THEOPHANO ([955/60]-Nijmegen 15 May 991, bur Köln St Pantaleon). A document entitled Luitprandi Legatio ad Nicephorum Phocam records Luitprand's mission on behalf of Emperor Otto I to negotiate a marriage between "filiam Romani imperatoris et Theophanæ imperatricis" and "domino meo filio suo Ottoni Imperatori Augusto"[1415]. Her name is not given in the document. It is unlikely, given the date of the marriage of Emperor Nikephoros Phokas and Theophano (in 963) that any daughter of theirs would have been considered marriageable in the late 960s by Emperor Otto. It is therefore likely that the document was prepared before Luitprand's visit, in ignorance of the details of the emperor's family members. The identity of the proposed bride is therefore not certain. Prior to Luitprand's arrival in Constantinople, Emperor Nikephoros was murdered. According to Thietmar, his successor Emperor Ioannes Tzimisces sent his niece Theophano back to Germany "not the desired maiden…accompanied by a splendid entourage and magnificent gifts"[1416]. Western sources consistently refer to Theophano as "neptis" of Emperor Ioannes Tzimisces, for example the charter dated 14 Apr 972 under which "Otto…imperator augustus" granted property to "Theophanu, Iohannis Constantinopolitani imperatoris neptim"[1417]. Her exact relationship to Emperor Ioannes Tzimisces is unknown. It is possible that she was a relative of the emperor's wife rather than of the emperor himself. Davids suggests that she was the daughter of Konstantinos Skleros and his wife Sophia[1418], who was probably the sister of the first wife of Emperor Ioannes. An indication that this may be correct is that Theophano's second daughter was named Sophia, normal Byzantine practice being to name the first daughter after the paternal grandmother and the second after the maternal grandmother[1419]. It also appears to be chronologically sustainable. However, too little is known about the families of Emperor Ioannes and his wife to propose this as the only plausible hypothesis, especially as the word "neptis" could cover a wide variety of relationships. In addition, it cannot even be assumed that the wife of Konstantinos Skleros was the only individual named Sophia in these families at the time. "Otto…imperator augustus" granted property to "Theophanu, Iohannis Constantinopolitani imperatoris neptim" dated 14 Apr 972[1420]. Lay Abbess of Nivelles. She was regent during the minority of her son 984-991. Thietmar records the death of Empress Theophano at Nijmegen on 15 Jun and her place of burial[1421]. The necrology of Merseburg records the death "15 Jun" of "Theophanu imperatrix"[1422]. m (Rome 14 Apr 972) OTTO co-Emperor and King of Germany, son of Emperor OTTO I "der Große" King of Germany & his second wife Adelheid of Burgundy [Welf] (955-Rome 7 Dec 983, bur Rome St Peter's). He succeeded his father in 973 as OTTO II King of Germany. On his accession, he claimed Byzantium's possessions in Italy as part of his wife's dowry. He campaigned in Italy to support his claims, but was defeated in 982 by a Byzantine/Muslim alliance near Stilo in Calabria.
note Philippe: origine impériale byzantine, mais trop d'incertitude