Otto III The Wonder of the World (983-1002)
Otto III comes to the throne aged 4 when his father unexpectedly died of Malaria. His mother and grandmother have to wrestle the guardianship out of the hands of his perfidious cousin, henry the Quarrelsome. Once matured he becomes a fascinating figure oscillating between excessive brutality and excessive piety. His attempt at a “Restauration of the Roman Empire” fails catastrophically and his friends barely manage to repatriate his body back to Germany.
When 4-year-old king Otto III is crowned king riders bang on the door of Aachen Cathedral with news that his father, Otto II had died 16 days earlier. Immediately the archenemy of the family, Henry the Quarrelsome is released from prison where he was held for treason and is made guardian of the child. Otto III’s chance of survival is bleak and his only hope is his mother, the Byzantine princes Theophanu who musters an odd assembly of ladies and geeks to rescue her son…
The music for the show is Flute Sonata in E-flat major, H.545 by Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach (or some claim it as BWV 1031 Johann Sebastian Bach) performed and arranged by Michel Rondeau under Common Creative Licence 3.0.
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To make it easier for you to share the podcast, I have created separate playlists for some of the seasons that are set up as individual podcasts. they have the exact same episodes as in the History of the Germans, but they may be a helpful device for those who want to concentrate on only one season.
So far I have:
Salian Emperors and Investiture Controversy
Fredrick Barbarossa and Early Hohenstaufen
The Holy Roman Empire 1250-1356
The Reformation before the Reformation
The music for the show is Flute Sonata in E-flat major, H.545 by Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach (or some claim it as BWV 1031 Johann Sebastian Bach) performed and arranged by Michel Rondeau under Common Creative Licence 3.0.
#11 Woe to the Land that is Governed by a child…
The abduction of Otto III
The 4-year old Otto III is being crowned in Aachen when messengers appear announcing his father the emperor Otto II had just died
#12 The Regency of Theophanu and Adelheid
Two Women Ruling a Medieval Empire
The Byzantine princess Theophanu suddenly finds herself in charge of the empire, an empire under threat from Slavs and Western Franks
#13 Otto III – The Wonder of the World
A Half German, Half Byzantian Teenager on the Throne of the Western Empire
Otto III usually seen as a kind and esoteric youth also had a bloody side. He took Rome twice, killing its tyrant Crescentius
#14 Otto III The End of a Dream
The Last Emperor to live in Rome
The emperor Otto III goes to Poland to visit the shrine of his friend St. Adalbert and to make friends with Boleslaw the Brave…