Otto II and Theophano

Theophanu (960 – June 15, 991) (Greek: Θεοφανώ Theophano), also spelled Theophania, was born in Constantinople, and was the wife of Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1088x1863, 706 KB) Description Couronnement dOtton II et de Théophano Plaque de reliure Ivoire Empire germanique, origine byzantine (?), 982-983 Musée National du Moyen-Âge (Cluny), Cl. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1088x1863, 706 KB) Description Couronnement dOtton II et de Théophano Plaque de reliure Ivoire Empire germanique, origine byzantine (?), 982-983 Musée National du Moyen-Âge (Cluny), Cl. ... Events Edgar the Peaceable crowned King of England. ... June 15 is the 166th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (167th in leap years), with 199 days remaining. ... Events Battle of Maldon Sweyn I of Denmark recovers his throne Births Deaths Theophanu, empress, mother of Otto III Emperor Enyu of Japan Categories: 991 ... Map of Constantinople. ... Otto II and Theophano. ...

Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor had requested a Greek princess for his son, Otto, to seal a treaty between the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire. Theophanu duly arrived in 972, arriving in grand style with a magnificent escort and bearing great treasure. However, according to the chronicler Thietmar, she was not the virgo desiderata, the Imperial princess, that was expected. Theophanu is identified in the marriage contract as the neptis (niece or granddaughter) of Emperor John I Tzimisces (Ιωάννης Ι Τσιμισκής). At one time it was believed Theophanu was the daughter of the Emperor Romanus II and his consort Theophano, but no mention is made of her being porphyrogenita (πορφυρογέννητη), purple-born, nor are her parents identified. It is unlikely that Theophanu was the daughter of any emperor -- the current theory is that her father was Konstantinos Skleros (Κωνσταντίνος Σκληρός), brother of the pretender Bardas Skleros (Βάρδας Σκληρός) and her mother was Sophia Phokaina (Σοφία Φώκαινα), niece of Emperor Nicephorus II (Νικηφόρος ΙΙ) and the sister of Tzimisces' first wife Maria Skleraina (Μαρία Σκλήραινα). Emperor Otto I Otto I the Great (November 23, 912 - May 7, 973), son of Henry I the Fowler, king of the Germans, and Matilda of Ringelheim, was Duke of Saxony, King of the Germans and arguably the first Holy Roman Emperor. ... The double-headed eagle The Holy Roman Empire was a mainly Germanic conglomeration of lands in Central Europe during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. ... The Byzantine Empire (Greek name: - Basileia tōn Romaiōn) is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire of the Middle Ages, centered around its capital of Constantinople. ... Ioannes, protected by God and the Virgin Mary. ... Romanus II (939 - 963) succeeded his father Constantine VII as Byzantine emperor in 959 at the age of twenty-one, and died, poisoned, it was believed, by his wife, Theophanu in 963. ... Theophano was a Byzantine empress. ... Bardas Skleros or Sklerus was a Byzantine general who led a wide-scale Asian rebellion against Emperor Basil II in 976-979. ... Emperor Nicephoros Phocas Nicephorus II Phocas was one of the most brilliant generals in the history of Byzantium who rose to become a mediocre emperor from 963 until his assassination in 969. ...

Theophanu and Otto were married by Pope John XIII on April 14, 972 at Saint Peter's and she was crowned the same day in Rome. Their children were: John XIII of Crescenzi family (born in Rome; died September 6, 972) served as Pope from October 1, 965 until his death. ... April 14 is the 104th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (105th in leap years). ... Events Otto II marries Theophanu, Byzantine princess. ...

• Adelaide, Abbess of Quedlinburg, born November or December 977

• Sophia, Abbess of Gandersheim and Essen, born 978

• Matilda of Saxony, born 978, who married Ezzo, count palatine of Lotharingia

• Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor, born June or July 980

• A daughter, a twin to Otto, who died before October 8, 980

Theophanu accompanied her husband on all his journeys, and issued diplomas in her own name as Empress. It is known she was frequently at odds with her mother-in-law, Adelaide of Italy, and this caused an estrangement between Otto II and Adelaide. According to Odilo, Abbot of Cluny, Adelaide was very happy when "that Greek woman" died. Albert of Metz describes Theophanu as being an unpleasant and talkative woman. Theophanu was also criticized for introducing luxurious garments and jewelry into Germany. She is credited with introducing the fork to Western Europe - chronographers mention the astonishment she caused when she "used a golden double prong to bring food to her mouth" instead of using her hands as was the norm. "The theologian Peter Damian even asserts that Theophanu had a love affair with John Philagathos, a Greek monk who briefly reigned as Antipope John XVI. Events Births Deaths Hunain ibn Ishaq, Egyptian physician Categories: 977 ... Map of Germany showing Bad Gandersheim Bad Gandersheim is a city in southern Lower Saxony, Germany, located in the district Northeim. ... [Essen], german for Meal [essen], german for eat Essen is the name of the following places: Essen, Germany, one of the major cities of the Ruhr area Essen, Belgium Essen, Netherlands, a village in the province of Groningen German: to eat, eating, food This is a disambiguation page — a navigational... Events Badìa Fiorentina, an abbey in Italy, is founded by Willa, Margravine of Tuscany. ... Events Badìa Fiorentina, an abbey in Italy, is founded by Willa, Margravine of Tuscany. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Lotharingia (yellow), as established by the Treaty of Verdun, 843, and reduced by the Treaty of Mersen, 870 Lotharingia was a short-lived kingdom in western Europe, the aggregate of territories belonging to Lothair, King of Lotharingia (reigned 855–869), who received it in 855 from his father, Lothair I... Otto III in a medieval manuscript Otto III (980 – January 23, 1002, Paterno, Italy) was the fourth ruler of the Saxon or Ottonian dynasty. ... Events Births Emperor Ichijo of Japan Humbert I of Savoy Avicenna Godiva, Countess of Mercia Deaths Categories: 980 ... October 8 is the 281st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (282nd in leap years). ... Events Births Emperor Ichijo of Japan Humbert I of Savoy Avicenna Godiva, Countess of Mercia Deaths Categories: 980 ... Saint Adelaide(931-December 16, 999), perhaps the most prominent European woman of the tenth century, was the daughter of Rudolf II of Burgundy and Bertha of Swabia. ... Assorted forks. ... Pietro Damiani (St Peter Damian), (c. ... John XVI (originally John Piligato or Philagathus) (died 1013?) was an Italian antipope between 997 and 998. ...

Sarcophagus of Empress Theophanu

Otto II died suddenly on December 7, 983 and was buried in Rome. That Christmas Theophanu had their three-year-old son crowned as Otto III, with herself ruling as Empress Regent on his behalf. Henry II, Duke of Bavaria seized Otto in spring 984, but was forced to surrender the child to his mother. With the cooperation of Willigis, Archbishop of Mainz, and Hildebald, Bishop of Worms, Theophanu reigned until her death in 991. She was buried in the church of Saint Pantaleon at Cologne. The chronicler Thietmar eulogized her as follows: "Though [Theophanu] was of the weak sex she possessed moderation, trustworthiness, and -- which is not often found in Greece -- good manners. In this way she protected with male vigilance the royal power for her son, friendly with all those who were honest, but with terrifying superiority against rebels." Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2016x1512, 1181 KB) Image: Sarcophagus of Empress Theophanu; St. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2016x1512, 1181 KB) Image: Sarcophagus of Empress Theophanu; St. ... December 7 is the 341st day (342nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Hugh Capet, a distant relative of the last Carolingian king of the Franks, is crowned King of France, beginning the Capetian dynasty and, arguably, modern French history. ... Henry II the Wrangler Henry II (951–995), called the Wrangler or the Quarrelsome, in German Heinrich der Zänker, was the son of Henry I and Judith of Bavaria. ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Enyu of Japan Emperor Kazan ascends to the throne of Japan Births Deaths Categories: 984 ... Events Battle of Maldon Sweyn I of Denmark recovers his throne Births Deaths Theophanu, empress, mother of Otto III Emperor Enyu of Japan Categories: 991 ... Saint Pantaleon (Panteleimon), counted in the West among the late-medieval Fourteen Holy Helpers and in the East as one of the Holy Unmercenary Healers, was a martyr of Nicomedia in Bithynia during the Diocletian persecution of 303 AD. According to the martyrologies, Pantaleon was the son of a rich... Cologne (German:   ; Kölsch: Kölle /ˈkÅ“É«É™/) is Germanys fourth-largest city after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, and is the largest city both in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than...

Because Otto III was still a child, his grandmother Adelaide of Italy took over the regency until Otto III became old enough to rule on his own. Saint Adelaide(931-December 16, 999), perhaps the most prominent European woman of the tenth century, was the daughter of Rudolf II of Burgundy and Bertha of Swabia. ...

Sources

Davids, Adelbert. The Empress Theophano: Byzantium and the West at the turn of the first millennium, 2002. ISBN 0-521-52467-9

External links

• Find-A-Grave biography