The Ottonian Legacy
When the Ottonians came to rule much of the eastern half of what had been Charlemagne's Francia, their identity as a continuation of the Roman empire under Christ grew stronger. Consequently, these rulers of the Holy Roman Empire began to question their relationship to the eastern Roman Empire - Byzantium. As can be seen in the maps above, between the periods of Charlemagne and of the Ottonian kings, trade between the two nations grew drastically. Increased contact with the East brought an influx of luxury goods to the Holy Roman Empire, including silks. In the beginning, the Ottonians continued the Carolingian tradition of utilizing associations with Byzantine fashion and culture to demonstrate their power. Otto I even sought to incorporate Byzantine royalty in his bloodline by marrying a Byzantine princess to his son, Otto II. This increase in trade and contact between the two nations would have a surprising impact on how costume was utilized to create power. The following pages explore how Otto II's marriage to the Byzantine Theophano both strengthened the symbolism behind wearing Byzantine costume and also created a reactionary branch of visualization that emphasized the strength inherent in the strictly Frankish identity.