THE JUDGEMENT OF THE EMPEROR OTHO III OF SAXONY

Franco-Flemish, ca 1495

(Text and Picture Copyright in 1977 by the Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester which is not responsible for this publication.)

The Judgement of the Emperor Otho

The tapestry shows the Emperor Otho of Saxony judging his Queen, who is confronted by the widow of a count she had put to death because he had refrained from responding from her advances. This popular 12^th century is related in the Pantheon by Godfrey of Viterbo, who served as chaplain to three Emperors. He states: “She (the Queen) fell desperately in love with a young count near Modena and promptly declared to him her feelings, for she was in such matters more inclined to ask others than to wait for others to ask her. The Count was as virtuous as he was handsome, and repelled all her offers. The Empress complained to her husband that the count had made love to her and Otho as a credulous man promptly had the alleged culprit’s head cut off! Godfrey of Viterbo continues by saying that the Empress was burned to death by Otho’s orders. These events took place about the end of the 10^th Century. (30.1)