair of FrancebecameKing of France.

In 944, Otto appointedConrad the Redas Duke of Lorraine and brought him into his extended family through his marriage to Otto's daughterLiutgardein 947. ASalian Frankby birth, Conrad was a nephew of former king Conrad I of Germany. Following the death of Otto's uncle Berthold, Duke of Bavaria, in 947, Otto satisfied his brother Henry's ambition through his marriage toJudith, Duchess of Bavaria,daughter of Arnulf, Duke of Bavaria, and appointed him as the new Duke of Bavaria in 948. This arrangement finally achieved peace between the brothers, as Henry thereafter abandoned his claims to the throne. Through his familial ties to the dukes, Otto had strengthened the sovereignty of the crown and the overall cohesiveness of the kingdom.

On 29 January 946, Eadgyth died suddenly at the age of 35, and Otto buried his wife in theCathedral of Magdeburg.The union had lasted sixteen years and produced two children; with Eadgyth's death, Otto began to make arrangements for his succession. Like his father before him, Otto intended to transfer sole rule of the kingdom to his son Liudolf upon his death. Otto called together all leading figures of the kingdom and had them swear an oath of allegiance to Liudolf, thereby promising to recognize his sole claim to the throne as Otto's heir apparent.

Relying on recent archaeological evidences, Bachrach estimates that the armies he mobilized in 953 and 954 should have been in the range of 20,000 to 25,000 men, which were needed to besiege cities such as Mainz, which was defended by armies in excess of 30,000.

Foreign relations

France

The West Frankish kings had lost considerable royal power after internal struggles with their aristocracy, but still asserted their authority over the Duchy of Lorraine, a territory also claimed by East Francia. The German king was supported by Louis IV's chief domestic rival, Hugh the Great. Louis IV's second attempt to reign over Lorraine in 940 was based on his asserted claim to be the rightful Duke of Lorraine due to his marriage to Gerberga of Saxony, Otto's sister and the widow of Gilbert, Duke of Lorraine. Otto did not recognize Louis IV's claim and appointed his brother Henry as duke instead. In the following years, both sides tried to increase their influence in Lorraine, but the duchy remained a part of Otto's kingdom.

Despite their rivalry, Louis IV and Hugh were both tied to Otto's family through marriage bonds. Otto intervened for peace in 942 and announced a formal reconciliation between the two. As a part of the deal, Hugh was to perform an act of submission to Louis IV, and in return, Louis IV was to waive any claims to Lorraine. After a short period of peace, the West Frankish kingdom fell into another crisis in 946.Normanscaptured Louis IV and handed him over to Hugh, who released the King only on condition of the surrender of the fortress of Laon. At the urging of his sister Gerberga, Otto invaded France on behalf of Louis IV, but his armies were not strong enough to take the key cities of Laon,Reims,and Paris. After three months, Otto finally lifted the siege without defeating Hugh, but managed to deposeHugh of Vermandoisfrom his position asArchbishop of Reims,restoringArtald of Reimsto his former office.

To settle the issue of control over theArchdioceseof Reims, Otto called for asynodatIngelheimon 7 June 948.The assembly was attended by more than 30 bishops, including all the archbishops of Germany– a demonstration of Otto's strong position in East and West Francia alike. The synod confirmed Otto's appointment of Artald as Archbishop of Reims, and Hugh was admonished to respect his king's royal authority. But it was not until 950 that the powerful vassal accepted Louis IV as king; the opponents were not fully reconciled until March 953.

Otto gave the control of West Frankish affairs to his son-in-lawConrad the Redand laterBruno the Great,together with Otto's sisters Gerberga and Hadwig who were regents for their sons King Lothar and Duke Hugh. Early Ottonian rulers received feudal commendations and decided on royal and episcopal succession disputes in the western kingdom. Bruno intervened militarily in West Francia in 958, as well as against the Reginarids in Lotharingia. However, this Ottonian hegemony was personal rather than institutional, and quickly disappeared after the accession ofHugh Capetin 987.

Burgundy

Otto continued the peaceful relationship between Germany and theKingdom of Burgundyinitiated by his father. KingRudolf II of Burgundyhad previously marriedBertha of Swabia,the daughter of one of Henry's chief advisers, in 922. Burgundy was originally a part ofMiddle Francia,the central portion of Charlemagne's empire according to its division under theTreaty of Verdunin 843. On 11 July 937, Rudolf II died andHugh of Provence,theKing of Italyand Rudolf II's chief domestic opponent, claimed the Burgundian throne. Otto intervened in the succession and with his support, Rudolf II's son,Conrad of Burgundy,was able to secure the throne. Burgundy had become an integral, but formally independent, part of Otto's sphere of influence and remained at peace with Germany during his reign.

Bohemia

Boleslaus I, Duke of Bohemia,assumed theBohemianthrone in 935. The next year, following the death of Otto's father, King Henry the Fowler, Boleslaus stopped paying tribute to the German Kingdom (East Francia) in violation of the peace treaty Henry had established with Boleslaus' brother and predecessor,Wenceslaus I.Boleslaus attacked an ally of the Saxons in northwest Bohemia in 936 and defeated two of Otto's armies fromThuringiaandMerseburg.After this initial large-scale invasion of Bohemia, hostilities were pursued, mainly in the form of border raids. The war was not concluded until 950, when Otto besieged a castle owned by Boleslaus' son. Boleslaus decided to sign a peace treaty, promising to resume payment of tribute.Boleslaus became Otto's ally, and his Bohemian force helped the German army against the commonMagyarthreat at the Lech river in 955.Later he went on to crush an uprising of two Slavic dukes (StoigniewandNako) inMecklenburg,probably to ensure the spread of Bohemian estates to the east.

Byzantine Empire

During his early reign, Otto fostered close relations with EmperorConstantine VII Porphyrogenitus,who ruled over theByzantine Empirefrom 913 until his death in 959; East Francia and Byzantium sent several ambassadors to one another. BishopThietmar of Merseburg,a medieval chronicler, records: "After this [Gilbert's defeat in 939], legates from the Greeks [Byzantines] twice brought gifts from their emperor to our king, both rulers being in a state of concord."It was during this time that Otto first tried to link himself to the Eastern Empire through marriage negotiations.

Slavic wars

As Otto was finalizing actions to suppress his brother's rebellion in 939, the Slavs on the Elbe River revolted against German rule. Having been subdued by Otto's father in 928, the Slavs saw Henry's rebellion as an opportunity to regain their independence.Otto's lieutenant in east Saxony, Count Gero of Merseburg, was charged with the subjugation of the pagan Polabian Slavs. According to Widukind, Gero invited about thirty Slavic chieftains to a banquet; after the feast his soldiers attacked and massacred the unsuspecting drunken guests.The Slavs demanded revenge and marched against Gero with an enormous army. Otto agreed to a brief truce with his rebellious brother Henry and moved to support Gero. After fierce fighting, their combined forces were able to repel the advancing Slavs; Otto then returned west to subdue his brother's rebellion.

In 941, Gero initiated another plot to subdue the Slavs. He recruited a captive Slav named Tugumir, aHevellichieftain, to his cause. Gero promised to support him in claiming the Hevellian throne, if Tugumir would later recognize Otto as his overlord. Tugumir agreed and returned to the Slavs. Due to Gero's massacre, few Slavic chieftains remained, and the Slavs quickly proclaimed Tugumir as their prince. Upon assuming the throne, Tugumir murdered his chief rival and proclaimed his loyalty to Otto, incorporating his territory into the German kingdom. Otto granted Tugumir the title of "duke" and allowed Tugumir to rule his people, subject to Otto'ssuzerainty,in the same manner as the German dukes.After the coup by Gero and Tugumir, the Slavic federation broke apart. In control of the key Hevelli stronghold ofBrandenburg,Gero was able to attack and defeat the divided Slavic tribes. Otto and his successors extended their control into Eastern Europe through military colonization and the establishment of churches.

Military expansion into Italy

Disputed Italian throne

Upon the death of EmperorCharles the Fatin 888, theempire of Charlemagnewas divided into several territories:East Francia,West Francia,the kingdoms ofLowerandUpper Burgundy,and theKingdom of Italy,with each of the realms being ruled by its own king. Though the pope in Rome continued to invest the kings of Italy as "emperors" to rule Charlemagne's empire, these "Italian emperors" never exercised any authority north of theAlps.WhenBerengar I of Italywas assassinated in 924, the last nominal heir to Charlemagne was dead and the imperial title was left unclaimed.

Statues of Otto I, right, and Adelaide inMeissen Cathedral.Otto and Adelaide were married after his annexation of Italy.

KingRudolf IIofUpper BurgundyandHugh,Count of Provence,the effective ruler ofLower Burgundy,competed with military means to gain dominion over Italy. In 926, Hugh's armies defeated Rudolf, Hugh could so establishde factocontrol over theItalian Peninsulaand had himself crowned as King of Italy.His sonLothairwas elevated to co-ruler in 931.Hugh and Rudolf II eventually concluded a peace treaty in 933; four years later Lothair was betrothed to Rudolf's infant daughterAdelaide.

In 940,Berengar II,Margrave of Ivrea,a grandson of former King Berengar I, led a revolt of Italian nobles against his uncle Hugh. Forewarned by Lothair, Hugh exiled Berengar II from Italy, and the margrave fled to the protection of Otto's court in 941. In 945, Berengar II returned and defeated Hugh with the support of the Italian nobility. Hugh abdicated in favor of his son and retired toProvence;Berengar II made terms with Lothair and established himself as the decisivepower behind the throne.Lothair married the sixteen-year-old Adelaide in 947 and became nominal king when Hugh died on 10 April 948, but Berengar II continued to hold power asmayor of the palaceorviceroy.

Strategic marriage to Adelaide, Queen of Italy

Lothair's brief "reign" came to an end with his death on 22 November 950, and Berengar II was crowned king on 15 December, with his sonAdalbert of Italyas co-ruler.Failing to receive widespread support, Berengar II attempted to legitimize his reign and tried to force Adelaide, the respective daughter, daughter-in-law and widow of the last three Italian kings, into marriage with Adalbert. Adelaide fiercely refused and was imprisoned by Berengar II atGarda Lake.With the help of CountAdalbert Atto of Canossa,she managed to escape from imprisonment. Besieged by Berengar II inCanossa,Adelaide sent an emissary across the Alps seeking Otto's protection and marriage. A marriage to Adelaide would have strengthened the king's position to claim the Italian throne and ultimately the emperorship. Knowing of her great intelligence and immense wealth, Otto accepted Adelaide's marriage proposal and prepared for an expedition into Italy.

First Italian Military Expedition

In the early summer of 951, before his father marched across the Alps, Otto's sonLiudolf,Duke of Swabia, invadedLombardyinNorthern Italy.The exact reasons for Liudolf's action are unclear, and historians have proposed several possible motives. Liudolf may have tried to help Adelaide, a distant relative of Liudolf's wife Ida, or he intended to strengthen his position within the royal family. The young heir was also competing with his uncle, DukeHenry I of Bavaria,both in German affairs and Northern Italy.While Liudolf was preparing his expedition, Henry influenced the Italian aristocrats not to join Liudolf's campaign.When Liudolf arrived in Lombardy, he found no support and was unable to sustain his troops. His army was near destruction until Otto's troops crossed the Alps. The king reluctantly received Liudolf's forces into his command, angry at his son for his independent actions.

Otto and Liudolf's troops arrived in northern Italy in September 951 without opposition from Berengar II. As they descended into thePo Rivervalley, the Italian nobles and clergy withdrew their support for Berengar and provided aid to Otto and his advancing army. Recognizing his weakened position, Berengar II fled from his capital inPavia.When Otto arrived at Pavia on 23 September 951, the city willingly opened its gate to the German king. Otto declared himself king and assumed the titles ofRex ItalicorumandRex Langobardorumin his acts from the 10 October onwards.LikeCharlemagnebefore him, Otto was now concurrent King of Germany and King of Italy. Otto sent a message to his brotherHenryin Bavaria to escort his bride from Canossa to Pavia, where the two married.

Soon after his father's marriage in Pavia, Liudolf left Italy and returned to Swabia. Archbishop Frederick of Mainz, thePrimate of Germanyand Otto's long-time domestic rival, also returned to Germany alongside Liudolf. Disturbances in northern Germany forced Otto to return with the majority of his army back across theAlpsin 952. Otto did leave a small portion of his army behind in Italy and appointed his son-in-lawConrad, Duke of Lorraine,as hisregentand tasked him with subduing Berengar II.

Aftermath: diplomacy and feudal agreement

In a weak military position with few troops, Otto's regent inItalyattempted a diplomatic solution and opened peace negotiations with Berengar II. Conrad recognized that a military confrontation would impose great costs upon Germany, both in manpower and in treasure. At a time when the kingdom was facing invasions from the north by theDanesand from the east by theSlavsandHungarians,all available resources were required north of the Alps. Conrad believed that aclient staterelationship with Italy would be in Germany's best interest. He offered a peace treaty in which Berengar II would remain King of Italy on the condition that he recognized Otto as his overlord. Berengar II agreed and the pair traveled north to meet with Otto to seal the agreement.

Manuscript depiction (c. 1200) of Otto accepting the surrender of Berengar II of Italy. The headline readsOtto I Theutonicorum rex( "Otto the First, King of the Germans" ).

Conrad's treaty was met with disdain by Adelaide and Henry. Though Adelaide wasBurgundianby birth, she was raised as an Italian. Her father Rudolf II of Burgundy was briefly king of Italy prior to being deposed and she herself had briefly been queen of Italy until her husband Lothair II of Italy's death. Berengar II imprisoned her when she refused to marry his son, Adalbert of Italy. Henry had other reasons to disapprove of the peace treaty. AsDuke of Bavaria,he controlled territory on the northern side of the German-Italian border. Henry had hope that, with Berengar II being deposed, his ownfiefdomwould be greatly expanded by incorporating territory south of the Alps. Conrad and Henry were already not on good terms, and the proposed treaty drove the two dukes further apart. Adelaide and Henry conspired together to persuade Otto to reject Conrad's treaty.

Conrad and Berengar II arrived at Magdeburg to meet Otto, but had to wait three days before an audience was granted. This was a humiliating offense for the man Otto had named his regent.Though Adelaide and Henry urged the treaty's immediate rejection, Otto referred the issue to anImperial Dietfor further debate. Appearing before the Diet in August 952 inAugsburg,Berengar II and his son Adalbert were forced to swear fealty to Otto as his vassals. In return, Otto granted Berengar II Italy as his fiefdom and restored the title "King of Italy" to him. The Italian king had to pay an enormous annual tribute and was required to cede theDuchy of Friulisouth of the Alps. Otto reorganized this area into theMarch of Veronaand put it under Henry's control as reward for his loyalty. TheDuchy of Bavariatherefore grew to become the most powerful domain in Germany.

Relations with the Catholic Church

Main article:Imperial Church System

Further information:Catholic Church in Germany

A medieval kinginvestinga bishop with the symbols of office. Otto centralized his control over Germany through the investiture of bishops and abbots.

Beginning in the late 940s, Otto rearranged interior policies by utilizing the offices of the Catholic Church as tools of royal administration, thereby setting the course for the OttonianImperial Church System.With regard to his "divine right" to rule he viewed himself as the protector of the Church. A key element of administrative reorganisation was the installment of celibate clerics in secular offices, chiefly bishops andabbots,at the expense of the hereditary secular nobility. Otto sought to establish a non-hereditary counter-balance to the fiercely independent and powerful royal princes. He granted land and bestowed the title ofPrince of the Empire(Reichsfürst) to appointed bishops and abbots. Hereditary claims were thus avoided as after death the offices fell back upon the crown. HistorianNorman Cantorconcludes: "Under these conditions clerical election became a mere formality in the Ottonian empire, and the king filled up the ranks of the episcopate with his own relatives and with his loyalchanceryclerks, who were also appointed to head the great German monasteries. "

The most prominent member of this blended royal-ecclesiastical service was his own brotherBruno the Great,Otto's Chancellor since 940, who was appointedArchbishop of Cologneand Duke of Lorraine in 953. Other important religious officials within Otto's government included Archbishop William of Mainz (Otto's illegitimate son),Archbishop AdaldagofBremen,and Hadamar, theAbbot of Fulda.Otto endowed the bishoprics and abbeys of his kingdom with numerous gifts, including land and royal prerogatives, such as the power to levy taxes and to maintain an army. Over these Church lands, secular authorities had neither the power of taxation nor legal jurisdiction. This raised the Church above the various dukes and committed its clerics to serve as the king's personal vassals. In order to support the Church, Otto madetithingmandatory for all inhabitants of Germany.

Otto granted the various bishops and abbots of the kingdom the rank ofcountas well as the legal rights of counts within their territory. Because Otto personally appointed all bishops and abbots, these reforms strengthened his central authority, and the upper ranks of the German Church functioned in some respect as an arm of the royal bureaucracy. Otto routinely appointed his personalcourt chaplainsto bishoprics throughout the kingdom. While attached to the royal court, the chaplains would perform the work of the government through services to the royal chancery. After years within the royal court, Otto would reward their service with promotion to a diocese.

Liudolf's Civil War

Rebellion against Otto

With the humiliating failure of his Italian campaign and Otto's marriage to Adelaide, Liudolf became estranged from his father and planned a rebellion. On Christmas Day 951, he held a grand feast atSaalfeldthat was attended by many important figures from across the kingdom, most notablyArchbishopFrederick of Mainz,thePrimate of Germany.Liudolf was able to recruit his brother-in-law Conrad,Duke of Lorraine,to his rebellion. As Otto's regent in Italy, Conrad had negotiated a peace agreement and an alliance with Berengar II and believed that Otto would confirm this treaty. Instead of an ally, Berengar II was made Otto's subject and his kingdom was subsequently reduced. Conrad felt betrayed and insulted over Otto's decision, especially with the additional empowerment of Henry. Conrad and Liudolf viewed Otto as being controlled by his foreign-born wife and power-hungry brother and resolved to free the kingdom from their domination.

In winter 952, Adelaide gave birth to a son, whom she named Henry after her brother-in-law and the child's grandfather,Henry the Fowler.Rumors spread that Otto had been persuaded by his wife and brother to propose this child as his heir instead of Liudolf.For many German nobles, this rumor represented Otto's final transformation from a policy focused on Germany to an Italian-centered one. The idea that Otto would ask them to revoke the succession rights of Liudolf prompted many nobles into open rebellion. Liudolf and Conrad first led the nobles against Henry, the Duke of Bavaria, in spring 953. Henry was unpopular with the Bavarians due to hisSaxonheritage, and his vassals quickly rebelled against him.

Word of the rebellion reached Otto atIngelheim.In order to secure his position, he traveled to his stronghold atMainz.The city was also the seat of Archbishop Frederick of Mainz, who acted as mediator between Otto and the rebels. Recorded details of the meeting or the negotiated treaty do not exist, but Otto soon left Mainz with a peace treaty favorable to the conspirators, most likely confirming Liudolf as heir apparent and approving Conrad's original agreement with Berengar II. These terms rendered the treaty incompatible with the wishes of Adelaide and Henry.

When Otto returned toSaxony,Adelaide and Henry persuaded the king to void the treaty. Convening theImperial DietatFritzlar,Otto declared Liudolf and Conrad asoutlawsin absentia.The king reasserted his desires for dominion over Italy and to claim the imperial title. He sent emissaries to the Duchy of Lorraine and stirred the local nobles against Conrad's rule. The duke was aSalian Frankby birth and unpopular with the people of Lorraine, so they pledged their support to Otto.

Otto's actions at the Diet provoked the people ofSwabiaandFranconiainto rebellion. After initial defeats by Otto, Liudolf and Conrad fell back to their headquarters inMainz.In July 953, Otto and his army laid siege to the city, supported by Henry's army fromBavaria.After two months of siege, the city had not fallen and rebellions against Otto's rule grew stronger in southern Germany. Faced with these challenges, Otto opened peace negotiations with Liudolf and Conrad.Bruno the Great,Otto's youngest brother androyal chancellorsince 940, accompanied his older brothers and oversaw the arrangements for the negotiations. As the newly appointedArchbishop of Cologne,Bruno was eager to end the civil war in Lorraine, which was in his ecclesiastical territory. The rebels demanded ratification of the treaty they had previously agreed to with Otto, but Henry's provocation during the meeting caused the negotiations to break down.Conrad and Liudolf left the meeting to continue the civil war. Angered by their actions, Otto stripped both men of their duchies of Swabia and Lorraine, and appointed his brother Bruno as the new Duke of Lorraine.

While on military campaign with Otto, Henry appointed the BavarianCount Palatine,Arnulf II, to govern his duchy in his absence. Arnulf II was a son ofArnulf the Bad,whom Henry had previously displaced as duke, and he sought revenge: he deserted Henry and joined the rebellion against Otto. Lifting the siege of Mainz, Otto and Henry marched south to regain control over Bavaria. Without the support of the local nobles, their plan failed and they were forced to retreat to Saxony.The duchies of Bavaria, Swabia, and Franconia were in open civil war against the King, and even in his native Duchy of Saxony revolts began to spread. By the end of 953, the civil war was threatening to depose Otto and permanently end his claims to be Charlemagne's successor.

Forcing an end to the rebellion

In early 954, Margrave Hermann Billung, Otto's long-time loyal vassal in Saxony, was facing increased Slavic movements in the east. Taking advantage of the German civil war, the Slavs raided deeper and deeper into the adjacent border areas. Meanwhile, the Hungarians began extensive raids into Southern Germany. Though Liudolf and Conrad prepared defenses against the invasions in their territories, the Hungarians devastated Bavaria and Franconia. OnPalm Sunday,954, Liudolf held a great feast atWormsand invited the Hungarian chieftains to join him. There, he presented the invaders with gifts of gold and silver.

Otto's brother Henry soon spread rumors that Conrad and Liudolf had invited the Hungarians into Germany in hopes of using them against Otto. Public opinion quickly turned against the rebels in these duchies. With this change in opinion and the death of his wife Liutgarde, Otto's only daughter, Conrad began peace negotiations with Otto, which were eventually joined by Liudolf and Archbishop Frederick.A truce was declared, and Otto called a meeting of the Imperial Diet on 15 June 954 atLangenzenn.Before the assembly convened, Conrad and Frederick were reconciled with Otto. At the Diet, tensions flared up again when Henry accused his nephew Liudolf of conspiring with the Hungarians. Though Conrad and Frederick implored the enraged Liudolf to seek peace, Liudolf left the meeting determined to continue the civil war.

Liudolf, with his lieutenant Arnulf II (the effective ruler of Bavaria), took his army south towardsRegensburgin Bavaria, quickly followed by Otto. The armies met atNurembergand engaged in a deadly, though not decisive, battle. Liudolf retreated to Regensburg, where he was besieged by Otto. Otto's army was unable to break through the city walls but caused starvation within the city after two months of siege. Liudolf sent a message to Otto seeking to open peace negotiations; the king demanded unconditional surrender, which Liudolf refused.After Arnulf II had been killed in continuous fighting, Liudolf fled from Bavaria for his domain of Swabia, quickly followed by Otto's army. The adversaries met atIllertissennear the Swabian-Bavarian border and opened negotiations. Liudolf and Otto called a truce until an Imperial Diet could be assembled to ratify the peace. The king forgave his son all transgressions and Liudolf agreed to accept any punishment his father felt appropriate.

Soon after this peace agreement, the aging and sick Archbishop Frederick died in October 954. With the surrender of Liudolf, the rebellion had been put down throughout Germany except in Bavaria. Otto convened the Imperial Diet in December 954 atArnstadt.Before the assembled nobles of the kingdom, Liudolf and Conrad declared their fealty to Otto and yielded control over all the territories that their armies still occupied. Though Otto did not restore their former ducal titles to them, he did allow them to retain their private estates. The Diet ratified Otto's actions:

• Liudolf was promised regency over Italy and command of an army to depose Berengar II
• Conrad was promised military command against the Hungarians
• Burchard III,son of former Swabian Duke Burchard II, was appointed Duke of Swabia (Liudolf's former duchy)
• Bruno remained as new Duke of Lorraine (Conrad's former duchy)
• Henry was confirmed as Duke of Bavaria
• Otto's oldest son William was appointed Archbishop of Mainz and Primate of Germany
• Otto retained direct rule over the Duchy of Saxony and over the territories of the former Duchy of Franconia

The king's measures in December 954 finally brought an end to the two-year-long civil war. Liudolf's rebellion, though temporarily weakening Otto's position, ultimately strengthened it as absolute ruler of Germany.

Hungarian military invasions

Main articles:Hungarian invasions of EuropeandBattle of Lechfeld

Europe shortly after Otto's reign. The Hungarians (orange), located to the east of Otto's realm (blue), invaded Germany in 954 and 955.

The Hungarians (Magyars) invaded Otto's domain as part of the largerHungarian invasions of Europeand ravaged much of Southern Germany during Liudolf's civil war. Though Otto had installed the Margraves Hermann Billung and Gero on his kingdom's northern and northeastern borders, thePrincipality of Hungaryto the southeast was a permanent threat to German security. The Hungarians took advantage of the kingdom's civil war and invaded the Duchy of Bavaria in spring 954. Though Liudolf, Duke of Swabia, and Conrad, Duke of Lorraine, had successfully prevented the Hungarians from invading their own territories in the west, the invaders managed to reach the Rhine River, sacking much of Bavaria and Franconia in the process.

The Hungarians, encouraged by their successful raids, began another invasion into Germany in the spring of 955. Otto's army, now unhindered by civil war, was able to defeat the invasion, and soon the Hungarians sent an ambassador to seek peace with Otto. The ambassador proved to be a decoy: Otto's brother Henry I, Duke of Bavaria, sent word to Otto that the Hungarians had crossed into his territory from the southeast. The main Hungarian army had camped along theLech Riverand besieged Augsburg. While the city was defended by BishopUlrich of Augsburg,Otto assembled his army and marched south to face the Hungarians.

Otto and his army fought the Hungarian force on 10 August 955 at theBattle of Lechfeld.Under Otto's command were Burchard III, Duke of Swabia and Bohemian troops of Duke Boleslaus I. Though outnumbered nearly two to one, Otto was determined to push the Hungarian forces out of his territory. According to Widukind of Corvey, Otto "pitched his camp in the territory of the city of Augsburg and joined there the forces of Henry I, Duke of Bavaria, who was himself lying mortally ill nearby, and by Duke Conrad with a large following of Franconian knights. Conrad's unexpected arrival encouraged the warriors so much that they wished to attack the enemy immediately."

A 1457 illustration of theBattle of Lechfeldin Sigmund Meisterlin's codex about the history of Nuremberg

The Hungarians crossed the river and immediately attacked the Bohemians, followed by the Swabians under Burchard. Confusing the defenders with a rain of arrows, they plundered the baggage train and made many captives. As Otto received word of the attack, he ordered Conrad to relieve his rear units with a counter-attack. Upon the successful completion of his mission, Conrad returned to the main forces and the King launched an immediate assault. Despite a volley of arrows, Otto's army smashed into the Hungarian lines and was able to fight them in hand-to-hand combat, giving the traditionally nomadic warriors no room to use their preferred shoot-and-run tactics; the Hungarians suffered heavy losses and were forced to retreat in disorder.

According to Widukind of Corvey, Otto was proclaimedFather of the FatherlandandEmperorat the following victory celebration.While the battle was not a crushing defeat for the Hungarians, as Otto was not able to chase the fleeing army into Hungarian lands, the battle ended nearly 100 years of Hungarian invasions into Western Europe.

While Otto was fighting the Hungarians with his main army deployed in Southern Germany, the Obotrite Slavs in the north were in a state of insurrection. CountWichmann the Younger,still Otto's opponent over the King's refusal to grant Wichmann the title of Margrave in 936, marauded through the lands of the Obotrites in the Billung March, causing the followers of Slavic PrinceNakoto revolt. The Obotrites invaded Saxony in the fall of 955, killing the men of arms-bearing age and carrying off the women and children into slavery. In the aftermath of the Battle of Lechfeld, Otto rushed to the north and pressed far into their territory. A Slav embassy offered to pay annual tribute in return for being allowed self-government under German overlordship instead of direct German rule.Otto refused, and the two sides met on 16 October at theBattle of Recknitz.Otto's forces gained a decisive victory; after the battle, hundreds of captured Slavs were executed.

Celebrations for Otto's victory over the pagan Hungarians and Slavs were held in churches across the kingdom, with bishops attributing the victory to divine intervention and as proof of Otto's "divine right" to rule. The battles of Lechfeld and Recknitz mark a turning point in Otto's reign. The victories over Hungarians and Slavs sealed his hold on power over Germany, with the duchies firmly under royal authority. From 955 on, Otto would not experience another rebellion against his rule and as a result was able to further consolidate his position throughoutCentral Europe.

Otto's son-in-law, Conrad, the former Duke of Lorraine, was killed in the Battle of Lechfeld and the king's brother Henry I, Duke of Bavaria, was mortally wounded, dying a few months later on 1 November of that year. With Henry's death, Otto appointed his four-year-old nephewHenry II,to succeed his father as duke, with his mother Judith of Bavaria as his regent. Otto appointed Liudolf in 956 as the commander of an expedition against King Berengar II of Italy, but he soon died of fever on 6 September 957. Archbishop William buried his half-brother atSt. Alban's Abbeynear Mainz.The deaths of Henry, Liudolf, and Conrad took from Otto the three most prominent members of his royal family, including his heir apparent. Additionally, his first two sons from his marriage to Adelaide of Italy, Henry and Bruno, had both died in early childhood by 957.Otto's third son by Adelaide, the two-year-oldOtto,became the kingdom's newheir apparent.

Reign as emperor

Second Italian Military Expedition and imperial coronation

TheImperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire.Otto was crowned as Emperor on 2 February 962 byPope John XII.

Burgundian princess Adelaide, queen of Italy whom the margrave Berengar of Ivrea had taken prisoner in 950, appealed to Otto for help. Otto marched into Italy in 951 and married Adelaide. In 952 Berengar signed a peace treaty in which he became Otto's vassal for the kingdom of Italy.

Liudolf's death in the fall of 957 deprived Otto of both an heir and a commander of his expedition against King Berengar II of Italy.Berengar II had always been a rebellious subordinate. With the death of Liudolf and Henry I, Duke of Bavaria, and with Otto campaigning in northern Germany, Berengar II attacked the March of Verona in 958, which Otto had stripped from his control under the 952 treaty, and besieged Count Adalbert Atto of Canossa there. Berengar II's forces also attacked thePapal Statesand the city of Rome underPope John XII.In autumn 960, with Italy in political turmoil, the Pope sent word to Otto seeking his aid against Berengar II. Several other influential Italian leaders arrived at Otto's court with similar appeals, including theArchbishop of Milan,the bishops ofComoandNovara,and MargraveOtbertof Milan.

After the Pope agreed to crown him as Emperor, Otto assembled his army to march upon Italy. In preparation for his second Italian campaign and the imperial coronation, Otto planned his kingdom's future. At the Imperial Diet at Worms in May 961, Otto named his six-year-old son Otto II as heir apparent and co-ruler, and had him crowned at Aachen Cathedral on 26 May 961.Otto II was anointed by the ArchbishopsBruno I of Cologne,William of Mainz,andHenry I of Trier.The King instituted a separate chancery to issuediplomasin his heir's name,and appointed his brother Bruno and illegitimate son William as Otto II's co-regents in Germany.

Otto's army descended into northern Italy in August 961 through theBrenner PassatTrento.The German king moved towardsPavia,the formerLombardcapital of Italy, where he celebrated Christmas and assumed the titleKing of Italyfor himself. Berengar II's armies retreated to their strongholds in order to avoid battle with Otto, allowing him to advance southward unopposed. Otto reached Rome on 31 January 962; three days later, he was crownedEmperorby Pope John XII atOld St. Peter's Basilica.The Pope also anointed Otto's wife Adelaide of Italy, who had accompanied Otto on his Italian campaign, as empress. With Otto's coronation as emperor, the Kingdom of Germany and the Kingdom of Italy were unified into a common realm, later called theHoly Roman Empire.

Papal politics

On 12 February 962, Emperor Otto I and Pope John XII called a synod in Rome to legalise their relationship. At the synod, Pope John XII approved Otto's long-desiredArchdiocese of Magdeburg.The Emperor had planned the establishment of the archdiocese to commemorate his victory at the Battle of Lechfeld over the Hungarians and to further convert the local Slavs to Christianity. The Pope named the former royalmonasteryofSt. Mauriceas provisional center of the new archdiocese, and called upon the German archbishops for support.

Replica of theMagdeburger Reiter,an equestrian monument traditionally regarded as a portrait of Otto I (Magdeburg,original c. 1240)

The following day, Otto and John XII ratified theDiploma Ottonianum,confirming John XII as the spiritual head of the Church and Otto as its secular protector. In the Diploma, Otto acknowledged the earlierDonation of Pepinof 754 betweenPepin the Short,King of the FranksandPope Stephen II.Otto recognized John XII's secular control over the Papal States, and expanded the Pope's domain by theExarchate of Ravenna,theDuchy of Spoleto,theDuchy of Beneventoand several smaller possessions. Otto however didn't have the obligation to deliver military aid in case the territories would be conquered by others and despite this confirmed claim, Otto never ceded real control over those additional territories. The Diploma granted the clergy and people of Rome the exclusive right to elect the pontiff. The pope-elect was required to issue an oath of allegiance to the emperor before his confirmation as pope an agreement based onfeudal lawwith the consequence that the emperor had power over the pope and not vice versa.

With the Diploma signed, the new Emperor marched against Berengar II to reconquer Italy. Being besieged atSan Leo,Berengar II surrendered in 963. Upon the successful completion of Otto's campaign, John XII began to fear the Emperor's rising power in Italy and opened negotiations with Berengar II's son, Adalbert of Italy to depose Otto. The Pope also sent envoys to theHungariansand the Byzantine Empire to join him and Adalbert in an alliance against the Emperor. Otto discovered the Pope's plot and, after defeating and imprisoning Berengar II, marched on Rome. John XII fled from Rome, and Otto, upon his arrival in Rome, summoned a council and deposed John XII as Pope, appointingLeo VIIIas his successor.

Otto fights Romans' decision to elect Pope Benedict V

Otto released most of his army to return to Germany by the end of 963, confident his rule in Italy and within Rome was secure. The Roman populace, however, considered Leo VIII, a layman with no former ecclesiastical training, unacceptable as Pope. In February 964, the Roman people forced Leo VIII to flee the city. In his absence, Leo VIII was deposed and John XII was restored to thechair of St. Peter.When John XII died suddenly in May 964, the Romans electedPope Benedict Vas his successor. Upon hearing of the Romans' actions, Otto mobilized new troops and marched on Rome. After laying siege to the city in June 964, Otto forced the Romans to accept his appointee Leo VIII as Pope and exiled Benedict V.

Third Italian Military Expedition

Contemporary image of Otto I, lower left, in one of theMagdeburg Ivories.Otto presentsMagdeburg Cathedralto Christ and Saints, and is depicted smaller than them as a sign of humility.

Otto returned to Germany in January 965, believing his affairs in Italy had been settled.On 20 May 965, the Emperor's long-serving lieutenant on the eastern front, Margrave Gero, died and left a vast march stretching from the Billung March in the north to the Duchy of Bohemia in the south. Otto divided this territory into five separate smaller marches, each ruled by a margrave: theNorthern MarchunderDietrich of Haldensleben,theEastern MarchunderOdo I,theMarch of MeissenunderWigbert,theMarch of MerseburgunderGünther,and theMarch of ZeitzunderWigger I.

Peace in Italy, however, would not last long. Adalbert, the son of the deposed King Berengar II of Italy, rebelled against Otto's rule over the Kingdom of Italy. Otto dispatched Burchard III of Swabia, one of his closest advisors, to crush the rebellion. Burchard III met Adalbert at theBattle of the Poon 25 June 965, defeating the rebels and restoring Italy to Ottonian control.Pope Leo VIIIdied on 1 March 965, leaving the chair of St. Peter vacant. The Church elected, with Otto's approval,John XIIIas new Pope in October 965. John XIII's arrogant behavior and foreign backing soon made him disliked among the local population. In December of the same year, he was taken into custody by the Roman people but was able to escape a few weeks later. Following the Pope's request for help, the Emperor prepared his army for a third expedition into Italy.

In August 966 at Worms, Otto announced his arrangements for the government of Germany in his absence. Otto's illegitimate son Archbishop William of Mainz would serve as his regent over all of Germany, while Otto's trusted lieutenant, Margrave Hermann Billung, would be his personal administrator over the Duchy of Saxony. With preparations completed, Otto left his heir in William's custody and led his army into northern Italy viaStrasbourgandChur.

Reign from Rome

Italy around 1000, shortly after Otto's reign. Otto's expansion campaigns brought northern and central Italy into theHoly Roman Empire.

Upon Otto's arrival in Italy, John XIII was restored to his papal throne in mid-November 966 without opposition by the people. Otto captured the twelve leaders of the rebel militia, which had deposed and imprisoned the Pope, and had them hanged.Taking up permanent residence at Rome, the Emperor travelled, accompanied by the Pope, toRavennato celebrate Easter in 967. A following synod confirmed Magdeburg's disputed status as a new archdiocese with equal rights to the established German archdioceses.

With his matters arranged in northern Italy, the Emperor continued to expand his realm to the south. Since February 967, thePrince of Benevento,LombardPandolf Ironhead,had accepted Otto as his overlord and receivedSpoletoandCamerinoas fiefdom. This decision caused conflict with the Byzantine Empire, which claimed sovereignty over the principalities of southern Italy. The eastern Empire also objected to Otto's use of the titleEmperor,believing only the Byzantine EmperorNikephoros II Phokaswas the true successor of the ancientRoman Empire.

The Byzantines opened peace talks with Otto, despite his expansive policy in their sphere of influence. Otto desired both an imperial princess as a bride for his son and successor Otto II as well as the legitimacy and prestige of a connection between theOttonian dynastyin the West and theMacedonian dynastyin the East. In order to further his dynastic plans, and in preparation for his son's marriage, Otto returned to Rome in the winter of 967 where he had Otto II crowned co-Emperor by Pope John XIII on Christmas Day 967.Although Otto II was now nominal co-ruler, he exercised no real authority until the death of his father.

In the following years, both empires sought to strengthen their influence in southern Italy with several campaigns. In 969,John I Tzimiskesassassinated and succeeded Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros in a military revolt.Finally recognizing Otto's imperial title, the new eastern emperor sent his nieceTheophanuto Rome in 972, and she married Otto II on 14 April 972.As part of this rapprochement, the conflict over southern Italy was finally resolved: the Byzantine Empire accepted Otto's dominion over the principalities ofCapua,BeneventoandSalerno;in return the German Emperor retreated from the Byzantine possessions inApuliaandCalabria.

Culture

Otto patronised the arts and learning, helping establish several cathedral schools that evolved into vibrant cultural centres.The first female writer from theGermanosphere,the first femalehistorian,the first person since theFall of the Western Roman Empireto writedramasin theLatin West,and the first German female poet–Hrotsvitha– was raised in his court, where she grew up hearing the works of classical authors. As an adult, she became well-versed in the legal system, the history of theOttonian dynasty,and their line of succession. Hrotsvitha was the first Northern European to write aboutIslamand theIslamic empire.When she entered a royalconvent,she wrote plays that incorporated Roman comedy with the tales of early Christian martyrs.

Final years and death

Tomb of Otto I inMagdeburg Cathedral

With his son's wedding completed and peace with the Byzantine Empire concluded, Otto led the imperial family back to Germany in August 972.In the spring of 973, the Emperor visited Saxony and celebrated Palm Sunday in Magdeburg. At the same ceremony the previous year, MargraveHermann Billung,Otto's trusted lieutenant and personal administrator over Saxony during his years in Italy, had been received like a king by ArchbishopAdalbert of Magdeburg– a gesture of protest against the Emperor's prolonged absence from Germany.

Celebrating Easter with a great assembly inQuedlinburg,Emperor Otto was the most powerful man in Europe.According to Thietmar of Merseburg, Otto received "the dukesMiesco[of Poland] and Boleslav [of Bohemia], and legates from the Greeks [Byzantium], the Beneventans [Rome], Magyars, Bulgars, Danes and Slavs ".Ambassadors from England andAl-Andalusarrived later the same year.To mark theRogation Days,Otto travelled to his palace at Memleben, the place where his father had died 37 years earlier. While there, Otto became seriously ill with fever and, after receiving hislast sacraments,died on 7 May 973 at the age of 60.

The transition of power to his seventeen-year-old son Otto II was seamless. On 8 May 973, the lords of the Empire confirmed Otto II as their new ruler. Otto II arranged for a magnificent thirty-day funeral, in which his father was buried beside his first wife Eadgyth inMagdeburg Cathedral.

Family and children

Main article:Ottonian dynasty

German royal dynasties
Ottonian dynasty
Chronology
Henry I	919 – 936
Otto I	936 – 973
Otto II	973 – 983
Otto III	983 – 1002
Henry II	1002 – 1024
Family
Ottonian dynasty family tree Family tree of the German monarchs Category:Ottonian dynasty
Succession
Preceded byConradine dynasty
Followed bySalian dynasty

Although never Emperor, Otto's fatherHenry I the Fowleris considered the founder of the Ottonian dynasty. In relation to the other members of his dynasty, Otto I was the son of Henry I, father of Otto II, grandfather ofOtto III,and great-uncle toHenry II.The Ottonians would rule Germany (later the Holy Roman Empire) for over a century from 919 until 1024.

Otto had two wives and at least seven children, one of which was illegitimate.

• With an unidentified Slavic woman:

1. William(929 – 2 March 968) –Archbishop of Mainzfrom 17 December 954 until death

• WithEadgyth of England,daughter of KingEdward the Elder:

1. Liudolf(930 – 6 September 957) –Duke of Swabiafrom 950 to 954, Otto's expected successor from 947 until death
2. Liutgarde(932–953) – marriedConrad, Duke of Lorraine,in 947

• WithAdelaide of Italy,daughter of KingRudolf II of Burgundy:

1. Henry (952–954)
2. Bruno (probably 954–957)
3. Matilda(954–999) –Abbess of Quedlinburgfrom 966 until death
4. Otto II(955 – 7 December 983) –Holy Roman Emperorfrom 973 until death

Legacy

Ottonian Renaissance

Main article:Ottonian Renaissance

See also:Ottonian artandOttonian architecture

Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire commemorative coin

Alimited renaissanceof the arts and architecture in the second half of the 10th century depended on the court patronage of Otto and his immediate successors. The Ottonian Renaissance was manifest in some revived cathedral schools, such as that of Bruno I, Archbishop of Cologne, and in the production ofilluminated manuscripts,the major art form of the age, from a handful of elitescriptoria,such as that atQuedlinburg Abbey,founded by Otto in 936. Extant manuscripts of this era are theDiploma Ottonianum,theMarriage Charter of Empress Theophanu,and theGero Codex,anevangeliarydrawn up around 969 forArchbishop Gero.The Imperial abbeys and the Imperial courts became centers of religious and spiritual life; prestigious convents likeGandersheimand Quedlinburg were led by women of the royal family.

Modern world

Main article:Cultural depictions of Otto the Great

Otto I was selected as the main motif for a high value commemorative coin, the €100Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire commemorative coin,issued in 2008 by theAustrian Mint.The obverse shows theImperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire.The reverse shows Emperor Otto I with Old St. Peter's Basilica in Rome in the background, where his coronation took place.Among others, three exhibitions in Magdeburg, opening in 2001, 2006 and 2012, have documented Otto's life and his influence on medieval European history.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor
8.Liudolf, Duke of Saxony 4.Otto I, Duke of Saxony 9. Oda Billung 2.Henry I of Germany 10. probablyHenry of Franconia 5.Hedwiga 11. unknown 1.Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor 12. unknown 6.Dietrich,count inWestphalia 13. Matilda,Abbess of Herford 3.Matilda 14. unknown 7. Reinhild 15. unknown

Bibliography

• Althoff, Gerd (2013).Die Ottonen: Königsherrschaft ohne Staat(in German) (3rd ed.).Kohlhammer Verlag.ISBN978-3-17-022443-8.
• Arnold, Benjamin (1997).Medieval Germany, 500–1300 A Political Interpretation.Palgrave Macmillan.ISBN978-0-333-61091-6.
• Barraclough, Geoffrey(1946).The Origins of Modern Germany.Basil Blackwell.
• Becher, Matthias (2012).Otto der Große(in German). C.H.Beck.ISBN978-3-406-63061-3.
• Bernhardt, John W. (1993).Itinerant Kingship and Royal Monasteries in Early Medieval Germany, c. 936–1075.Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-0-521-52183-3.
• Beumann, Helmut(2000).Die Ottonen(in German) (5th ed.).Kohlhammer Verlag.ISBN978-3-17-016473-4.
• Cantor, Norman F.(1994).The Civilization of the Middle Ages.Harper Perennial.ISBN978-0-06-092553-6.
• Collins, Roger(2010).Early Medieval Europe 300–1000(3rd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.ISBN978-0-230-00673-7.
• Duckett, Eleanor Shipley(1968).Death and Life in the Tenth Century.University of Michigan Press.ISBN978-0-472-06172-3.
• Gwatkin, H. M.;Whitney, J. P.;Tanner, J. R.; Previté-Orton, C. W., eds. (1922).The Cambridge Medieval History: Volume III.Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-0-521-04534-6.
• Heather, Peter (2014).The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders.Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-936852-5.
• Holböck, Ferdinand (2002).Married Saints and Blesseds: Through the Centuries.Ignatius Press.
• Keller, Hagen (2008).Die Ottonen(in German) (4th ed.). C.H.Beck.ISBN978-3-406-44746-4.
• Keller, Hagen; Althoff, Gerd (2008).Die Zeit der späten Karolinger und der Ottonen: 888–1024.Gebhardt Handbuch der deutschen Geschichte Band 3 (in German). Klett-Cotta.ISBN978-3-608-60003-2.
• McBrien, Richard P.(2000).Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to Benedict XVI.HarperCollins.ISBN978-0-06-087807-8.
• Poole, Reginald L. (April 1911)."Burgundian Notes".The English Historical Review.26(102): 310–317.doi:10.1093/ehr/xxvi.cii.310.
• Reuter, Timothy(1991).Germany in the Early Middle Ages 800–1056.Addison Wesley Longman.ISBN978-0-582-49034-5.
• Schutz, Herbert(2010).The Medieval Empire in Central Europe: Dynastic Continuity in the Post-Carolingian Frankish Realm, 900–1300.Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 41–70.ISBN978-1-4438-1966-4.
• Thompson, James Westfall(1928).Feudal Germany(2 vols.). University of Chicago Press.
• Zimmermann, Wilhelm(2010) [1st. pub. 1877].A Popular History of Germany: From the Earliest Period to the Present Day, Volume II.Henry J. Johnson.ISBN978-1-145-40896-8.

Primary sources

• Arnulf of Milan(1072–1077)."Liber gestorum recentium"(PDF).In Zey, Claudia (ed.).Monumenta Germaniae Historica (MGH). Scriptores rerum Germanicarum in usum scholarum separatim editi.Vol. 67 (1994). Translated by W. North. Hahnsche Buchhandlung.ISBN978-3-7752-5388-8.
• Thietmar of Merseburg(1012–1018). "Chronicon Thietmari Merseburgensis". In Warner, David A. (ed.).Ottonian Germany. The Chronicon of Thietmar of Merseburg (2001).Translated by David A. Warner. Manchester University Press.ISBN978-0-7190-4926-2.
• Vita Mathildis reginae posterior(c.1003, written for Matilda's great-grandsonHenry II), ed. Bernd Schütte.Die Lebensbeschreibungen der Königin Mathilde.MGH SS rer. Germ. in usum scholarum 66. Hannover, 1994. 143–202. Edition byGeorg Heinrich Pertz.MGH SS 4: 282–302; tr. in Sean Gilsdorf,Queenship and Sanctity,88–127.Digital MGH archive.

Further reading

• Althoff, Gerd; Keller, Hagen (1985).Heinrich I. und Otto der Grosse: Neubeginn auf karolingischem Erbe(in German). Muster-Schmidt.ISBN978-3-7881-0122-0.
• Bachrach, David (2009). "Exercise of royal power in early medieval Europe: the case of Otto the Great 936–73".Early Medieval Europe.17(4). Wiley-Blackwell: 389–419.doi:10.1111/j.1468-0254.2009.00283.x.S2CID161175755.
• Gallagher, John Joseph (1938).Church and state in Germany under Otto the Great (936–973).Catholic University of America.OCLC3235092.
• Hill, Boyd H. Jr. (1972).Medieval Monarchy in Action: The German Empire from Henry I to Henry IV.Barnes & Noble.ISBN978-0-3890-4652-3.
• Hiller, Helmut (1980).Otto der Große und seine Zeit(in German). List.ISBN978-3-4717-7847-0.
• Howorth, H. H.(1880). "The Spread of the Slaves. Part III. The Northern Serbs or Sorabians and the Obodriti".The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland.9:181–232.doi:10.2307/2841974.JSTOR2841974.(subscription required)
• Jaeger, C. Stephen (2010). "Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim".The Oxford Dictionary of the Middle Ages.Vol. 2. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. p. 817.ISBN978-0-1986-6262-4.
• Lasko, Peter(1995).Ars Sacra: 800–1200.Yale University Press. chapter 9.ISBN978-0-3000-6048-5.
• Laudage, Johannes (2001).Otto der Große: (912–973). Eine Biographie(in German). Friedrich Pustet.ISBN978-3-7917-1750-0.
• Menzel, Wolfgang(2011) [1871].The History of Germany: From the Earliest Period to the Present Time.Vol. I. Bell & Daldy.ISBN978-1-1787-7378-1.
• Reuter, Timothy,ed. (2000).The New Cambridge Medieval History, Volume 3, c.900–c.1024.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-1-13905572-7.
• Schneidmüller, Bernd (2003). Schneidmüller, Bernd; Weinfurter, Stefan (eds.).Otto I.Die deutschen Herrscher des Mittelalters. Historische Porträts von Heinrich I bis Maximilian I (919–1519) (in German). C.H. Beck.ISBN978-3-4065-0958-2.
• Wies, Ernst W. (1998).Otto der Große. Kämpfer und Beter(in German) (3rd ed.). Bechtle.ISBN978-3-7628-0483-3.
• Zeller, Bernhard (2006).Liudolfinger als fränkische Könige? Überlegungen zur sogenannten Continuatio Reginonis.Corradini, Richard: Text & identities in the early middle ages, Denkschriften, 344. Band. Forschungen zur Geschichte des Mittelalters (in German). Vol. 12. Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften. Philosophisch-Historische Klasse. pp. 137–151.ISBN978-3-7001-3747-4.

External links

• "Charter given by Emperor Otto for the monastery Hilwartshausen showing the Emperor's seal, 12.2.960".Collections of the "Lichtbildarchiv älterer Originalurkunden".Philipp University of Marburg."Guest-Access" and further information.
• Literature by and about Otto I.in theGerman National Librarycatalogue
• Urkunde Ottos I. für Stift Geseke, 25. Juni 958,"digitalised image".Photograph Archive of Old Original Documents (Lichtbildarchiv älterer Originalurkunden).University of Marburg.
• "Otto I.".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 20 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 372–374.