Otto I (Otto the Great) is considered by many historians to be the founder of the Holy Roman Empire. He convinced Pope John XII to crown him emperor, and over the course of his reign, Otto defeated revolts by his half-brother, his younger, brother, and his son, and expanded the boundaries of his empire through constant war. He extended the frontiers of the German kingdom, winning territory from the Slavs in the east, forcing the Bohemians to pay tribute, and gaining influence in Denmark and Burgundy. In 951 Otto became King of the Lombards, and married the queen of Italy.
Otto deliberately made use of the bishops to strengthen his rule and by doing so, he provided a stable and long-lasting framework for Germany. By his victorious campaigns, he gave Germany peace and security from foreign attack.
Though warfare was frequent, Germany was stable under Otto’s rule, and a small cultural renaissance flourished. He also extended his authority over the church, and promoted missionary activity in lands he had conquered. By his death, Otto had created the most powerful state in Western Europe, and laid the foundation for the later Holy Roman Empire. Otto 1 was born in 912 and died in 973 AD.
