The Ottonians turn their Gaze West to the court of al-Andalus
Penelope Nash
The Ottonian dynasty, whose members ruled Germany and northern Italy in the tenth early eleventh centuries, were not only concerned with their eastern borders relations Byzantium, but also sought news from alliances West. Inhabitants of Iberian Peninsula informed ideas court a number ways contemporaries documented interactions. Hrotsvitha, canoness royal monastery Gandersheim, recorded martyrdom young Spanish Christian, Pelagius, who met his death at Cordoba 925. Hrotsvitha wrote that she had come by her account an eyewitness. John Gorze performed office ambassador for Otto I caliph 'Abd al-Rahm&amp;#257;n III three years 953. sent to negotiate access Alpine passes thought be raided Andalusians located Fraxinetum controlled caliph. Liudprand Cremona (Ottonian court) Recemund (court al-Andalus) on friendly terms. Tumbo A cathedral Santiago is cartulary images figures undoubtedly imitate Carolingian or models. Little coordinated work has been done contacts between Ottonians followers dwellers Peninsula. How hostile they each other? What physical temporal barriers successful contacts? Using texts visual records, this paper brings attention reports cultural, economic, social, political interactions empire al-Andalus varied points view.
Journal of the Australian Early Medieval Association