Ottonian dynasty

Ottonian dynasty was a dynasty of kings of Germany, named after its first emperor Otto I the Great. But it is also known as the Saxon dynasty after the origin of this family of noblemen. The family itself is also sometimes known as the Liudolfings, after its earliest known member Liudolf and one of its most common names. The Ottonian rulers are also regarded as the first dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire, as successors of the Carolingian dynasty and Charlemagne, who is commonly viewed as the original founder of a new (Frankish) Roman Empire.

Although he was never Emperor, Henry I the Fowler, Duke of Saxony, was the founder of this imperial dynasty, since his election as German king made it possible for his son, Otto the Great to take on the imperium. Since Otto I most of the German kings were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor. Under the reign of the Ottonian rulers, the kingdom of the Eastern Franks finally became Germany as the duchies of Lorraine, Saxony, Franconia, Swabia, Thuringia and Bavaria joined in one empire. 

After the end of the Ottonian dynasty (with the death of Henry II in 1024) the crown passed to the Salian dynasty. Luitgard, a daughter of Emperor Otto I had married the Salian Duke Conrad the Red of Lorraine. His great-grandson was Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor. 

Ottonian Kings and Emperors:
 Henry I the Fowler, King of the Germans and Duke of Saxony, died 936
 Otto I the Great, Holy Roman Emperor and Duke of Saxony, died 973
 Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor, died 983
 Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor, died 1002
 Saint Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor, died 1024

Some other famous members of the Liudolfing or Ottonian House:
 Liudolf, Count of Saxony, died 864/866
 Saint Altfrid, Bishop of Hildesheim, died 874
 Brun, Duke of Saxony, died 880
 Otto I the Illustrious, Duke of Saxony, died 912
 Gerberge of Saxony, died 954
 Henry I, Duke of Bavaria, died 955
 Liudolf, Duke of Swabia, died 957
 Hedwige of Saxony, died 965
 Bruno I, Archbishop of Cologne and Duke of Lotharingia, died 965
 William, Archbishop of Mainz, died 968
 Otto, Duke of Swabia and Bavaria, died 982
 Henry II, Duke of Bavaria, the Wrangler, died 995
 Bruno, Bishop of Augsburg, died 1029