While Liudprand represented Otto as a great ruler, chosen by God and standing above any other ruler, there was one more element that made him a true emperor. This was a relic, which had a specific meaning. It was a combination of various traditions connected to Moses and the Passion, and this object would make its owner into an emperor. This is the Holy Lance. Its importance for German historiography was so great, that it is impossible to even note all existing scholarship on it. I will concentrate on the descriptions in Antapodosis and Res Gestae. Later traditions about the Lance are a subject that should have a separate study. In Liudprand's chronicle there is a long description of how Henry acquired the Lance. Its theological meaning is explained. A whole group of chapters devoted to this object are located between the narratives about the civil war. It is some sort of intermezzo that has been added to strengthen Otto's positive image. This is why Liudprand brakes the chronology and describes Henry’s actions in the section about the events that took place long after his death.

It beings with how Henry acquired the Lance. Liudprand wrote that it was in the hands of King Rudolph of Burgundy, who ruled Italy for some time and got it from count Samson. When Henry hears about this object, he makes it known that he wants to have it. The Saxon king was a ‘God-fearing man and a lover of all things religious’. Therefore, he sends messengers to Burgundy asking for it and offering Rudolph whatever he would like in return. But he is rejected. Thus, Henry goes with his army to force Rudolph into giving it up. The Saxon threatens that the whole of Burgundy will fall, and everyone who lives there will be slain and burned. Therefore, Rudolph decides to give up and hands over the Lance, as Liudprand writes: ‘[W]hat was right to the righteous king who was rightly seeking it’. Both kings become friends afterwards and Henry gives Rudolph a part of Swabia and many other precious gifts as compensation.

Liudprand also includes a description of the Lance. This is somewhat remarkable, as otherwise he never wrote much about objects. It was different from other lances.