Roman emperor, German king, and successor of Henry I (died 936); crowned at Aix-la-Chapelle; born November 23, 912; died Memleben, Saxony, May 7, 973. Directing his efforts towards the establishment of a strong central power, he finally triumphed over the particularism of the nobles, thus preparing for a reorganization of the constitution, and extending his influence over France, Burgundy, and Italy, then in a demoralized condition. His victory at Lechfelde in 955 saved Germany from the Hungarian peril. To secure his power he planned an alliance between the Church and State, the spiritual hierarchy to be merely a branch of the royal service; this however necessitated control of the papacy, which he secured by going to the aid of the unworthy John XII, and was crowned emperor at Rome, February 2, 962. He conflrmed the privileges granted to the Church by the Carlovingians and arranged that kings should not be consecrated, before swearing allegiance to the German ruler. When John turned against Otto, the latter set up an antipope, Leo VIII, and made the Romans swear never to elect a pope without his or his son's approval.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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