Spring – Emperor
Otto I (the Great) calls for a council at
Rome, to present the new government under Pope
John XIII. He asserts his rights in the city, and insists on the occasional presence of an imperial
judge, alongside the
papal court. The era of Roman independence is over.
Grado becomes the patriarchal and metropolitan church of the whole of the
Veneto.[1]
Otto I dispatches an imperial delegation (led by a Venetian named Domenico) to
Constantinople with assurances of his friendship and a request for Princess
Theophano (a daughter of the late Emperor
Romanos II) for his 12-year-old son
Otto II. As
dowry Otto demands the
Byzantine holdings in southern Italy.
The imperial delegation arrives in
Macedonia, but goes nowhere with Nikephoros II. Far from offering
Byzantine Italy as dowry for Theophano, Nikephoros refuses to accept the claims of Otto I.
Otto I renews the imperial treaty with
Pietro IV Candiano, doge of
Venice. He grants him commercial privileges, and protection for Venetian citizens (also the possessions of Venetian bishops).
Winter – Otto I returns to Rome. On
Christmas day, John XIII crowns Otto II as co-emperor of the
Holy Roman Empire. Although Otto II is nominated as co-ruler, he exercises no real authority.[3]
July 5 – Emperor
Murakami dies after a 21-year reign. He is succeeded by his 17-year-old son
Reizei, who is insane and becomes the 63rd emperor of
Japan.
By topic
Religion
Otto I completes and dedicates a
new cathedral at
Magdeburg in
Saxony. Like other imperial churches of the period, it includes a
westwork – a structure attached to the entrance wall and outfitted with galleries. Otto makes Magdeburg a base for
missionary efforts to convert the
Slavs to the east. The patron saint of the city is
Mauritius, who, as a military leader fighting for
Christianity against pagan armies, shares affinities with Otto himself.