Kingship and justice in the Ottonian Empire

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Laura E. Wangerin challenges traditional views of the Ottonian Empire's rulership by examining a wide range of sources, including royal diplomas, manuscript illuminations, and historical accounts. This study investigates Ottonian kingship and justice administration through both conventional historical methods and innovative approaches like modern systems theories. Wangerin argues that key elements of the Ottonians' governance, such as a decentralized structure, the importance of the royal iter, and the delegation of authority, were vital to a sophisticated political system. This work enriches English-language scholarship on the Ottonians and contributes to the fields of rulership and medieval legal studies. Scholars have noted the significance of ritual and symbolic behavior in the Ottonian political landscape, yet they grapple with the apparent lack of administrative organization. This contradiction raises questions about the Ottonians' success as rulers despite their characterization as leaders of a disorganized polity. Wangerin seeks to reconcile the tension between their political and military achievements, cultural and artistic flourishing, and relative dynastic stability, alongside a seeming disinterest in formalizing law or establishing a centralized administration.