• Born: 23 Nov 912, Sachsen
• Married (1): Sep 929
• Married (2): Abt Nov 951, Pavia, Italy
• Died: 7 May 973, Memleben, Sachsen

  Research Notes:

Widukind names (in order) "Oddonem, Heinricum, Brunonem" as sons of King Heinrich & his second wife.

Associate King of Germany, with his father, in 930. He was elected as OTTO I "der Große" King of Germany 7 Aug 936, crowned at Aachen. After his accession, the Bohemians and the Abotrites withheld payment of tribute. A revolt in Bavaria was led by Duke Eberhard, whom King Otto deposed and banished. Otto's half-brother Thankmar rebelled in Saxony with other magnates dissatisfied with the king's distribution of offices. His brother Heinrich rebelled in 939, was joined by Louis IV King of the West Franks and Giselbert Duke of Lotharingia, but was defeated at Birten and Andernach. Thietmar records that he founded the monastery of Magdeburg (later Magdeburg Cathedral), encouraged by his first wife, to which the relics of St Innocent were brought. He sent armed forces which were unsuccessful in taking reprisals against Rouen in 945, after members of the local nobility had arranged the escape of Richard I Comte [de Normandie] from his captivity by Louis IV King of the West Franks, his brother-in-law, a nepos (unidentified) of King Otto being killed in the battle. Thietmar records that he invaded Italy in 951, using the ill-treatment of his future second wife as an excuse, entered Pavia 23 Sep 951 and proclaimed himself king of Italy. His predecessor Berengario di Ivrea proposed himself as Otto's viceroy in Italy, which was accepted by the Council of Augsburg in Aug 952. King Otto's son Liudolf rebelled in 953, but was pardoned in 954. Thietmar records that King Otto defeated the Magyars in battle at Lechfeld near Augsburg in 955, which marked the end of their marauding in Europe. Berengario King of Italy abused his position, and Otto sent Liudolf to Italy to restore order. After several further years of Berengario's tyrannical rule in Italy, Otto invaded in Aug 961 in response to requests for intervention from Pope John XII and Hubert [de Provence] Duke of Spoleto, one of Berengario's main vassals. King Otto forced Berengario's retreat to the fortress of San Leo near Montefeltro 962, finally capturing him in 963. Thietmar records that he was crowned Emperor at Rome 2 Feb 962 by Pope John XII.

The necrology of Fulda records the death "973 Non Mai" of "Otto imp". Thietmar records his death at Memleben on 7 May in the thirty-eighth year after his consecration and his burial at Magdeburg. The necrology of Merseburg records the death "7 May" of "Otto maior magnus imperator". ¹