Editing Carolingian Empire (section)

=== Symbolism of the dynasty ===
The unifying power of Charlemagne and his descendants have been wielded by a succession of European rulers to bolster their own regimes; much in the same vein as Charlemagne echoed elements of [[Augustus]] in his rising years. The [[Ottonian dynasty]] which succeeded the title of [[Holy Roman Emperor]] magnified distant ties to the Carolingians to legitimise their dynastic ambitions as 'successors'.{{Sfn|Costambeys|2011|pages=428–435}} Four of the five Ottonian emperors to rule also crowned themselves in Charlemagne's palace in [[Aachen]], likely to establish a continuity between the Carolingians and themselves. Even with their dynasty originating from Charlemagne's arch-foe [[Old Saxony|Saxony]], Ottonians still linked their dynasty to the Carolingians, through direct and indirect means.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The paradox of the past in the crisis of the Carolingian Empire – After Empire |url=https://arts.st-andrews.ac.uk/after-empire/2017/03/21/the-paradox-of-the-past-in-the-crisis-of-the-carolingian-empire/ |access-date=2020-02-17 |website=arts.st-andrews.ac.uk}}</ref> Further iconography of Charlemagne himself was utilised in later medieval periods, where he is depicted as a model knight and paragon of [[chivalry]].