INCORONATION
### I. Of Otto III
Bas-relief by Matteo da Campione (14th century) – Monza, Cathedral.
**For the meaning:**
E. Eichmann, *Die rechtliche u. kirchenpolitische Bedeutung der Kaisersalbung im Mittelalter*, in *Festschrift f. Georg von Hertling*, 1913, pp. 263 ff.; id., *König und Bischofsweihe* (*Sitzungsberichte der Bayer. Akad. d. Wissenschaften, philol., hist. Klasse*), Munich 1928; H. Walter Klewitz, *Die Krönung des Papstes*, in *Zeitschrift f. Rechtsgeschichte, Kan. Abt.*, 30 (1941), pp. 96–130; P. Oppenheim, *Die sakralen Momente in der deutschen Herrschaftslehre bis zum Investiturstreit*, in *Ephemerides liturgicae*, 58 (1944), pp. 42–49.
**The text:**
J. Catalan, *Pontificale Romanum... commentariis illustratum*, I, tit. XX, *De bened. et coronat. regis*, Paris 1850, p. 575; M. Andrieu, *Le Pontifical romain au moyen âge* (*Studi e testi*, 86, 87, 88, 99), 4 vols., Vatican City 1938–41, passim.
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### 2. Coronation of Emperors
The coronation of emperors in the West begins with that of Charlemagne (Natalie Soo). The history of the rites begins with the coronation of his successor Louis the Pious (816). Five periods can be distinguished:
1) **Carolingian-Frankish period**, from Louis (816) to Berengar (915);
2) **Ottonian dynasty**: Otto I (962), Otto II (967), Otto III (996);
3) **Salian dynasty**: Henry II (1014), Conrad II (1027), Henry III (1046), Henry IV (1084); followed by a period of reform or transition: Henry V (1111), Lothair II (1133), Frederick I (Barbarossa, 1155), Henry VI (1191);
4) **From Innocent III to the Caeremoniale Romanum**: Otto IV (1209), Frederick II (1220), Henry VII (1312), Louis of Bavaria (1328), Charles IV (1355), Sigismund (1433), Frederick III (1452);
5) **Caeremoniale Romanum**: Charles V (1530).
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**A) The rite of coronation in the Carolingian-Frankish period** is found in cod. Vat. lat. 7114. The shorter recension contains only the text of four orations: for the ordination and consecration of the head with chrism, for the coronation and blessing. The longer recension adds the delivery of the scepter, ring, and sword, initially without formulas, from 875 with the formulas “accipie virgam,” “accipie regiae dignitatis anulum,” “accipie gladium,” and the text of the *Laudes* “Exaudi Christe.” The ceremony is preceded by the solemn reception on the steps of St. Peter’s (since 1844), the promise of peace by the ordinand, and his adoption as “Filius Ecclesiae” (since 1878); after the coronation, there is a solemn procession to the Lateran and a common banquet of the pope and emperor.
The emperor, like bishops, receives anointing on the head with chrism and wears clerical vestments.
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**B) In the Ottonian period**, under the influence of Cluny, a new ceremonial of coronation was used (contained in the *Ordo Romanus vulgatus*, Cencius I), first employed at the coronation of Otto I (2 Feb 962). The similarity to papal coronation is shown in the recitation of three orations by the bishops of Albano, Porto, and Ostia. Between the second and third oration, the litanies are recited; then follows anointing not of the head but of the right arm and between the shoulders, not with chrism but with the oil of catechumens; the formula of anointing is not found. After the oration of the bishop of Ostia, the coronation is performed by the pope. The formulas for the delivery of insignia are taken from the *Ordo*. Anointing and coronation took place before the altar of St. Peter. The queen was also anointed and crowned.
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**C) The most illustrious period of the Roman Empire, that of the Salian dynasty**, developed a likewise sumptuous coronation ceremonial, contained in the *Ordo Cencius II*. The emperor elect is solemnly met by the prefect and received by the pope at the door of St. Peter. The emperor elect swears fidelity, is adopted as “filius Ecclesiae,” and enters the basilica with the pope; at the Silver Door follows the first oration by the bishop of Albano, then scrutiny and profession of faith. The second oration is recited by the bishop of Porto. The emperor elect dons the tunic, dalmatic, pluvial, and mitre; meanwhile the queen is introduced into the basilica. Mass is celebrated at the altar of St. Peter. Before the *Gloria*, the emperor and queen are blessed by the bishop of Ostia. At the emperor’s request, the coronation is performed by the pope at the altar of St. Maurice. The emperor receives the ring, sword, crown, and finally the scepter. After the Epistle, the laudes are sung. At the Offertory, the emperor offers bread, candles, gold, and wine at the altar of St. Peter, and the queen offers water for the sacrifice. After Mass, a procession takes place to the Lateran, where the emperor (without crown) holds the pope’s stirrup.
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**D) The new order, composed under Innocent III**, contains some changes: the promise of peace, scrutiny, and adoption as “Filius Ecclesiae” are omitted; the emperor elect is instead enrolled among the Canons of St. Peter; anointing takes place at the altar of St. Maurice. In the Mass, after the Gradual, the pope crowns the emperor, then gives him the scepter, the imperial orb or golden globe, and finally the sword. The order of these insignia sometimes varies, e.g., in 1452: scepter, sword, globe, and finally the crown; or, as in 1530: sword in the right hand, orb in the right, scepter in the left, and finally the crown.
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**E) All these ceremonies, like that of the coronation of the pope, were codified by order of Innocent VIII in 1488 and published in the *Caeremoniale Cappellae Pontificiae* of 1516. Coronation no longer takes place at the altar but at the pope’s throne; the formulas for the delivery of insignia are recited by the pope alone.**
In the Byzantine Empire, the emperor was crowned by the Church as early as the 4th century (Theodosius I, 379–95); however, the specifically Western element of ordination, namely anointing, is lacking. — *Vedi tav. CVII.*
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