Otto I
Saxon king who entered Italy at the pope’s appeal, was crowned emperor at Rome in 962, confirmed the papal territories and soon afterwards had Pope John XII deposed by a Roman synod.
Otto had his young son elected king before he left for Italy, kept Christmas at Pavia and was made emperor at Rome by Pope John XII (Continuator of Regino, years 961–962) (Liudprand, Deeds of Otto 1–3). His privilege of 13 February 962 confirmed the lands of the Roman church and reserved the emperor’s part in papal elections (Privilegium Ottonianum 15; dating clause). When the pope turned against him he sat in the synod that declared John deposed and chose Leo VIII (Liudprand, Deeds of Otto 9–16). See Otto I Is Crowned Emperor.
He also looked east. A chronicler at his court records that in 959 envoys of the Rus’ asked him for a bishop, that the request later proved insincere, and that he nevertheless sent the monk Adalbert in 961 (Continuator of Regino, years 959–961).
In the timeline
- February AD 962, firm dateOtto I Is Crowned Emperor
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.