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Why did Otto III make Rome central to his plans for the empire?

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Map of Europe about 800 CE showing the extent of the Frankish kingdom under Charlemagne in light purple, covering much of present-day France, Germany, northern Italy, and neighboring regions. Areas inhabited by Slavic peoples who were tributary to Charlemagne are shaded in a darker purple to the east of the Frankish kingdom, including groups such as the Bohemians, Moravians, and Croats. Major cities, rivers, and neighboring kingdoms are labeled for context.
Holy Roman Empire

Otto III made Rome central to his imperial plans because he sought to recreate the glory and power of the ancient Roman Empire within a universal Christian state. Imbued with Byzantine traditions through his mother, the Empress Theophano, Otto III envisioned a new synthesis that drew upon Roman, Carolingian, and Christian elements.21

His specific motivations included:

  • Administrative Centralization: He established Rome as his official residence and the administrative center of the empire, instituting elaborate Byzantine court ceremonies and reviving ancient Roman customs.2
  • Theocratic Rule: He aimed to lead world Christianity as a theocratic emperor, viewing the pope as his lieutenant in the spread of Christian dominion. To this end, he appointed his former tutor, Gerbert of Aurillac, as Pope Sylvester II, mirroring the relationship between Constantine and his pope.123
  • Renovatio Imperii: His seal, bearing the motto Renovatio imperii Romanorum ("Renewal of the empire of the Romans"), signaled a commitment to a Carolingian design for Europe, viewing the empire as a transnational entity under his direct administration.4