A Bulla of Otto III in America

Abstract

THE seals of Otto iII are of interest not only because of their rarity, but because of their place in the development in Europe of the typical royal 'Great Seal,' or Seal of State. It is, of course, true that it is not to the mediaeval Empire, but to France that we must look for the connecting link between the Roman use of seals to authenticate documents and the continuance of the custom during the Middle Ages; but it was in the Empire that the type was first developed which was to be adopted and used for centuries by the chanceries of Europe. In both France and the Empire the early royal seals usually bore the head or bust of the reigning sovereign, as in the Roman seals, encircled by a legend giving his name alone, or name and title. In the late tenth century, however, a step was taken toward the development of the future 'Great Seal,' when the Emperor Otto ii (d.983) and very soon after him the French king, Hugh Capet used instead of a head or bust, a half-length seated figure, bearing in its hands the royal insignia.' Otto iII went a step further when, directly after his coronation as emperor in 996, he used a new wax seal which showed him at full length, standing, and holding orb and lance2 (see Plate I). It remained for his successor, Henry ii (1002-1024), only to amalgamate these designs of the Ottos, and so complete the device of the typical royal seal, showing the full length figure of the monarch, seated 'enthroned in majesty.' This was promptly adopted by the French king Henry i (1031-1060), as well as by his contemporary in England, Edward the Confessor, and became the recognized device for later royal seals. Meantime, the final step in the evolution of the form of the 'Great Seal' had also been taken by Otto iII. In 998 he had revived the Byzantine-Italian use of pendant metal seals, usually of lead, instead of the wax seal affixed en placard to the face of the document.3 For the device on these coin-like metal seals, or bullae, Otto had returned to the use of the bust portrait, and since this pendant type of seal offered two sides to be adorned with inscription and device, he used for the reverse of most of his bullae the legend, RENOVATIO IMPERII ROMANORUM,