Lindsey Graham (3:48)
From Noiser and Airship I'm Lindsey Graham and this is History. Daily History is made every day on this podcast. Every day we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world. Today is November 6th, 963 CE. Otto the Great overthrows the Pope. It's May 961 CE inside Aachen Cathedral in East Francia, six years after Otto the Great defeated the Hungarians. Coils of incense smoke swirl through the candlelit chamber as Otto proudly watches his six year old son take his seat on a marble throne. The boy's feet barely touch the ground and he struggles under the weight of his robes and the gem studded crown on his head. But this child is now king and all the nobles in the cathedral rise to acclaim him. No one is fooled, though they know exactly who is still really in charge. For the past 25 years, Otto has steadily consolidated his rule over East Francia. And despite his success at home and on the battlefield, he knows that many of the lords and noblemen who profess loyalty to him in fact dream of succeeding him one day. That's why Otto has taken the unusual step of making his young son joint ruler with him. He hopes this move will secure his line because Otto has a dangerous journey ahead of him. He's marching his army to Rome at the request of Pope John XII. A brash 23 year old Pope John wants to reclaim all the Papal States, historical territories that were once directly governed by the Papacy. But an attack on the Dukes of Southern Italy has failed, and now Rome is surrounded by enemies. Only Otto can save John now. And in return for his help, the Pope promises to crown him with the greatest title in all of Christendom. Holy Roman Emperor. It's a title that was held by Otto's ancestor Charlemagne, who marched to Rome 150 years ago. Now Otto is determined to follow in his footsteps. So with his son anointed as co regent in August961ce, Otto takes his army over the Alps and into northern Italy. As he advances, the Pope's enemies flee. And by Christmas, Otto is nearing Rome. There, the Pope invites him into the city to be crowned Holy Roman Emperor. But there is a catch. The Pope's enemies have only fled. They've not yet been defeated. The most powerful of them, Berengar, is in his mountain fortress of San Leo, biding his time and waiting for the right moment to strike back. So Pope John will only crown Otto as Holy Roman Emperor, provided that Otto promises to then destroy Berengar. Otto agrees, and on January 31st, 962 CE, he enters Rome. The city is far from its imperial glory days. Vines cover the once impressive walls, slums spill out of ancient temples, and cattle roam through the crumbling amphitheaters. But it is still the heart of Christianity, and a delegation of robed cardinals is waiting to escort Otto into the papal palace. That evening, Pope John invites Otto to a lavish banquet. Otto has heard that John is more a debauched prince than a holy priest and hopes to find that the gossip isn't true. But the young Pope John quickly confirms all the worst rumors about him. He drinks heavily and boasts shamelessly of his sexual exploits. This unholy behavior shocks Otto, and he vows to do something about it when he becomes Emperor. But until the crown is on his head, he keeps those thoughts to himself. Two days later, Otto kneels before Pope John at the altar in St. Peter's Basilica. As Latin prayers echo through the chamber, Otto takes a solemn oath to protect the Church and uphold the Christian faith. Then the Pope raises a vessel of holy oil for all to see and pours it onto Otto's bowed head. The old king of East Francia rises as the new Holy Roman Emperor. After this coronation, Pope John and Emperor Otto issue a joint decree. It reiterates the Pope's claims on disputed land in Italy. But more importantly, as far as Otto is concerned, it declares that all future popes will have to swear their allegiance to the Holy Roman Emperor before they can take the post. This effectively gives Otto power over the papacy. But Pope John doesn't see it that way. He's already the Pope, after all, and thinks that he will be the one controlling Otto. So he tells Otto that the time has come for him to keep his side of the bargain. He must destroy Berengar. But as Otto leads his army out of Rome, Pope John will begin to think he's made a terrible mistake. Fearing Otto's power, he will make a dramatic reversal, courting his old enemies and plotting the downfall of the newly crowned Holy Rome. History Daily is sponsored by Indeed My business is a bit peculiar. There are way more ordinary ways to make a living than podcasting, for sure. But when it comes to hiring, though, the skills are different. The needs are the same. 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