At the Tomb of Emperor Otto

A thousand years ago, the area of what is now Germany was covered in vast forests, with only a few settlements. Today Germany has about 84 million inhabitants; back then, only around 2 to 4 million people lived here. Most were farmers who grew grain in poor fields using simple tools and kept a few animals for milk, meat and hides.

Some wealthy families claimed all the land for themselves and considered themselves its masters. Most farmers owned no land of their own. A landowner allowed them to live and work on his land. They had to give up part of their meagre harvest as dues. Without their lord’s permission, they were not allowed to move away—not even to get married. When a farmer died, much of his livestock and few other possessions passed to the landowner. The farmer’s successor, usually a son, had to pay dues again. He could then stay on the farm with his family.

On average, people lived to about 35 years old. There were small villages and only a few towns. Farmers lived in straw-and-wood huts alongside chickens, pigs, cattle, dogs, cats and lots of vermin. Everything people needed to live had to be made by themselves. Winters were cold, and open fires in the houses provided little warmth. When the harvest was poor, people went hungry. They had to fend for themselves during births and illnesses, as there were no doctors. At most, barber-surgeons travelled from place to place, pulling rotten teeth without anaesthetic and treating wounds with all kinds of ointments and remedies. 

Some families became particularly wealthy in those days. They often owed their wealth to a king or another leader. Emperor Charlemagne ruled over the vast Frankish Empire. He had himself crowned emperor in the year 800. He appointed counts throughout his empire. They were to enforce the emperor’s will and laws.

In times of war, these counts had to go into battle as knights and bring ordinary peasants to fight as foot soldiers. In return, the counts received large estates as fiefs. They could rule over the peasants and demand payments from them. Before long, they regarded the land as their own property. These followers of a powerful ruler called themselves nobles.

The nobles had sturdy castles built to protect themselves and their followers. This also made it clear to everyone that they were rich and powerful. Some nobles made sure their subjects were well cared for. In wartime, for example, the subjects could take refuge in the castles. Others exploited the peasants and grew rich from their labor.

Emperor Charlemagne once ruled the Frankish Empire. It encompassed the lands that are now France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. Charlemagne died in 814. His grandsons divided the empire into three parts. The territories in the east became the East Frankish Kingdom. Saxons, Bavarians, Alemanni, Frisians, Franks and Lotharingians lived in this kingdom. Today, large parts of this old kingdom belong to Germany.

There was a lot of conflict between the leading families in this empire. The leaders gathered knights around them, and they often fought among themselves. Or they formed alliances and supported one another. Those who were especially clever or particularly ruthless were made dukes. In 911, Conrad, Duke of the Franks, was elected king of the East Frankish Kingdom by the other princes. But his reign lasted only seven years. His successor was Henry, Duke of the Saxons.

Henry’s son Otto was born on November 23, 912. When his father died in 936, Otto succeeded him as king at the age of 24. His brothers Henry and Liudolf tried to force him from the throne, but Otto prevailed. In 955, Otto led an army that defeated Hungarian cavalry in a major battle on the Lechfeld near Augsburg. The Hungarians had repeatedly ridden through southern Germany, raiding and plundering.

A few years later, Otto conquered the Kingdom of Italy. In 962, he traveled to Rome. In those days, military campaigns and journeys lasted several months. In Rome, the Pope crowned him emperor. He wanted to be as powerful and influential as Charlemagne once was.

In those days, kings and emperors had several palaces throughout their realm. These had permanent buildings that provided shelter and accommodation for them and their retinues. They also needed to house and care for many horses. The kings held court here, met with other princes, and held banquets and knights’ tournaments. Otto especially loved the palace in Magdeburg. He returned here time and again. Eventually, he had a cathedral built and chose it as the place where he wanted to be buried after his death.