Byzantine Imperial Family & the Ottonians: Theophanu
Theophanu was born as a neptis to Emperor John I Tzimiskes, who ruled the Byzantine or East Roman Empire. Neptis means niece as well as granddaughter. Since her parents are unknown, it is uncertain what she was. But most historians refer to her as a niece of the Emperor and probably the daughter of his former brother-in-law Constantine Skleros and his new wife Sophia Phokaina who was supposedly also a cousin of the emperor. Theophanuâs birth year is also not known exactly. Some sources claim she was born in 955 and others around 960. The first one appears to be rather popular among English speaking historians while German historians claim her to have died at the age of 30 which would place her birthyear at 960.
After long and tedious marriage negotiations because the Ottonians had actually demanded a Byzantine blood princess as bride for their heir which Theophanu was not, she married Otto II in April 972 and was crowned empress the same day by the Pope. From her marriage onward, she used to sign her documents with the male form like Irene of Athens and Byzantine Empress Theodora had done as well.
Theophanu accompanied her husband on all his journeys, and she is mentioned in approximately one quarter of the emperor's formal documents - evidence of her privileged position, influence and interest in affairs of the empire. There are claims she was not on good terms with her mother-in-law Adelaide of Burgundy most of the time but it might not have been as bad as many believe. On the contrary, Adelaide and Theophanu sometimes even held Hoftage (assembly with high-ranking princes of the Empire) together.
Theophanuâs husband Otto II died in 983. During their eleven years of marriage, The Empress gave birth to at least five children of which four survived. Theophanu made sure to place her daughters in powerful positions by making the two oldest ones, Adelaide and Sophia, abbesses of Quedlinburg and Gandersheim, while Matilda was married off to the Count Palatine of Lotharingia to secure her brother Ottoâs power.
Theophanu ruled the Holy Roman Empire as regent for her son Otto III for a span of five years, from May 985 to her death in 990, despite early opposition by the Ottonian court.
Theophanu began to become severly sick by 988 which was most likely due to the constant travel of the court during the time. She passed away on June 15th, 990, in the Nijmegen (The Netherlands). Today she is credited for the introduction of the fork to Western Europe and the feast of Saint Nicholas. It is still celebrated in German speaking countries today on December 6th with little gifts, mostly for children.
// Nicola Ruf as Theophanu in Geschichte Mitteldeutschlands (History of Middle Germany), Season 6 Episode 01 âKaiserin Theophanu - Die mächtigste Frau des Abendlandesâ (Empress Theophanu - The most powerful woman of the Christian West)
