Death of Emperor Otto I

The founder of the Holy Roman Empire dies in Memleben

Given his status as one of the most successful rulers of medieval Germany, it is little wonder that Otto I soon acquired the soubriquet “the Great”. His rise to power had been rapid. Named Duke of Saxony and King of the East Franconian Empire at the tender age of 24, he quickly asserted the authority of the crown against the nobility, and was later also crowned King of Italy. After establishing himself as the leader of Western Christendom by defeating the heathen Hungarians at the Battle of Lechfeld (955), the Pope crowned him emperor in 962. Otto expanded his territory to the south and east and founded the archbishopric of Magdeburg in 968 in order to support missionaries in their attempt to bring the Gospel to the Slavs. During the height of his power, at a session of his court held in Quedlinburg at Easter 973, he received envoys from Denmark, Poland, Hungary, Italy, Byzantium and Spain. Otto’s claim to authority far exceeded his German power base; he saw himself called to “head the whole of the world”, as recorded by his contemporary Widukind von Corvey.

Otto suddenly developed a high fever only weeks after his triumph at Memleben. His condition deteriorated rapidly and he died on 7 May 973 whereupon he was buried in Magdeburg. Otto proved his greatness even after death. Negotiations with the German nobility during his lifetime ensured that Otto’s son, also called Otto, was crowned co-king at the age of six and co-emperor at twelve. Otto the Great also arranged the marriage of his son in 972 to Theophanu, niece of the Byzantine emperor. This all meant that Otto II was able to succeed his father without any dispute at the young age of 18. The only downside following this seamless transition was Otto II’s early death at the age of 28.