HIstoric SettingThese pages provide an overview of why it was important to the first rulers of the Holy Roman Empire to be able to solidify their right to reign. Here you can find the history of the Carolingian rise to power and a description of the chain of divine authority that they wished to continue.
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Byzantine OriginsThis page describes the importance of fashion in the Byzantine court including the Roman origins of the two most important types of robes and their religious symbolism.
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Carolingian FashionsThese pages demonstrate how the Carolingian emperors used Byzantine robes to create their own prestige. Here you can find a description of what Charlemagne and his successors would have worn on a daily basis and how they deviated from that for symbolic purposes.
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Ottonian LegacyThese pages show how the tradition of using Byzantine robes to symbolize power transformed with the Ottonians. This section explores the influence of Otto II's marriage to the Byzantine princess, Theophano, and the reaction to Byzantine culture at this point in time.
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