#otto i

[illustratus]

The Reconciliation of Otto the Great with his brother Henry by Alfred Rethel

[treasuresfromthearchives]

Plaque with Christ Receiving Magdeburg Cathedral from Emperor Otto I

Ottonian

ca. 962–968

"One of the most famous ivory carvings to survive from the tenth century, this plaque depicts Christ enthroned against an open worked checkerboard background. He is blessing a model of a church presented to him by Emperor Otto the Great (r. 962–973) and a host of saints including Peter, who holds his attribute, the keys. The ivory was destined for Otto's imperial church dedicated to Saint Mauritius in Magdeburg (Saxony) which was raised to the seat of an archbishopric in 968. This plaque, and an accompanying series of New Testament and symbolic scenes, must have been made for the dedication of the church in that year. This ensemble may have been part of some liturgical furnishing such as a chancel door, a pulpit, or an altar frontal. Probably carved in Milan, an important imperial and artistic center, the engaging style of the ivories with their uncomplicated figures, geometric setting, and emphatic gestures seem to assimilate features of both the Carolingian artistic tradition and that of Byzantium."

[witekspicsoldpostcards2]

GERMANY -> BAYERN / BAWARIA => commemorative post card: 100 years Jubilaum of kings.

[orestrella]

Call out post

[germanaustriannoblesandroyals]

House of Welf & the Ottonians: Adelaide of Burgundy

Adelaide or Adelheid was born either in 931 or 932 as the daughter of King Rudolf II of Burgundy and Italy, at the time, and Bertha of Swabia.

Her older brother Conrad would succeed to the throne of Burgundy after their father’s death. But since Conrad was still a minor he was sent to their allies in Magdeburg.Adelaide’s mother Bertha would take over the regency in that time but it would end quickly when Hugo of Italy has her and her daughter abducted. His intention behind it was to marry Bertha to rule over Italy. Adelaide became engaged to his son Lothair.

Their marriage would be a happy one, although short-lived because of Lothair’s early death. He gifted Adelaide many grounds and possessions over which she could rule herself. Furthermore, he made her his co-regent. The couple had a daughter, Emma of Italy, who would later become the queen consort of Western Francia.

The Calendar of Saints states that her first husband was poisoned by the holder of real power, his successor, Berengar II of Italy, who attempted to cement his political power by forcing her to marry his son, Adalbert; when she refused and fled, she was tracked down and imprisoned for four months at Como. In the end, Adelaide managed to escape and sought an alliance with Otto I, King of East Francia (Germany). She probably had met him in her youth when her father presented him with the Holy Lance. Furthermore, Adelaide’s brother Conrad lived at his court in Magdeburg.

Otto and Adelaide married in 951. The crushing of a revolt in 953 by Liudolf, Otto's son by his first marriage, cemented Adelaide's position, for she retained all her dower lands. Pope John XII crowned Otto Holy Roman Emperor in Rome on February 2nd, 962, and, breaking tradition, also crowned Adelaide as Holy Roman Empress.

She and their eleven-year-old son, Otto II, accompanied Otto in 966 on his third expedition to Italy, where Otto restored the newly elected Pope John XIII to his throne. Adelaide remained in Rome for six years while Otto ruled his kingdom from Italy. Their son Otto II was crowned co-emperor in 967, then married the Byzantine princess Theophanu in April 972, resolving the conflict between the two empires in southern Italy, as well as ensuring the imperial succession. Adelaide and her husband then returned to Germany, where Otto died in May 973.

In 983, her son Otto II died and was succeeded by her grandson Otto III under the regency of his mother Adelaide's daughter-in-law Dowager Empress Theophanu. When Theophanu died in 990, Adelaide assumed regency on behalf of her grandson the Emperor until he reached legal majority four years later. Adelaide resigned as regent when Otho III was declared of legal majority in 995. A year later, he was crowned Emperor. Otto III thanked her in a personal letter stating that she made him emperor and that his honors would be her honors too.

In the end, Adelaide retired at a nunnery in Selz which she had founded herself and died on December 16th, 999.

// Unknown actress as Adelheid von Burgund in Geschichte Mitteldeutschlands (History of Middle Germany), Episode “Kaiserin Adelheid - Die mächtigste Frau der Ottonen” (Empress Adelaide - The most powerful woman of the Ottonians)

[tiny-librarian]

Royal Birthdays for today, November 23rd:

Alexander, Byzantine Emperor, 870

Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, 912

Alfonso X, King of Castile and León, 1226

Maria Anna, Princess of Naples and Sicily, 1775

Sofia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duchess of Noto, 1973

[illustratus]

The Battle of Lechfeld 955 by Michael Echter

The Battle of Lechfeld in which the Kingdom of Germany, led by King Otto I the Great, annihilated the Hungarian army led by Harka Bulcsú and the chieftains Lél and Súr. With the German victory, further invasions by the Magyars into Latin Europe (Western Europe) were ended. During these military campaigns (Hungarian invasions of Europe), the Magyars had threatened much of Western Europe; therefore a common saying at that time was "A sagittis Hungarorum, libera nos Domine" (Lord, save us from the arrows of the Hungarians")

[orestrella]

Good morning eccentric gay kings who want to be left alone, long-suffering equerries running the country, forgotten princes who deserved better, composers living on royal support, extremely talented hairdressers, unwaveringly loyal footmen, dashing himbo adjutants, disgraced ex-boyfriends, dark psychiatrists, tired singers, egocentric empresses with 5 hour beauty routines, fiancees with ambiguous historical personalities, imperial simps, and jaded crown princes with unresolved issues