Emperor Otto III | More Information
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Rule of Regents
Because Otto III was a minor, various regents held power over the Empire. His cousin Henry II, Duke of Bavaria, initially claimed regency over the young king and attempted to seize the throne for himself in 984 CE. When his rebellion failed to gain the support of Germany’s aristocracy, Henry II was forced to abandon his claims to the throne and to allow Otto III’s mother Theophanu to serve as regent until her death in 991CE. Otto III was then still a child, so his grandmother, the Dowager Empress Adelaide of Italy, served as regent until 994 CE.

Imperial Control over the Church
In 996 CE, Otto III marched into Italy to claim the titles King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor which had been left unclaimed since the death of Otto II in 983 CE. Otto III also sought to reestablish Imperial control over the city of Rome, which had revolted under the leadership of Crescentius II, and through it the papacy. Crowned as Emperor, Otto III put down the Roman rebellion and installed his cousin as Pope Gregory V, the first Pope of German descent. After the Emperor had pardoned him and left the city, Crescentius II rebelled again, deposing Gregory V and installing John XVI as Pope. Otto III returned to the city in 998 CE, reinstalled Gregory V, and executed both Crescentius II and John XVI. When Gregory V died in 999, Otto III installed Sylvester II as the new Pope. Otto III’s actions throughout his life further strengthened imperial control over the Catholic Church.

Opposition from the Slavs
From the beginning of his reign, Otto III faced opposition from the Slavs along the eastern frontier. Following the death of his father in 983 CE, the Slavs rebelled against imperial control, forcing the Empire to abandon its territories east of the Elbe river. Otto III fought to regain the Empire’s lost territories throughout his reign with only limited success.

Crowning of Stephen I in Hungary
Meanwhile, Otto III strengthened the Empire’s relations with Poland, Bohemia, and Hungary. Through his affairs in Eastern Europe in 1000 CE, he was able to extend the influence of Christianity by supporting mission work in Poland and through the crowning of Stephen I as the first Christian king of Hungary.

Early Death
Returning to Rome in 1001 CE, Otto III faced a rebellion by the Roman aristocracy, which forced him to flee the city. While marching to reclaim the city in 1002 CE, however, Otto III suffered a sudden fever and died in a castle near Civita Castellana at the age of 21. With no clear heir to succeed him, his early death threw the Empire into political crisis.