Renovatio imperii Romanorum: quando Crescentius decollatus suspensus fuit. An analysis of the meaning of Otto III’s first lead bulla

The legend Renovatio imperii Romanorum, which appears on the lead bulla adopted by Otto III in April 998, was emblematic in defining the persona of this emperor. Since the nineteenth century, the text has been identified with the communication to the empire of a programme of reform. However, the notion that this legend had a programmatic value is not substantiated by the literary, archival or linguistic sources. In no document did Otto announce an intention for imperial reform and nor did he show any interest in planning – and the meaning of the words therefore needs reconsideration. The historical context of the appearance of the seal in April 998 merits wider discussion. In this study, contemporary sources, not least the bullae themselves, are reviewed, leading to a redefinition of the original celebratory function of the bulla’s legend.