How did Otto I’s imperial coronation connect him to Charlemagne’s tradition?

Otto I’s imperial coronation in 962 connected him to the Carolingian tradition by reviving the empire in the West based on precedents set by Charlemagne. During the 10th century, the Carolingian order remained a political ideal for Western ruling families, and Otto sought to clothe his established military hegemony in the traditional, time-honored dignity associated with that legacy.1

By accepting the imperial crown and anointment from the pope in Rome, Otto aligned himself with the model established when the papacy crowned Charlemagne and his successors. This act transformed his position from a powerful German king into an emperor, linking his rule to the Frankish past. While Otto’s empire was more limited in scope than Charlemagne’s—lacking universal pretensions and claims to West Frankish lands—his reign successfully revived the imperial title and reinforced the German rulers' preeminence in Western Europe. Furthermore, his use of the church as a stabilizing influence and his role as the political master of the Roman church mirrored the Frankish tradition of utilizing the church to maintain order and spread Christianity.123