General Notes

1  DEAT
2  DATE 16 JUL 966
2  PLAC Bamburg
WHWC Berenger II rules Italy for 11 years, Italy goes to EMPEROR OTHO T
HE GREAT.
ohme p 175 "The pretext for OTTO I's interference in Lombardy in 951 w
as an appeal from Adelaide, the widow of Lothar II, king of Italy, for he
lp against her rival, BERENGAR, count of Ivrea who had had himself proclai
med king.  Many of the ruling houses to the south of the Alps were involv
ed in complex political maneuvres in northern Italy at this time and Ot
to was particularly concerned to maintain control over the routes and pass
es to the south of his realm.  A further crucial figure entered the pictu
re when Pope John XII appealed to Otto for protection against Berengar's a
ttacks near Rome."
GWC p 44 "While OTTO's eyes were on the east, BERENGAR of Ivrea was strivi
ng to gain control over northern Italy.  In 961 an incensed Otto marched i
nto the peninsula, thrust aside Berengar, and caused the iron crown of Lom
bardy to be put on his own head."
ewh p 235 years 950-61 "King Lothair II (d 950), Hugh's son and co-rege
nt . . . Lothair's rival, BERENGAR II, imprisoned his widow, Adelheid, w
ho appealed (according to tradition) to OTTO the Great.  951-52 Otto the G
reat's first expedition to Italy.  961-964 Otto's second expedition to Ita
ly, in answer to the appeal of the prfligate pope, John XII, for protecti
on against Berengar.  Otto's coronation at Pavia as king of Italy and h
is coronation by the pope as Roman emperor, marked the revival of the Rom
an Empire.  ewh p 184 Berengar of Ivrea, forced into vassalage, ceded t
he marks of Verona, Fruili, Istria (the keys to the passes) to Otto's brot
her Henry, duke of Bavaria."