Editing Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor (section)

===Papal politics===
With his rule north of the Alps secured and with the birth of his heir, Otto II shifted his focus to Italy. The situation south of the Alps was chaotic. [[Pope Benedict VI]], who had been appointed by Otto I, had been imprisoned by the Romans in [[Castel Sant'Angelo]]. When Otto II sent an imperial representative, Count Sicco, to secure his release, [[Crescentius I]] and Cardinal Franco Ferrucci had Benedict VI murdered while still in prison in 974.<ref name="Richard P. McBrien 2000"/><ref name="Comyn, pg. 119">Comyn, p. 119</ref> Cardinal Franco Ferrucci then crowned himself as Benedict VI's successor, becoming [[Antipope]] [[Boniface VII]]. A popular revolt, however, forced Boniface VII to flee to [[Constantinople]], taking a vast treasure with him.<ref name="Duckett, pg. 103">Duckett, p. 103</ref> In October 974, under the direction of Count Sicco, the [[bishop of Sutri]] was elected Pope as [[Pope Benedict VII]].<ref name="Comyn, pg. 119" /> Boniface VII was then summarily [[excommunicated]] for his unsuccessful attempt to take the papacy.

In 979 Benedict VII's position as ruler of Rome was threatened, forcing the Pope to withdraw from and seek the aid of the Emperor. Accepting the Pope's call for aid, Otto II and Theophanu, along with their infant son [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto III]], prepared for a march south across the Alps. Otto II appointed [[Willigis]], the [[Archbishop of Mainz]], to serve as his regent over Germany.

In October 980 the Imperial court arrived in [[Chiavenna]] and received its first Italian delegations. Otto II arrived in Italy at [[Pavia]] on December 5, 980. In Pavia, Otto II and his mother, the [[dowager empress]] [[Adelaide of Italy]], were reconciled after years of being apart. Before the imperial family celebrated Christmas together in [[Ravenna]],<ref name="Duckett, pg. 102">Duckett, p. 102</ref> Otto II received the [[Iron Crown of Lombardy]] as the [[King of Italy]].<ref name="Sismondi, pg. 29">Sismondi, p. 29</ref> Following the New Year, Otto II led his Imperial court to Rome, reaching the city on February 9, 981, where the Emperor restored Pope Benedict VII to his papal throne without difficulty. In Rome, Otto II held a magnificent court ceremony to mark Easter.<ref name="Duckett, pg. 102" /> The imperial family was joined by Otto II's sister [[Matilda, Abbess of Quedlinburg]], King [[Conrad of Burgundy]] and his wife [[Matilda of France]], Duke [[Hugh Capet]] of France, [[Otto I, Duke of Swabia and Bavaria|Duke Otto of Swabia and Bavaria]], and other high secular and religious officials from Germany, Italy and France.

Otto II proceeded to hold court in Rome, making the city his Imperial capital, where he received princes and nobles from all parts of western Europe.<ref name=EB1911/>