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Arnulf (850-899), also known as Arnulf of Carinthia, was the illegitimate son of King Carloman of Bavaria and nephew of Emperor Charles the Fat. Arnulf became Duke of Carinthia, and more or less ruled Bavaria as well. Arnulf's ambition led him to lead a bloodless revolt in 887 that saw his uncle deposed as emperor and Arnulf crowned as King of East Francia.<br/><br/> Arnulf was a warrior king rather than a diplomatic one, constantly battling the Slavs, Danes and Normans. He took advantage of internal strife in West Francia to secure the territory of Lotharingia, giving it to his son. He intervened constantly in West Francia, playing the different king claimants against each other to secure more territory for himself. He invaded Italy in 894 at the pope's behest, becoming King of Italy. He was later crowned Holy Roman emperor in 896.<br/><br/> Arnulf suffered a stroke while campaigning against his rivals in Italy, and he had to retreat back to Bavaria, soon losing control of Italy. He died in December 899, with the crown to East Francia passing to his only legitimate son, Louis the Child, last of the east Frankish branch of the Carolingian dynasty.
Arnulf (850-899), also known as Arnulf of Carinthia, was the illegitimate son of King Carloman of Bavaria and nephew of Emperor Charles the Fat. Arnulf became Duke of Carinthia, and more or less ruled Bavaria as well. Arnulf's ambition led him to lead a bloodless revolt in 887 that saw his uncle deposed as emperor and Arnulf crowned as King of East Francia.<br/><br/> Arnulf was a warrior king rather than a diplomatic one, constantly battling the Slavs, Danes and Normans. He took advantage of internal strife in West Francia to secure the territory of Lotharingia, giving it to his son. He intervened constantly in West Francia, playing the different king claimants against each other to secure more territory for himself. He invaded Italy in 894 at the pope's behest, becoming King of Italy. He was later crowned Holy Roman emperor in 896.<br/><br/> Arnulf suffered a stroke while campaigning against his rivals in Italy, and he had to retreat back to Bavaria, soon losing control of Italy. He died in December 899, with the crown to East Francia passing to his only legitimate son, Louis the Child, last of the east Frankish branch of the Carolingian dynasty.
Charles III (839-888), more commonly known as Charles the Fat, was the youngest son of Louis the German, King of East Francia, and great-grandson of Emperor Charlemagne. Following the division of East Francia among Louis' sons, Charles inherited Alamannia in 876, but soon inherited the Kingdom of Italy in 876 after his older brother Carloman of Bavaria abdicated.<br/><br/> Charles was eventually crowned as Holy Roman emperor in 881, and succeeded his brother Louis the Younger as king of Saxony and Bavaria a year later, reuniting the Kingdom of East Francia. He was forced to deal with the Great Heathen Army, a large force of Vikings that had been repelled from Britain by King Alfred the Great in 878, something he dealt with through assassination and bribery. After his cousin Carloman II died in 884, Charles also inherited all of West Francia, reuniting the Carolingian Empire under his reign.<br/><br/> Charles' reunited kingdom did not last long, as a coup in November 887 led by his nephew Arnulf of Carinthia eventually deposed him. He was forced to retire, and soon died of natural causes a year later in January 888, only weeks after his deposition. The Carolingian Empire soon fell apart after his death, split into five successor kingdoms.
Charles II (823-877), more commonly nicknamed Charles the Bald, was the son of Emperor Louis the Pious from his second wife. It was his mother's attempts to ensure Charles was included in Louis' succession plans that led to the multiple civil wars by Charles' half-brothers against his father.<br/><br/> When Charles' father died in 840, another civil war broke out between the emperor's sons, with Charles allying himself with his half-brother Louis the German against the new emperor, Lothair I. They defeated Lothair in 841, and cemented their alliance with the Oaths of Strasbourg and the Treaty of Verdun in 843, where he received the Kingdom of West Francia. His reign was peaceful for many years until 858, when Louis the German invaded West Francia, invited by disaffected nobles wanting to get rid of Charles. Louis the German was eventually repulsed, but other matters preoccupied Charles, such as unsuccessful attempts to seize the kingdoms of his nephews or the repeated rebellions and attacks by the Bretons and Vikings.<br/><br/> When Emperor Louis II died in 875, Charles became emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Louis the German, furious he was not chosen, retaliated by invading and devastating Charles' lands, though he died a year later. While travelling back from Italy to defend his lands from his nephew Carloman, son of Louis the German, Charles fell ill and died in 877, with his son Louis the Stammerer (846-879) succeeding him as King of West Francia but not as emperor.
Charles II (823-877), more commonly nicknamed Charles the Bald, was the son of Emperor Louis the Pious from his second wife. It was his mother's attempts to ensure Charles was included in Louis' succession plans that led to the multiple civil wars by Charles' half-brothers against his father.<br/><br/> When Charles' father died in 840, another civil war broke out between the emperor's sons, with Charles allying himself with his half-brother Louis the German against the new emperor, Lothair I. They defeated Lothair in 841, and cemented their alliance with the Oaths of Strasbourg and the Treaty of Verdun in 843, where he received the Kingdom of West Francia. His reign was peaceful for many years until 858, when Louis the German invaded West Francia, invited by disaffected nobles wanting to get rid of Charles. Louis the German was eventually repulsed, but other matters preoccupied Charles, such as unsuccessful attempts to seize the kingdoms of his nephews or the repeated rebellions and attacks by the Bretons and Vikings.<br/><br/> When Emperor Louis II died in 875, Charles became emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Louis the German, furious he was not chosen, retaliated by invading and devastating Charles' lands, though he died a year later. While travelling back from Italy to defend his lands from his nephew Carloman, son of Louis the German, Charles fell ill and died in 877, with his son Louis the Stammerer (846-879) succeeding him as King of West Francia but not as emperor.
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.<br/><br/> 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.
Charles III (839-888), more commonly known as Charles the Fat, was the youngest son of Louis the German, King of East Francia, and great-grandson of Emperor Charlemagne. Following the division of East Francia among Louis' sons, Charles inherited Alamannia in 876, but soon inherited the Kingdom of Italy in 876 after his older brother Carloman of Bavaria abdicated.<br/><br/> Charles was eventually crowned as Holy Roman emperor in 881, and succeeded his brother Louis the Younger as king of Saxony and Bavaria a year later, reuniting the Kingdom of East Francia. He was forced to deal with the Great Heathen Army, a large force of Vikings that had been repelled from Britain by King Alfred the Great in 878, something he dealt with through assassination and bribery. After his cousin Carloman II died in 884, Charles also inherited all of West Francia, reuniting the Carolingian Empire under his reign.<br/><br/> Charles' reunited kingdom did not last long, as a coup in November 887 led by his nephew Arnulf of Carinthia eventually deposed him. He was forced to retire, and soon died of natural causes a year later in January 888, only weeks after his deposition. The Carolingian Empire soon fell apart after his death, split into five successor kingdoms.
Charles III (839-888), more commonly known as Charles the Fat, was the youngest son of Louis the German, King of East Francia, and great-grandson of Emperor Charlemagne. Following the division of East Francia among Louis' sons, Charles inherited Alamannia in 876, but soon inherited the Kingdom of Italy in 876 after his older brother Carloman of Bavaria abdicated.<br/><br/> Charles was eventually crowned as Holy Roman emperor in 881, and succeeded his brother Louis the Younger as king of Saxony and Bavaria a year later, reuniting the Kingdom of East Francia. He was forced to deal with the Great Heathen Army, a large force of Vikings that had been repelled from Britain by King Alfred the Great in 878, something he dealt with through assassination and bribery. After his cousin Carloman II died in 884, Charles also inherited all of West Francia, reuniting the Carolingian Empire under his reign.<br/><br/> Charles' reunited kingdom did not last long, as a coup in November 887 led by his nephew Arnulf of Carinthia eventually deposed him. He was forced to retire, and soon died of natural causes a year later in January 888, only weeks after his deposition. The Carolingian Empire soon fell apart after his death, split into five successor kingdoms.
Louis I (778-840), also known as Louis the Pious, Louis the Fair and Louis the Debonaire, was the sole surviving adult son of Emperor Charlemagne and Hildegard. Louis ruled from Aquitaine, charged by his father with defending the empire's southwestern frontier from the Muslims of Spain. He conquered Barcelona in 801 and asserted Frankish dominance over Pamplona and the Basques south of the Pyrenees in 812. He was named as co-emperor and King of the Franks by his father in 813, before becoming sole ruler in 814.<br/><br/> When he became sole emperor, he appointed his adult sons Lothair, Pepin and Louis to roles in his government, seeking to establish a suitable division of the realm among them. Several embarrassments and tragedies marred his first decade of rule however, including his brutal tratment of his newphew Bernard of Italy, for which he atoned in a public act of self-debasement. In the 830s, the Holy Roman Empire was beset by various civil wars between Louis' sons, made worse when he tried to include his son Charles by his second wife into his succession plans.<br/><br/> Louis was deposed from 833-834, but soon regained his throne and largely restored order to the empire. He died in 840, and three years of civil war followed his death. Ultimately, Louis is generally compared unfavourably to his legendary father, though his reign faced distinctly different problems.
Charlemagne (742/747/748-814), also known as Charles the Great or Charles I was the eldest child of King of the Franks, Pepin the Short. He took the Frankish throne after his father's death in 768, initially co-ruling with his brother Carloman I, who died in 771, leaving Charlemagne as undisputed ruler of the Franks.<br/><br/> Charlemagne considered himself a protector of the papacy, and invaded northern Italy to remove the Lombards from power, becoming King of Italy in 774. He also led incursions into Muslim Spain and campaigned against the Saxons of the east, Christianising them upon penalty of death, resulting in events such as the Massacre of Verden. Uniting large swathes of Western Europe during the early Middle Ages, Charlemagne reached the height of his power when he was crowned 'Emperor of the Romans' in 800, recognised as the true successor of the Roman emperors of old.<br/><br/> Now ruling as Holy Roman emperor, Charlemagne's conquests instigated the Carolingian Renaissance, a period of enlightenment and cultural activity for the Western Church. The Byzantine Empire and the Eastern Orthodox Church viewed him more controversially however, with Empress Irene actively supporting Charlemagne's rivals. Charlemagne eventually died in 814, ruling as emperor for just over thirteen years, and was laid to rest in his imperial capital of Aachen, in modern-day Germany. He is often called the 'Father of Europe' (<i>Pater Europae</i>).
Charlemagne (742/747/748-814), also known as Charles the Great or Charles I was the eldest child of King of the Franks, Pepin the Short. He took the Frankish throne after his father's death in 768, initially co-ruling with his brother Carloman I, who died in 771, leaving Charlemagne as undisputed ruler of the Franks.<br/><br/> Charlemagne considered himself a protector of the papacy, and invaded northern Italy to remove the Lombards from power, becoming King of Italy in 774. He also led incursions into Muslim Spain and campaigned against the Saxons of the east, Christianising them upon penalty of death, resulting in events such as the Massacre of Verden. Uniting large swathes of Western Europe during the early Middle Ages, Charlemagne reached the height of his power when he was crowned 'Emperor of the Romans' in 800, recognised as the true successor of the Roman emperors of old.<br/><br/> Now ruling as Holy Roman emperor, Charlemagne's conquests instigated the Carolingian Renaissance, a period of enlightenment and cultural activity for the Western Church. The Byzantine Empire and the Eastern Orthodox Church viewed him more controversially however, with Empress Irene actively supporting Charlemagne's rivals. Charlemagne eventually died in 814, ruling as emperor for just over thirteen years, and was laid to rest in his imperial capital of Aachen, in modern-day Germany. He is often called the 'Father of Europe' (<i>Pater Europae</i>).
Charlemagne (742/747/748-814), also known as Charles the Great or Charles I was the eldest child of King of the Franks, Pepin the Short. He took the Frankish throne after his father's death in 768, initially co-ruling with his brother Carloman I, who died in 771, leaving Charlemagne as undisputed ruler of the Franks.<br/><br/> Charlemagne considered himself a protector of the papacy, and invaded northern Italy to remove the Lombards from power, becoming King of Italy in 774. He also led incursions into Muslim Spain and campaigned against the Saxons of the east, Christianising them upon penalty of death, resulting in events such as the Massacre of Verden. Uniting large swathes of Western Europe during the early Middle Ages, Charlemagne reached the height of his power when he was crowned 'Emperor of the Romans' in 800, recognised as the true successor of the Roman emperors of old.<br/><br/> Now ruling as Holy Roman emperor, Charlemagne's conquests instigated the Carolingian Renaissance, a period of enlightenment and cultural activity for the Western Church. The Byzantine Empire and the Eastern Orthodox Church viewed him more controversially however, with Empress Irene actively supporting Charlemagne's rivals. Charlemagne eventually died in 814, ruling as emperor for just over thirteen years, and was laid to rest in his imperial capital of Aachen, in modern-day Germany. He is often called the 'Father of Europe' (<i>Pater Europae</i>).
Louis I (778-840), also known as Lous the Pious, Loius the Fair and Louis the Debonaire, was the sole surviving adult son of Emperor Charlemagne and Hildegard. Louis ruled from Aquitaine, charged by his father with defending the empire's southwestern frontier from the Muslims of Spain. He conquered Barcelona in 801 and asserted Frankish dominance over Pamplona and the Basques south of the Pyrenees in 812. He was named as co-emperor and King of the Franks by his father in 813, before becoming sole ruler in 814.<br/><br/> When he became sole emperor, he appointed his adult sons Lothair, Pepin and Louis to roles in his government, seeking to establish a suitable division of the realm among them. Several embarrassments and tragedies marred his first decade of rule however, including his brutal tratment of his newphew Bernard of Italy, for which he atoned in a public act of self-debasement. In the 830s, the Holy Roman Empire was beset by various civil wars between Louis' sons, made worse when he tried to include his son Charles by his second wife into his succession plans.<br/><br/> Louis was deposed from 833-834, but soon regained his throne and largely restored order to the empire. He died in 840, and three years of civil war followed his death. Ultimately, Louis is generally compared unfavourably to his legendary father, though his reign faced distinctly different problems.
Charlemagne (742/747/748-814), also known as Charles the Great or Charles I was the eldest child of King of the Franks, Pepin the Short. He took the Frankish throne after his father's death in 768, initially co-ruling with his brother Carloman I, who died in 771, leaving Charlemagne as undisputed ruler of the Franks.<br/><br/> Charlemagne considered himself a protector of the papacy, and invaded northern Italy to remove the Lombards from power, becoming King of Italy in 774. He also led incursions into Muslim Spain and campaigned against the Saxons of the east, Christianising them upon penalty of death, resulting in events such as the Massacre of Verden. Uniting large swathes of Western Europe during the early Middle Ages, Charlemagne reached the height of his power when he was crowned 'Emperor of the Romans' in 800, recognised as the true successor of the Roman emperors of old.<br/><br/> Now ruling as Holy Roman emperor, Charlemagne's conquests instigated the Carolingian Renaissance, a period of enlightenment and cultural activity for the Western Church. The Byzantine Empire and the Eastern Orthodox Church viewed him more controversially however, with Empress Irene actively supporting Charlemagne's rivals. Charlemagne eventually died in 814, ruling as emperor for just over thirteen years, and was laid to rest in his imperial capital of Aachen, in modern-day Germany. He is often called the 'Father of Europe' (Pater Europae).
Charlemagne (742/747/748-814), also known as Charles the Great or Charles I was the eldest child of King of the Franks, Pepin the Short. He took the Frankish throne after his father's death in 768, initially co-ruling with his brother Carloman I, who died in 771, leaving Charlemagne as undisputed ruler of the Franks.<br/><br/> Charlemagne considered himself a protector of the papacy, and invaded northern Italy to remove the Lombards from power, becoming King of Italy in 774. He also led incursions into Muslim Spain and campaigned against the Saxons of the east, Christianising them upon penalty of death, resulting in events such as the Massacre of Verden. Uniting large swathes of Western Europe during the early Middle Ages, Charlemagne reached the height of his power when he was crowned 'Emperor of the Romans' in 800, recognised as the true successor of the Roman emperors of old.<br/><br/> Now ruling as Holy Roman emperor, Charlemagne's conquests instigated the Carolingian Renaissance, a period of enlightenment and cultural activity for the Western Church. The Byzantine Empire and the Eastern Orthodox Church viewed him more controversially however, with Empress Irene actively supporting Charlemagne's rivals. Charlemagne eventually died in 814, ruling as emperor for just over thirteen years, and was laid to rest in his imperial capital of Aachen, in modern-day Germany. He is often called the 'Father of Europe' (Pater Europae).
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.<br/><br/> 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.