Marriage Charter of Empress Theophanu

The dower document of the marriage of Empress Theophanu
The Marriage Charter of Empress Theophanu, prepared by Holy Roman Emperor Otto II on 14 April 972

The Marriage Charter of Empress Theophanu (State Archives of Wolfenbüttel, 6 Urk 11) is the dower document for the Byzantine princess Theophanu. Written in Latin, the document was created after the marriage of Theophanu to Emperor Otto II in 972, which made her the empress of the Holy Roman Empire. The document was prepared by Otto II and exemplifies an instance of political and cultural contact between the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire.

It serves as an example of Ottonian Renaissance art, and the calligraphy of the manuscript has led it to be regarded as one of the most beautiful diplomatic documents of the Middle Ages. In 2005, the document was proposed for inclusion in the Memory of the World Register, but was not included.[1]

  1. ^ "Deutsche Nominierungen für das UNESCO-Programm Memory of the World". UNESCO Germany. July 2004. Archived from the original on 2012-05-29. Retrieved 23 November 2014. (archive)