Collapse of the Carolingian State: Four Themes
1. Family conflicts
2. Attacks from outside
3. Influence of the church
4. Influence of the secular nobility
Image Link: Carolingian Family Tree:
<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/
France-1stCarolingians.png>
Map Link: The Treaty of Verdun, 843:
<http://tenthmedieval.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/
treaty_of_verdun_843ce_b.gif?w=500>
840-43 War between Lothar, Louis the German,
Charles the Bald and Pippin II of Aquitaine
841 Battle of Fontenoy
843 Treaty of Verdun
852 Imprisonment of Pippin II in monastery
Ideology of familial love vs. ambition
855 Death of Lothar. Dissolution of Lothar’s
kingdom
Louis II (emperor, r. 855-75)
Lothar II (Lotharingia, r. 855-69)
Charles of Provence (r. 855-63)
Map Link: Frankish Empire, 855:
<http://www.tacitus.nu/images/kartor/Frank/Frank855.png>
Map Link: Frankish Empire, 870:
<http://www.tacitus.nu/images/kartor/Frank/Frank870.png>
870 Treaty of Meersen. Negotiations over
Italy begin
Louis II (emperor, r. 855-75)
Louis the German (r. 833-76)
Charles the Bald (r. 840-77)
875 Charles the Bald takes Italy, imperial title
877-88 Ongoing conflict over Frankish empire
885 Brief reunification of empire by Charles the
Fat (r. 876-87, son of Louis the German)
887 Deposition of Charles the Fat by Arnulf of
Carinthia (r. 887-99)
888 Division of empire among mostly nonCarolingians
846 Muslims attack Rome.
847 Lothar allies with papacy
Waves of Viking attacks, c. 835-91
Impact of Frankish defenses
Viking awareness of and involvement in
Frankish politics (e.g. alliance with
Pippin II in 855)
Map Link: Invasions in the IXth-Xth Centuries:
<http://faculty.cua.edu/pennington/religion402/topic%20
three/lecture%20three/invasion9th.jpg>
Influence of the church:
Papal influence, e.g. John VIII (p. 872-82)
crowning Charles the Bald emperor
in 875
Reciprocal relationship of Charles the
Bald and the church: benefices,
immunities, privileges, preferments
Influence of the secular nobility:
Buying support using honores (honours)
877 Quierzy Capitulary: honores
becoming hereditary
Noble factions, esp. Welfs (family of
Judith) and Robertians (family of
Robert the Strong)
Influence of the secular nobility:
General noble support of Carolingian
kingship
888 Death of Charles the Fat. Division
of empire when no adult, male,
legitimate Carolingian heir
available. Arnulf of Carinthia/
E. Francia as illegitimate
Carolingian
Reasons for the Carolingian Collapse?
1. Family conflicts
2. Attacks from outside
3. Influence of the church
4. Influence of the secular nobility
Also: Dynastic weakness? Division of
inheritance?
Nithard (c. 800-843/44)
Grandson of Charlemagne by daughter Bertha
Received both religious and military
education
Sided with Charles the Bald in wars between
sons of Louis the Pious
Fought at Fontenoy in 841
Nithard (c. 800-843/44)
De Dissensionibus Filiorum Ludovici Pii
ad Annum usque 843 (On the Dissensions
of the Sons of Louis the Pious up to the
Year 843), written at request of Charles
the Bald
Died in 843 or (probably) 844 fighting Vikings
Two Monastic Annals on the
Treaty of Verdun, 843
Annals of St-Bertin
Annals of Fulda