Elements of imperial power in the mid-twelfth century: The fortitudo and the translatio imperii in the work of Otto of Freising

Abstract

The following paper deals with two correlate themes, which have so far been but little addressed. During the Middle Ages the “translatio imperii” was a recurrent theme on historiographical and theoretical writings concerning both eschatological and historical as well as political questions. It relates to political discussions around the legitimacy of a world government. The relation of both themes, the “translatio” and the political legitimacy, are addressed in this paper, with special emphasis on the role of the fortitudo as an element of legitimation and signification in the “Historia de duabus civitatibus” of the German historian Otto of Freising.