Editing Ottonian dynasty (section)

===Otto II===
Co-ruler with his father since 961 and crowned emperor in 967, Otto II ascended the throne at the age of 18. By excluding the Bavarian line of Ottonians from the line of succession, he strengthened Imperial authority and secured his own son's succession to the Imperial throne. During his reign, Otto II attempted to annex the whole of Italy into the Empire, bringing him into conflict with the Byzantine emperor and with the [[Saracens]] of the [[Fatimid Caliphate]]. His campaign against the Saracens ended in 982 with a disastrous defeat at the [[Battle of Stilo]]. Moreover, in 983 Otto II experienced a [[Great Slav Rising]] against his rule.{{sfn|Middleton|2015|p={{pn|date=May 2023}}}}

Otto II died in 983 at the age of 28 after a ten-year reign. Succeeded by his three-year-old son [[Otto III]] as king, his sudden death plunged the Ottonian dynasty into crisis. During her regency for Otto III, Empress Theophanu abandoned her late husband's imperialistic policy and devoted herself entirely to furthering her own agenda in Italy.{{sfn|Middleton|2015|p={{pn|date=May 2023}}}}