Otto I Is Crowned Emperor
February AD 962, firm dateFirm date
Called into Italy by Pope John XII, the German king Otto I is crowned emperor at Rome and confirms the papal territories, while requiring each new pope to make a promise before the emperor’s envoys. Within two years he has the pope deposed.
In 960 Italy was in the hands of King Berengar and his son Adalbert, and Pope John XII, hard pressed by them, sent a deacon and a secretary across the Alps to ask the German king Otto I to come and free the Roman church (Continuator of Regino, year 960) (Liudprand, Deeds of Otto 1–3). Otto had his young son made king and entered Italy. Berengar and his family shut themselves up in their castles (Continuator of Regino, year 961).
He kept Christmas at Pavia and went on to Rome. There, says a chronicler close to his court, he was received with the acclamation of the whole Roman clergy and people and was named and consecrated emperor and Augustus by Pope John (Continuator of Regino, year 962). Liudprand of Cremona, who served Otto, adds that he was anointed by the pope, restored the church’s property and gave rich gifts, and that the pope and the leading Romans swore on the body of St Peter never to help Berengar and Adalbert (Liudprand, Deeds of Otto 1–3).
On 13 February Otto issued a privilege for the Roman church (Privilegium Ottonianum dating clause). It confirms to St Peter and to his vicar John the city and duchy of Rome, the lands of Ravenna and the other territories granted by Pippin and Charlemagne (Privilegium Ottonianum 1–14). It also reserves the emperor’s authority. The clergy and nobles of Rome are to swear that papal elections will be canonical; the man elected is not to be consecrated until he has made a promise before the emperor’s envoys; and envoys of pope and emperor are to report each year on how justice is done (Privilegium Ottonianum 15–19).
The alliance did not last. According to Liudprand, John soon turned to Adalbert, and Otto came back to Rome (Liudprand, Deeds of Otto 4–8). A synod in St Peter’s, with the emperor present, heard the Roman clergy accuse the pope of perjury, simony, adultery and much else; when John refused to appear he was declared deposed, and Leo, the chief notary of the Roman church, was chosen in his place (Liudprand, Deeds of Otto 9–16). The Romans rose against Otto and brought John back, and he died soon afterwards (Liudprand, Deeds of Otto 17–20). Liudprand writes as the emperor’s advocate, and John’s side of the story is not heard in his account.
The coronation renewed in the West the imperial title first given to Charlemagne (Charlemagne Is Crowned Emperor), now held by the German kings. Its terms also gave the emperor a say in who became pope, which the reformers of the next century set out to end (The Investiture Controversy and Canossa).
How this is dated
Firm date. Fixed by contemporary documentation and not seriously disputed.
The year is fixed by two contemporary documents. The continuator of Regino’s chronicle says that Otto kept Christmas at Pavia, went on to Rome and was there made emperor, and enters this under 962 (Continuator of Regino, year 962). The privilege for the Roman church, in which Otto already styles himself emperor, is dated 13 February 962, in the fifth indiction (Privilegium Ottonianum dating clause).
The day usually given for the coronation is 2 February, the feast of the Purification. Neither Liudprand nor the continuator names the day; the editor of the continuation prints it in the margin, in brackets, as his own addition (Continuator of Regino, year 962). The source for it was not read for this entry, so the timeline gives the month only.
Primary sources
In context
Grows out of
- 25 December AD 800, firm date
Leads to
- AD 966, estimated date
- AD 1000 or 1001, estimated date
- 1075 to 1077, firm date