The chronicler Widukind of Corvey described Otto I as "Emperor of the Romans, King of the Nations" when he wrote about his death on 7 May 973. This new biography on the 1050th anniversary of Otto’s death combines written, pictorial and archaeological testimonies to create a new overview of the great emperor.

The book describes Otto's life, as well as the most important symbols of power and his European significance through the re-establishment of the Roman Empire in 962. Aimed at a wider interested audience and scholars alike, this new biography critically summarizes the research of the last 20 years.