Roma, Gallia, Germania and Sclavinia pay their respects to the emperor.
Equipped with valuable gifts and assuming a humble posture, they step before the throne of Otto III (980-1002), who can be seen on the opposite page of the book. The personified provinces appear in female form, inscriptions give their names and thus help to identify the figures that do not bear attributes.
One for all - all for one!
The series is led by the city of Rome. It is followed by Gaul, Germania and the Slavic countries. All four personifications function as pars pro toto - as part for the whole: The provinces stand for their inhabitants and act as their representatives when they pay homage to the emperor with gifts. Due to their direction of movement, it is clear at first glance that both images on the double page belong together, and Otto III is not facing the provinces, but the viewer. He is the most important of all those present, which is indicated not only by the attributes of the staff, the imperial orb, the throne and the crown, but also by the size of his figure, the veil of honour stretched out in the background and the frontal depiction. His companions facing him are ecclesiastical and secular dignitaries. The emperor himself probably commissioned the book, which explains why his political claim to power is illustrated in a liturgical book and the image of the provinces paying homage to the emperor is placed before all religious scenes. On this double page, Otto III is thus identified as a ruler by the grace of God on the one hand, and on the other hand, with the help of the personifications, he also conveys his political claims to power.
Roma
The personification of Roma carries a bowl filled with precious stones, which is protected from contact with a red cloth. It is considered to be the most important province of Otto III – it was here that Otto was crowned emperor in 996. In the last years of his life, he based much of his politics on ideas and models that were shaped by the Rome which was then the caput mundi.
Gallia
Roma is followed by Gallia, who carries a palm branch to pay homage to the emperor. The personification represents the area west of the Rhine and establishes a connection to the city of Aachen, where Otto was crowned king in 983 at the age of just three. Like the other figures, she is also crowned, which indicates a certain sovereignty and independence of the regions.
Germania
The rest of the area of the Ottonian Empire is embodied by the personification of Germania. She brings the emperor a cornucopia full of precious stones. While Roma has a cloth to protect her bowl, which is also filled with precious stones, Germania holds the valuable gift with her bare hands. The practice of protecting valuable objects from touching hands with a cloth is common in pictorial representations. Here it is also made clear that Roma is the first to deliver the most valuable gift.
Sclavinia
Finally, Sclavinia follows, whose gift is a golden globe. It embodies the Slavic countries and therefore does not represent a province of the emperor. Its right to exist can be traced back to the year 986, when the Polish Duke Mieszko paid homage to the then 6-year-old King Otto III with gifts. Sclavinia thus represents the subjugation of a foreign prince and, with the globe, suggests Otto’s comprehensive claim to power that extends beyond his empire.
