(1) The election of the pope to be invalid without consent of emperor.
(2) The German king to be king of Italy and Rome, though not to assume imperial title until crowned by the pope.
968 Invasion of the Greek provinces by Otto on account of difficulties over the marriage arrangements of Otto II and Theophano, daughter of the Byzantine emperor. The matter is pacifically arranged on accession of Joannes Zimisces.
973 Death of Otto I. Otto II sole possessor of the royal and imperial titles.
976 Conspiracy of Otto’s cousin, Henry the Wrangler, of Bavaria, who has caused himself to be crowned at Ratisbon. He is defeated and deposed.
977 War with France over Lorraine. Narrow escape of Otto at Aachen.
980 Peace with France. Otto holds Lorraine as a benefice of France.
981 Otto goes to Rome to settle internecine quarrels.
982 Otto invades southern Italy in an attempt to conquer the Byzantine provinces. After a victory he encounters defeat by the Greeks and their Saracen allies in Calabria.
983 The Danes and Wends successfully invade the northern provinces. Death of Otto. His three-year-old son Otto III succeeds as king of Germany and Italy. Theophano conducts regency in Germany, and Adelheid in Italy.