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Information about Theophanu

For the Byzantine Empresses, see .
Theophanu (960 – June 15, 991) (Greek: Θεοφανώ Theophano), also spelled Theophania or Theophano, was born in Constantinople, and was the wife of Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor.

Family

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. The unwise reference by the pope to the ruler in Constantinople as "Greek" in a letter while Otto's ambassador, Liudprand of Cremona had been in Byzantine had destroyed the first round of negotiations. With the ascension of a new emperor who had not been personally been referred to other as Emperor of Rome, the treaty negotiations were able to resume. 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). However since John Tzimisces had married Theodora, the sister of Romanus II, she still may actually have been a daughter of Romanus and that much more evil and conniving Theophano who was Romanus' wife.

At one time it was believed Theophanu was the daughter of the Emperor Romanos 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 Nikephoros II (Νικηφόρος ΙΙ) and sister of Maria Skleraina (Μαρία Σκλήραινα), first wife of Tzimisces'. Accordingly she was of Armenian descent.

Marriage and children

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:

Life as Empress

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 her decadence, which manifested in her bathing once a day and 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.

Enlarge picture
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 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."

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.

Sources

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

Preceded by
Adelaide of Italy		German Queen
972 – 983		Succeeded by
Cunigunde of Luxembourg
Empress of the Holy Roman Empire
972 – 983

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Greek}}} 
Writing system: Greek alphabet 
Official status
Official language of:  Greece
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recognised as minority language in parts of:
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Constantinople (Greek: Κωνσταντινούπολις, Konstantinoúpolis, or Πόλις, Polis
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Otto II (955 – December 7, 983, Rome), called the Red, was the third ruler of the Saxon or Ottonian dynasty, the son of Otto the Great and Adelaide of Italy.

Biography

Education, first years of reign


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Otto I the Great (23 November 912 – 7 May 973), son of Henry I the Fowler and Matilda of Ringelheim, was Duke of Saxony, King of Germany, King of Italy, and arguably the first Holy Roman Emperor.
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Holy Roman Empire (Latin: Sacrum Romanum Imperium, German: Heiliges Römisches Reich, Italian: Sacro Romano Impero
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Byzantine Empire or Byzantium is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire of the Middle Ages, centered on its capital of Constantinople.
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Liutprand (also Liudprand, Luitprand; c. 922 - 972) was a Lombard historian and author, and bishop of Cremona.

He was born into a prominent family towards the beginning of the 10th century.
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John I Tzimiskes or Tzimisces, (Greek: Ιωάννης Α΄ Τζιμισκής, Iōannēs I Tzimiskēs), (c.
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Romanos II or Romanus II (Greek: Ρωμανός Β΄, Rōmanos II) (938–963) succeeded his father Constantine VII as Byzantine emperor in 959 at the age of twenty-one, and died suddenly in 963.
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Romanus (Latin, Roman) was a Roman cognomen and can refer to:
  • Aquila Romanus, Latin grammarian
  • Romanus (comes), a comes Africae, rebelled against by Firmus (4th century usurper)

Saints

  • Romanus of Caesarea, martyr

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Theophano was a Byzantine empress. She was the daughter-in-law of Constantine VII; wife of Romanos II; wife of Nikephoros II Phokas; lover of John I Tzimiskes; the mother of Basil II, Constantine VIII and the princess Anna Porphyrogenita, who later married the Russian prince
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Romanos II or Romanus II (Greek: Ρωμανός Β΄, Rōmanos II) (938–963) succeeded his father Constantine VII as Byzantine emperor in 959 at the age of twenty-one, and died suddenly in 963.
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Theophano was a Byzantine empress. She was the daughter-in-law of Constantine VII; wife of Romanos II; wife of Nikephoros II Phokas; lover of John I Tzimiskes; the mother of Basil II, Constantine VIII and the princess Anna Porphyrogenita, who later married the Russian prince
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Bardas Skleros or Sclerus was a Byzantine general who led a wide-scale Asian rebellion against Emperor Basil II in 976-979.

Background

Bardas belonged to the great Skleros family, which owned enormous estates at the eastern outskirts of Asia Minor.
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Nikephoros II Phokas or Nicephorus II Phocas (Greek: Νικηφόρος Β΄ Φωκάς, Nikēphoros II Phōkas), (c.
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John XIII of Crescenzi family (born in Rome; died September 6, 972) served as Pope from October 1, 965 until his death. He was one of the few Popes to not change his name on his accession.

He spent his career in the papal court.
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April 14 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

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Bad Gandersheim is a city in southern Lower Saxony, Germany, located in the district of Northeim. Population 11,026 (2004) . The city includes 16 surrounding villages.

The mayor is Heinz-Gerhard Ehmen.
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Essen Abbey (Stift Essen) was a collegiate foundation, or canonry, for women of the high nobility in Essen. It was founded in about 845 by the Saxon nobleman Altfrid (d.
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Ezzo (circa 955 – 21 March 1034), sometimes called Ehrenfried, Count Palatine of Lotharingia of the Ezzonen dynasty, was the son of Herman I.

Having married Matilda of Saxony (died 1025), a daughter of Emperor Otto II and Theophanu, Ezzo became prominent during
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