Germany / France: Lothair I (795-855), 3rd Holy Roman emperor, by Nicolas Il de Larmessin (1632-1694), 17th century

Lothair I (795-855), also known as Lothar I, was the eldest son of Emperor Louis the Pious and grew up in the court of his grandfather, Emperor Charlemagne. When Louis became sole emperor in 814, he sent Lothair to govern Bavaria in 815. Lothair was crowned as co-emperor and declared as principal heir in 817, and would be overlord to his younger brothers, Pippin of Aquitaine and Louis the German, as well as his cousin Bernard of Italy.

Lothair lost Bavaria to Louis the German, but he assumed the government of Italy in 822, having received the kingdom after his father had murdered Bernard. Strife and disagreement began to brew after his stepmother Judith began securing a kingdom for her son Charles, Lothair's half-brother, leading to Lothair plotting a rebellion alongside his true brothers against his father in 830, successfully deposing him. His father regianed the throne a year later however, and stripped Lothair of his imperial title and lands, giving them to Charles. A second rebellion in 833 saw Lothair regaining Italy and his imperial position.

When his father died in 840, Lothair ignored all previous plans for partitioning and claimed the whole of the Holy Roman Empire for himself, leading to another civil war which lasted around three years. Lothair was defeated by his brothers, and the Treaty of Verdun was signed in 843 which saw the empire divided between them once again. Lothair became seriously ill in 855 and renounced his throne to his three sons, entering the monastery of Prum and dying six days later.

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Credit:

Pictures From History