Why did Otto I have his son Otto II crowned German king in 961?

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Stone sculptures of Otto I and his wife Edith, both crowned and seated, displayed side by side in the cathedral at Magdeburg, Germany. — Otto I Otto I and his wife Edith, sculptures in the cathedral at Magdeburg, Germany.

In May 961, Otto I secured the election and coronation of his six-year-old son, Otto II, as German king to ensure the succession and stability of his realm before departing for his second campaign in Italy. By establishing his son as co-regent, Otto I aimed to solidify the dynastic continuity of the Liudolfing line and protect his authority while he was away addressing the request of Pope John XII for assistance against Berengar II of Ivrea.12