| |
Empress Theophanu (955 - 991)
Theophanu was born around 955 as a daughter of an Armenian
general. After some family quarrels her uncle became the emperor
of the East-Roman kingdom Byzantium. Theophanu was born into
military nobility and brought up together with the imperial
family. She spoke several languages (Latin, Greek, German, French,
Turkish) and was interested in sciences and politics.
In 972 Theophanu was married to Otto II, Emperor of the Holy
Roman Empire of the German Nation. This marriage solved problems
between the two emperors concerning territories and mutual recognition.
Theophanu liked Cologne and helped to finance the reconstruction
of one of its 12 Romanic churches St. Pantaleon. Theophanu and
Otto had a very good political and social relationship. In many
sources Otto takes up sentences Theophanu said and in some texts
she is even named empress herself. They had four children: Adelheid,
Sophia, Mathilde and in 980 finally a son, who was named Otto
III for dynastic reasons.
Theophanu's greatest achievements as empress were in the second
half of the 10th Century, when some years after his son's birth,
Otto II died unexpectedly of Malaria. Theophanu took over the
role of empress for her son who was only three years old at
the time. Otto II's cousin Heinrich of Bavaria tried to take
over the throne but the majority of princes stood on Theophanu's
side, which was a proof of her abilities as empress and of her
personality. For six years (984-991) Theophanu ruled as empress
and continued her husband's political plans until she died.
|
|
In 996 Otto III became Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of
the German Nation due to his mother's work. Theophanu was one
of the most important women in the Middle Ages. Maybe she was
even the most important empress of Europe.
|
|
