Theophanu
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Theophanu (956 - June 15, 991) (Greek:"Θεοφανώ" Theophano) was born in Constantinople, was the wife of Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor. Her true parentage is a matter of some dispute -- the German emperor had requested a Greek princess for his son, Otto, to seal a treaty between the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire. Theophanu duly arrived in 972, and is identified in the marriage contract as the neptis (niece or granddaughter) of Emperor John I Tzimisces. However, no mention is made of her being a porphyrogenneta (Imperial daughter), nor are her parent's names given. It is unlikely that Theophanu was the daughter of any emperor -- the current theory is that her father was Konstantinos Skleros (brother of the pretender Bardos Skleros) and her mother was Sophia Phokaina (niece of Emperor Nicephorus II and the sister of Tzimisces' wife Maria Skleraina).
Theophanu and Otto were married on April 14, 972 and she was crowned the same day in Rome. Their children were:
- Adelaide, Abbess of Quedlinburg, born 977
- Sophia, Abbess of Gandersheim, born 978
- Matilda of Saxony, born 978
- Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor, born 980
- A daughter, a twin to Otto, who died before October 8, 980
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 introducing luxurious garments and jewelry into Germany.
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 -- which is not often found in Greece -- 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, A. The Empress Theophano: Byzantium and the West at the turn of the first millennium, 1995.de:Theophanu (HRR) pl:Teofano