built on his achievements. (See Genealogy 4.2: The Ottonians.) Granted power by
the magnates, they gave back in turn: they distributed land and appointed their
aristocratic supporters to duchies, counties, and bishoprics. Royal power was
tempered by hereditary claims and plenty of lobbying by influential men at court and
at the great assemblies that met with the king to hammer out policies. The role of
kings in filling bishoprics and archbishoprics was particularly important to them
because, unlike counties and duchies, these positions could not be inherited. Otto I
created a ribbon of new bishoprics along his eastern border, endowing them with
extensive lands and subjecting the local peasantry to episcopal overlordship.
Throughout Germany bishops had the right to collect revenues and call men to arms.
