Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor

Otto III
Otto III from the Gospels of Otto III
Holy Roman Emperor
Reign	21 May 996 – 23 January 1002
Predecessor	Otto II
Successor	Henry II
King of Italy
Reign	12 April 996 – 23 January 1002
Predecessor	Otto II
Successor	Arduin of Ivrea
King of Germany
Reign	25 December 983 – 23 January 1002
Predecessor	Otto II
Successor	Henry II
Regent	Henry II (983–984) Theophanu (984–991) Adelaide (991–994)
Born	June/July 980 Klever Reichswald near Kessel, Kingdom of Germany
Died	23 January 1002(1002-01-23) (aged 21) Civita Castellana, Holy Roman Empire
Burial	Aachen Cathedral
House	Ottonian
Father	Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor
Mother	Theophanu
Religion	Roman Catholic

Otto III (June/July 980 – 23 January 1002) was Holy Roman Emperor from 996 until his early death in 1002. A member of the Ottonian dynasty, Otto III was the only son of the Emperor Otto II and his wife Theophanu.

Otto III was crowned as King of Germany in 983 at the age of three, shortly after his father's death in southern Italy while campaigning against the Byzantine Empire and the Emirate of Sicily. Though the nominal ruler of Germany, Otto III's minor status ensured his various regents held power over the Empire. His cousin Henry II, Duke of Bavaria, initially claimed regency over the young king and attempted to seize the throne for himself in 984. When his rebellion failed to gain the support of Germany's aristocracy, Henry II was forced to abandon his claims to the throne and to allow Otto III's mother Theophanu to serve as regent until her death in 991. Otto III was then still a child, so his grandmother, the Dowager Empress Adelaide of Italy, served as regent until 994.

In 996, Otto III marched to Italy to claim the titles King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor, which had been left unclaimed since the death of Otto II in 983. Otto III also sought to reestablish Imperial control over the city of Rome, which had revolted under the leadership of Crescentius II, and through it the papacy. Crowned as Emperor, Otto III put down the Roman rebellion and installed his cousin as Pope Gregory V, the first Pope of German descent. After the Emperor had pardoned him and left the city, Crescentius II again rebelled, deposing Gregory V and installing John XVI as Pope. Otto III returned to the city in 998, reinstalled Gregory V, and executed both Crescentius II and John XVI. When Gregory V died in 999, Otto III installed Sylvester II as the new Pope. Otto III's actions throughout his life further strengthened imperial control over the Catholic Church.