Holy Roman Emperors #5

1. Richenza, Countess of Palatinate Lorraine: Born 1000, of Lorraine, France; Died 31 March 1063, Saalfeld, Mulhausen, Thuringia; Married about 1013; Mieszko II Lambert, King of Poland: Born 990, of Poznan, Poland; Died 10 May 1034. (See Kings of Poland)

2. Ezzo, Count of Palatinate Lorraine: Born about 955; Died 1034; Married Mathilde, Princess of Saxony: Born about 979, of Saxony, Germany; Died 4 November 1025.

Ezzo's Parents--

• I. Herman the Small: Born about 929; Married Heylwig: Born about 931.

Mathilde's Parents--

3. Otto II (Rufus), Holy Roman Emperor, King of the Germans: Born 955, of Saxony, Germany; Died 7 December 983; Married 972; Theophano, Princess of Byzantine Empire: Born about 956, of Constantinople, Turkey; Died 15 June 991. Otto II was crowned German King in 961 and Holy Roman emperor in 967, both during the lifetime of his father, Otto I.

Although he succeeded his father without challenge in 973, his reign was not peaceful. In 974 his cousin Duke Henry II of Bavaria revolted against him, obtaining support from Prince Mieszko I of Poland and from Prince Boleslav II of Bohemia. This revolt was suppressed in 978.

After a war with France over Lorraine, Otto led an expedition into Italy in 980. He restored Pope Benedict VII, who had been driven from his see by a Roman faction, but his campaign against the Arabs (Saracens) in southern Italy ended (982) with a decisive defeat. In 983 he learned of invasions of his domains by both the Danes and the Slavs, but he died before returning to Germany. His son Otto III succeeded him.

Theophano was a keen patron of art, learning and religion; her court became the focus of cultural activity. When her husband died in 983, she looked after the throne until her son, Otto III, was old enough to rule.

Theophano's Parents--

• I. Romanos II, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire: Born 940, of Constantinople, Turkey; Died 15 March 963; Married about 956, Constantinople, Turkey; Theophano, Empress of the Byzantine Empire: Born about 936, of Constantinople, Turkey. (See Byzantine Emperors)

Otto's Parents--

4. Otto I "the Great" Holy Roman Emperor, King of the Germans: Born 23 November 912, of Saxony, Germany; Died 7 May 973, Memleben; Married 951; Adelheid, Princess of Burgundy, Empress of the Holy Roman Empire: Born about 931, of Burgundy, France; Died 16 December 1000, Selz, Alsace, France. Otto I, the greatest of the Saxon kings of Germany, founded the Holy Roman Empire. Otto succeeded his father, Henry I, in 936, inheriting a state that centered mainly on the duchies of Saxony and Franconia. In 937 he established his dominion over Burgundy. The dukes of Swabia and Bavaria and their followers unsuccessfully challenged his authority in uprisings in 937-41 and 953-54.

Louis IV of France aided the rebels against Otto, who allied with the powerful Capetian Hugh the Great (Hugh Magnus) to defeat Louis in 940; later, however, Otto intervened (950) to preserve a balance of power between the French monarchy and the Capetians. Otto commissioned the Saxon nobles Hermann Billung and Gero to conquer the Wends, a Slavic group living across the Elbe from Saxony; he hoped to extend his influence even into Poland and Kievan Russia. By decisively defeating the Magyars at Lechfeld (955) and thus ending their raids, he won the allegiance of most of the German people.

To give his regime a firm base Otto brought the church tightly under his control; he appointed abbots and bishops, giving the archbishoprics of Cologne and Mainz to his brothers Bruno and William respectively, rewarded churchmen lavishly, and exacted administrative and military service. Thus he kept the church out of the hands of the nobility.

Otto led three expeditions into Italy (951-52, 961-65, 966-72). On the first he secured the crown of Lombardy. On the second Pope John XII crowned him Roman emperor in 962; later embellished with the adjective "holy," this title was enjoyed by German kings for the next thousand years. Otto consolidated his authority over the papacy on the third expedition, which brought him into conflict with the Byzantines in southern Italy.

Known as Otto the Great, he stimulated German cultural life, encouraging the Ottonian Renaissance. His son Otto II succeeded him.

Otto's Parents--

5. Henry I "the Fowler", King of the Germans, Duke of the Saxony: (See Dukes of Saxony) Born 876, of Saxony, Germany; Died 2 July 936, Membleben Married about 909; Matilda, Countess of Ringleheim, Queen of the Germans: (See Counts of Ringleheim).