Othman

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

or OSMAN, founder of the Ottoman empire; born in 1259; one of the emirs who, on the destruction of the empire of the Seljukides, became inin, he invaded the Eastern Empire in 1299, and made himself master of Nicea, Iconium, and other towns. He took no other title than Emir, but ruled with absolute power, not without justice and moderation. He died in 1326. OTHO I., Emperor of Germany, called THE GREAT; born in 912; was the eldest son of Henry the Fowler, and crowned King of Germany in 936, at the age of 24. He carried on war with the Huns, and drove them from the West; made Bohemia his tributary; deprived the Duke of Bavaria of his estates, and then had to encounter the resistance of the great chieftains of the empire, aided by the King of France. He afterward aided Hugh the same the king Great against, defeated his again invaded Bohemia Hungarians 10 years at Leck. Berenger, and finally having title of Emperor Rome, where he was of crowned Italy John XII. That leagued with Berenger, on which Otho caused him to be deposed, and put Leo VIII. in his place, in 963. On the emperor's return to Germany, the Romans revolted and imprisoned Leo; for which Otho again visited Rome, which he besieged and restored Leo. He next turned his arms against Nicephorus, Emperor of the East, whose army he defeated. John Zimisces, the successor of Nicephorus, made peace with Otho , who died in 973. OTHO II., surnamed the BLOODY; born in 955, succeeded Otho I., his father, in 973. His mother, Adelaide, opposed his accession, her party proclaiming Henry, the Duke of Bavaria, emperor. Otho expelled his mother from the court, defeated Henry, repulsed the Danes and Bohemians, and afterward marched into Italy to expel the Saracens, but he fell ill at Rome, where he died in 983. OTHO III.; born in 980; succeeded Otho II., his father, in 983. The empire was administered during his minority by his grandmother Adelaide, conjointly with the Archbishop of Cologne. At the age of 16 he assumed the reins of government, and went to Italy, which was in a state of confusion, owing to the opposition of different Popes. Otho having re-established order, returned into Germany, and made Boleslas King of Poland. He was obliged again to pass into Italy to quell a revolt, but died soon afterward, in 1002. OTHO IV., called the SUPERB, was the son of Henry, Duke of Saxony, and chosen emperor in 1208. He was excommunicated by the Pope for seizing the lands which the Countess Matilda bequeathed to the Holy See. In 1212 the princes of the empire elected Frederic, King of Sicily, in the room of Otho, who, after struggling against his rival till 1215, resigned his crown to him, and retired to Brunswick. He died in 1218.