[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":232},["ShallowReactive",2],{"chapter:p4ch14:en":3,"chapters:p4:en":52},{"period":4,"chapter":14},{"id":5,"title":6,"titleEn":6,"titleEs":7,"range":8,"rangeEn":8,"rangeEs":8,"cover":9},"p4","Early Middle Ages","Alta Edad Media","476 → 987",{"fileName":10,"filePageUrl":11,"imageUrl":12,"sourceLabel":13},"François Louis Dejuinne 08265 baptême de CLovis.JPG","https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fran%C3%A7ois%20Louis%20Dejuinne%2008265%20bapt%C3%AAme%20de%20CLovis.JPG","/assets/p4-haut-moyen-age-cover.png","Wikimedia Commons",{"id":15,"title":16,"periodId":5,"html":17,"zooms":18,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":49,"realm":46,"seoDescription":50,"thumbnailUrl":51},"p4ch14","Charles the Bald: The Birth of West Francia (840–877)","\u003Cp>When \u003Cstrong>Louis the Pious\u003C/strong> died in \u003Cstrong>840\u003C/strong>, the Carolingian Empire entered a new phase. Rivalry among his sons turned into open war, and the unity built by \u003Cstrong>Charlemagne\u003C/strong> began to crumble. Out of this dynastic crisis gradually emerged a political space that matters directly for the history of France: \u003Cstrong>West Francia\u003C/strong>, ruled by \u003Cstrong>Charles\u003C/strong>, soon nicknamed \u003Cstrong>“the Bald”\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Charles does not simply inherit a territory: he must \u003Cstrong>build and stabilise a kingdom\u003C/strong> in an exceptionally unstable context. His reign is marked by wars among Carolingian princes, by the need to negotiate constantly with regional elites, and by steady external pressure, above all the \u003Cstrong>Viking raids\u003C/strong> that strike the kingdom’s river valleys.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Little by little, under his authority, West Francia takes on a political life of its own and becomes one of the durable heirs of the former Carolingian Empire.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>🧑‍🦲 Nickname: why “the Bald”?\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>The origin of the nickname \u003Cstrong>“the Bald”\u003C/strong> remains uncertain, and historians have proposed several explanations.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>According to one tradition, Charles became \u003Cstrong>lay abbot of Saint‑Denis\u003C/strong> from \u003Cstrong>867\u003C/strong>. During Pope \u003Cstrong>John VIII’s\u003C/strong> consecration of the collegiate church of Sainte‑Marie at \u003Cstrong>Compiègne\u003C/strong> on \u003Cstrong>5 May 877\u003C/strong>, Charles would have \u003Cstrong>had his head shaved\u003C/strong> as a sign of humility and submission to the Church. This would have impressed contemporaries because long hair was, among the Franks, a symbol of royal dignity.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Another explanation, often judged more plausible, refers to his childhood. When Louis the Pious organised imperial succession, Charles’s half‑brothers already held well‑established kingdoms, while Charles long remained \u003Cstrong>without a realm of his own\u003C/strong>. He may thus have been nicknamed ironically “the Bald”, meaning the prince \u003Cstrong>without a kingdom\u003C/strong>, without a “crown”.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⚔️ 840–843: from civil war to partition\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>At the death of \u003Cstrong>Louis the Pious\u003C/strong> in \u003Cstrong>840\u003C/strong>, the fragile balance of the Carolingian Empire quickly collapses. Provisions meant to organise succession are no longer sufficient to contain heirs’ ambitions. Rivalry among the emperor’s sons becomes \u003Cstrong>open war\u003C/strong>, mainly opposing \u003Cstrong>Lothair\u003C/strong>, the eldest and associated emperor, to his two brothers \u003Cstrong>Charles\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>Louis\u003C/strong> (the future \u003Cstrong>Louis the German\u003C/strong>).\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Lothair believes his imperial dignity gives him a right of supremacy over the whole empire. He therefore tries to impose authority on his brothers and restore political unity inherited from Charlemagne. Facing this ambition, Charles and Louis ally to defend their territories and prevent Lothair from dominating the empire alone.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The situation is further complicated by other dynastic rivalries, notably in \u003Cstrong>Aquitaine\u003C/strong>. \u003Cstrong>Pepin II\u003C/strong>, son of \u003Cstrong>Pepin I of Aquitaine\u003C/strong>, refuses to recognise Charles’s authority and seeks to recover the Aquitanian kingdom his father had ruled. This contest weakens Charles’s position in the southwest and shows that war between heirs also fuels regional conflicts.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The decisive confrontation takes place in \u003Cstrong>841\u003C/strong> at the \u003Cstrong>battle of Fontenoy‑en‑Puisaye\u003C/strong>, in Burgundy. Charles’s and Louis’s armies fight those of Lothair in extremely violent combat that leaves a deep impression on contemporaries. Victory ultimately goes to the allied brothers, reversing the balance of power and preventing Lothair from imposing domination over the empire.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/Bitva_u_Fontenay841.jpg\" alt=\"Battle of Fontenoy‑en‑Puisaye\" class=\"kb-img-contain\">\n\u003Cem>Battle of Fontenoy‑en‑Puisaye — Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>After this battle, Charles and Louis seek to consolidate their alliance. In \u003Cstrong>842\u003C/strong>, they publicly renew their mutual commitment in order to continue the struggle against Lothair and stabilise their political position.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>🔍 \u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"/en/zoom/p4ch14z1\">Zoom – 842: the Oaths of Strasbourg\u003C/a>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>From \u003Cstrong>843\u003C/strong>, Charles becomes king of \u003Cstrong>West Francia\u003C/strong>, a vast territory covering much of the former Gaul. This political entity is not yet modern France, but it constitutes the \u003Cstrong>territorial core of the future kingdom of France\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Traite_de_Verdun.svg\" alt=\"Treaty of Verdun 843\" class=\"kb-img-contain\">\n\u003Cem>Treaty of Verdun (843) — Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>🔍 \u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"/en/zoom/p4ch14z2\">Zoom – 843: Verdun, three Francias\u003C/a>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>✝️ 848: an anointing at Orléans\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>A few years after the \u003Cstrong>Treaty of Verdun (843)\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>Charles the Bald\u003C/strong> seeks to strengthen the legitimacy of his power over \u003Cstrong>West Francia\u003C/strong>. The civil war among Louis the Pious’s heirs has deeply shaken royal authority, and Charles still must impose himself against regional contests, especially in Aquitaine.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>In this context, the king organises a new solemn anointing. On \u003Cstrong>6 June 848\u003C/strong>, at \u003Cstrong>Orléans\u003C/strong>, he is \u003Cstrong>elected and anointed king\u003C/strong> by the archbishop of Sens \u003Cstrong>Wenilo\u003C/strong>, in the presence of several bishops and great men of the kingdom. This ceremony is not Charles’s first coronation, but it aims to publicly assert his authority over West Francia as a whole, especially in regions where his power remains contested.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The choice of Orléans is not accidental. Located at the heart of the kingdom, the city has a strong religious and political tradition. The anointing thus helps gather ecclesiastical and aristocratic elites around the king and reassert political order after years of civil war.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>This event shows that \u003Cstrong>Carolingian kingship\u003C/strong> rests on a balance between essential elements:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>military victory\u003C/strong>, which allows power to be imposed in dynastic conflicts;\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>elite support\u003C/strong>, indispensable for governing the kingdom;\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>and the \u003Cstrong>religious ritual of anointing\u003C/strong>, which confers sacred legitimacy and places royal power within the Christian order.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>🔍 \u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"/en/zoom/p4ch14z6\">Zoom – 848: Charles’s anointing at Orléans\u003C/a>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>🛡️ Governing West Francia: balances and compromises\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Governing \u003Cstrong>West Francia\u003C/strong> requires \u003Cstrong>Charles the Bald\u003C/strong> to constantly balance royal authority with negotiation among local elites. The king’s power relies largely on regional relays: \u003Cstrong>counts, bishops, and great aristocrats\u003C/strong>, who administer territories, dispense justice, and organise defence.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>These men are both indispensable supports of power and actors capable of contesting royal authority if their interests are threatened. In a kingdom marked by regional diversity and political traditions, Charles must therefore constantly work with local balances.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Several factors make government particularly delicate:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>regions with strong political traditions, such as \u003Cstrong>Aquitaine\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>Neustria\u003C/strong>, or \u003Cstrong>Burgundy\u003C/strong>, where local elites enjoy wide autonomy;\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>powerful aristocratic families able to mobilise loyalty networks and challenge royal decisions;\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>a political system based on \u003Cstrong>assemblies\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>oaths of loyalty\u003C/strong>, and \u003Cstrong>grants of land or offices\u003C/strong>, which structure relations between the sovereign and the great men of the realm.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>In this context, royal authority rests less on a centralised administration than on a \u003Cstrong>play of alliances and loyalties\u003C/strong>. The king governs by regularly gathering the realm’s great men in assemblies where major decisions are taken.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Little by little, this situation transforms the nature of monarchy itself. While Charles tries to strengthen central authority and preserve the kingdom’s unity, he must also accept compromises that give \u003Cstrong>growing room to local powers\u003C/strong>. This evolution gradually foreshadows the political world of the 10th century, when regional princes and lords will play an increasingly decisive role.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⚔️ 843–851: wars against the Bretons\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>On the western edge of the kingdom, \u003Cstrong>Brittany\u003C/strong> is a particularly unstable front for Carolingian monarchy. For several generations, Breton leaders have sought to preserve autonomy against Frankish kings. The region is difficult to control: political structures are fragmented, Frankish influence is uneven, and local aristocracies retain strong capacity for resistance.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The revolt is led by \u003Cstrong>Nominoë\u003C/strong>, a former representative of Carolingian power in Brittany under Louis the Pious. Initially loyal to the empire, Nominoë takes advantage of the troubles following Verdun to assert independence. Conflict truly breaks out when Charles the Bald’s armies try to restore royal authority in the region.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Nom%C3%A9no%C3%AB_%28Tenniel%29.png\" alt=\"Engraved illustration of Nominoë\" class=\"kb-img-contain\">\n\u003Cem>Nominoë, a 9th‑century Breton leader, returns from hunting (hands still bloodied) when he learns that the son of the old chief of Mount Aré has been killed by Frankish invaders. He swears not to wash his hands until he has driven the Franks out of Brittany — Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>In \u003Cstrong>845\u003C/strong>, Nominoë inflicts an important defeat on Charles at the \u003Cstrong>battle of Ballon\u003C/strong>, near Redon. This victory greatly boosts Breton prestige and weakens the king’s authority in the kingdom’s west. The following year, an agreement in \u003Cstrong>846\u003C/strong> effectively recognises Nominoë’s dominant position in Brittany, even if the region remains officially linked to West Francia.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Peace remains fragile. Tensions resume quickly, and after Nominoë’s death in \u003Cstrong>851\u003C/strong>, fighting continues under his son \u003Cstrong>Erispoë\u003C/strong>. That same year, Charles the Bald suffers a new defeat against the Bretons at the \u003Cstrong>battle of Jengland\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The conflict ends with the \u003Cstrong>Treaty of Angers (851)\u003C/strong>. By this agreement, Charles recognises broad autonomy for Breton power and cedes several territories, notably \u003Cstrong>Rennes\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>Nantes\u003C/strong>, to the Breton kingdom. In exchange, Erispoë formally recognises the Frankish king’s authority.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>These events mark an important stage in Brittany’s political history. Without fully breaking with the Frankish world, Brittany acquires \u003Cstrong>durable political autonomy\u003C/strong>, limiting the direct authority of Carolingian kings in the kingdom’s west.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>🔍 \u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"/en/zoom/p4ch14z7\">Zoom – 843–867: Brittany, Ballon, Jengland, and treaties\u003C/a>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⚔️ The Vikings: a permanent threat\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>From the \u003Cstrong>840s\u003C/strong> onward, West Francia faces a new form of war: \u003Cstrong>Viking raids\u003C/strong>. Coming mainly from \u003Cstrong>Scandinavia\u003C/strong> (Denmark and Norway), these groups of warriors and sailors exploit internal divisions of the Carolingian world to launch fast expeditions along coasts and rivers.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Viking_Expansion-fr.svg\" alt=\"Viking expansion\" class=\"kb-img-contain\">\n\u003Cem>Viking expansion in Europe — Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The great river valleys — the \u003Cstrong>Loire\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>Seine\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>Garonne\u003C/strong>, as well as the \u003Cstrong>Scheldt\u003C/strong> and the \u003Cstrong>Somme\u003C/strong> — become ideal invasion routes. Thanks to shallow‑draft ships, Vikings can sail deep inland, strike by surprise, and then leave quickly with their booty. \u003Cstrong>Monasteries\u003C/strong>, rich in precious objects and often poorly defended, are prime targets, as are merchant towns and episcopal centres.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>One of the most striking episodes occurs in \u003Cstrong>843\u003C/strong>, when Vikings sack \u003Cstrong>Nantes\u003C/strong>. The attack takes place on the feast day of \u003Cstrong>Saint John the Baptist\u003C/strong>: the city is taken by surprise and Bishop \u003Cstrong>Gohard\u003C/strong> is killed in his cathedral during the celebration. The raid shocks contemporaries and symbolises the vulnerability of western cities.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Cath_st_gohard01.jpg\" alt=\"Gohard, martyr of Saint John the Baptist\" class=\"kb-img-contain\">\n\u003Cem>Gohard, martyr of Saint John the Baptist — Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Attacks then multiply in several regions. \u003Cstrong>Paris\u003C/strong>, on the Seine, becomes a strategic target and is threatened repeatedly. The most famous raid takes place in \u003Cstrong>845\u003C/strong>, when a Viking fleet sails up to the city. Unable to defeat the invaders directly, \u003Cstrong>Charles the Bald\u003C/strong> ultimately agrees to pay a large \u003Cstrong>tribute\u003C/strong> to obtain their departure.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Facing repeated attacks, Carolingian monarchy struggles to organise durable defence. Royal armies are slow to mobilise, while Vikings favour speed and surprise. In many cases, the king chooses to pay \u003Cstrong>ransoms\u003C/strong> to avoid larger destruction. This sometimes buys time, but also encourages new expeditions.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>These Viking raids reshape the kingdom’s organisation. They push local elites to strengthen \u003Cstrong>fortifications\u003C/strong>, protect bridges and river crossings, and organise defence more directly. The Scandinavian threat becomes one of the major factors of political and military change in West Francia in the 9th century.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>🔍 \u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"/en/zoom/p4ch14z3\">Zoom – 845: the siege of Paris and the tribute\u003C/a>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>🧨 858: political crisis and Louis the German’s intervention\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>The kingdom’s difficulties, worsened by Viking raids and tensions among great aristocratic families, favour new opposition to \u003Cstrong>Charles the Bald\u003C/strong>. In \u003Cstrong>858\u003C/strong>, part of the realm’s great men rebel and seek to replace the king. Among them is the powerful aristocrat \u003Cstrong>Robert the Strong\u003C/strong>, who plays an important role in organising opposition.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The rebels decide to call on \u003Cstrong>Louis the German\u003C/strong>, Charles’s brother and king of East Francia. Taking advantage of this invitation, Louis crosses the Rhine and invades \u003Cstrong>West Francia\u003C/strong>. His intervention is supported by part of the aristocracy and even by some bishops, giving the crisis both political and religious dimensions.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Facing this threat, Charles temporarily retreats and seeks new support. The balance shifts thanks to bishops who remain loyal to the king, foremost among them the influential \u003Cstrong>Hincmar\u003C/strong>, archbishop of \u003Cstrong>Reims\u003C/strong>. Through his moral authority and political influence, Hincmar rallies part of the elites and defends Charles’s legitimacy.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Lacking sufficient support and confronted with resistance, \u003Cstrong>Louis the German\u003C/strong> is ultimately forced to withdraw. The crisis of \u003Cstrong>858\u003C/strong> nonetheless shows the fragility of royal power in West Francia: when their interests are threatened, great aristocrats can challenge the sovereign and appeal to foreign princes to arbitrate internal conflicts.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>🔍 \u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"/en/zoom/p4ch14z8\">Zoom – 858: Robert the Strong, Hincmar, and the invasion\u003C/a>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>🏰 864: organising defence\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Facing Viking raids multiplying since the 840s, \u003Cstrong>Charles the Bald\u003C/strong> understands that ad‑hoc responses — ransoms, improvised military expeditions — are no longer enough. Scandinavian fleets regularly sail up the kingdom’s rivers, strike cities and monasteries, then depart with booty before royal armies can intervene. To better contain these incursions, the king seeks a \u003Cstrong>more structured territorial defence\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>In \u003Cstrong>864\u003C/strong>, at an assembly held at \u003Cstrong>Pîtres\u003C/strong>, in Normandy, Charles promulgates an important text known as the \u003Cstrong>Edict of Pîtres\u003C/strong>. This capitulary aims to strengthen the kingdom’s security and better frame the military obligations of elites.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>One of its most famous measures concerns building \u003Cstrong>fortified bridges\u003C/strong> on major rivers, especially the \u003Cstrong>Seine\u003C/strong> and the \u003Cstrong>Loire\u003C/strong>. These bridges are meant to be strongly defended to prevent Viking ships from moving too easily inland. By controlling these crossings, the goal is to turn rivers — until then invasion routes — into \u003Cstrong>defensive lines\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The edict also seeks to organise mobilisation more effectively. Great men must provide troops and help maintain fortifications. The text also aims to limit abuses linked to the use of weapons and to strengthen royal authority over local forces.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>While these measures do not end Viking raids, they mark an important stage in how Carolingian power adapts to this new kind of warfare. The \u003Cstrong>Edict of Pîtres\u003C/strong> shows Charles’s attempt to progressively transform defence into a more stable system, based on \u003Cstrong>permanent fortifications and coordinated mobilisation of local elites\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>🔍 \u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"/en/zoom/p4ch14z4\">Zoom – 864: the Edict of Pîtres\u003C/a>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>🧭 869–870: Lotharingia, a strategic stake\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>The death of King \u003Cstrong>Lothair II\u003C/strong> in \u003Cstrong>869\u003C/strong> opens a new phase of rivalry among Carolingian sovereigns. His kingdom, \u003Cstrong>Lotharingia\u003C/strong>, occupies a strategic position between \u003Cstrong>West Francia\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>East Francia\u003C/strong>, along the \u003Cstrong>Rhine\u003C/strong> axis and the \u003Cstrong>Meuse\u003C/strong> valley. This rich and densely populated region includes major cities such as \u003Cstrong>Metz\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>Verdun\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>Aachen\u003C/strong>, and \u003Cstrong>Cologne\u003C/strong>, heirs of the political heart of the former Carolingian Empire.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Taking advantage of Lothair II’s death and the absence of a recognised heir, \u003Cstrong>Charles the Bald\u003C/strong> acts quickly. He goes to \u003Cstrong>Metz\u003C/strong>, where he is crowned king of Lotharingia on \u003Cstrong>9 September 869\u003C/strong>, aiming to assert authority over the whole territory. This alarms his brother \u003Cstrong>Louis the German\u003C/strong>, who also claims part of the inheritance.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Tension between the two rulers leads to negotiation. In \u003Cstrong>870\u003C/strong>, the \u003Cstrong>Treaty of Meerssen\u003C/strong> ends confrontation by organising the \u003Cstrong>partition of Lotharingia\u003C/strong> between the two Frankish kingdoms. The western part goes to Charles the Bald, while the eastern part is attributed to Louis the German.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Empire_carolingien_870.svg\" alt=\"Treaty of Meerssen (870)\" class=\"kb-img-contain\">\n\u003Cem>Treaty of Meerssen (870) — Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>This partition fixes, for a time, the balance between the two Francias and shows how Lotharingia is a true \u003Cstrong>hinge region\u003C/strong> in the political geography of Carolingian Europe. Situated between the two realms, it will remain for centuries a contested space at the heart of rivalries among western European powers.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>🔍 \u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"/en/zoom/p4ch14z9\">Zoom – 869–870: Metz and Meerssen\u003C/a>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>👑 875–877: imperial prestige and the end of a reign\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>In the mid‑870s, \u003Cstrong>Charles the Bald\u003C/strong> tries to strengthen his prestige and influence beyond West Francia. Italy offers an opportunity. When Emperor \u003Cstrong>Louis II\u003C/strong> dies in \u003Cstrong>875\u003C/strong>, the imperial throne becomes vacant. Pope \u003Cstrong>John VIII\u003C/strong>, confronted with threats to Rome and Italy, seeks support from a Carolingian ruler able to protect the Church.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Charles crosses the Alps and intervenes in Italy. On \u003Cstrong>25 December 875\u003C/strong>, in \u003Cstrong>Rome\u003C/strong>, he is crowned \u003Cstrong>emperor\u003C/strong> by Pope John VIII, taking up the prestigious title once worn by Charlemagne and several successors. This imperial dignity considerably increases his prestige and affirms his rank among Carolingian princes.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>However, the title remains largely symbolic. It does not deeply alter the political balance of the Carolingian world, now divided among competing kingdoms. Charles still faces the same difficulties: dynastic rivalries, growing autonomy of regional aristocracies, and pressure from external enemies.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>In the last years of his reign, the king remains involved in Italian affairs. In \u003Cstrong>877\u003C/strong>, he prepares a new expedition south of the Alps to support the pope and defend his imperial interests. But the campaign ends quickly. On the return journey, weakened and ill, \u003Cstrong>Charles the Bald\u003C/strong> dies on \u003Cstrong>6 October 877\u003C/strong> in the \u003Cstrong>Alps\u003C/strong>, near \u003Cstrong>Brios\u003C/strong> (today \u003Cstrong>Avrieux\u003C/strong>, in Savoy).\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>His death ends a long and turbulent reign. Under his government, \u003Cstrong>West Francia\u003C/strong> has asserted itself as a distinct kingdom, but it remains fragile, crossed by aristocratic rivalries and exposed to external threats.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>🔍 \u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"/en/zoom/p4ch14z5\">Zoom – 877: the Capitularies of Quierzy\u003C/a>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>🧠 Key takeaways\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Charles the Bald’s reign sees the \u003Cstrong>durable birth of West Francia\u003C/strong>.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>He governs in a difficult context: Carolingian rivalries, regional revolts, and Viking raids.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>His reign marks the transition between the unified Carolingian Empire and the \u003Cstrong>medieval kingdoms of western Europe\u003C/strong>.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>Image credits\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Battle of Fontenoy‑en‑Puisaye — Jean Fouquet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Treaty of Verdun 843 — Nicolas Ray, CC BY-SA 3.0 \u003Ca href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/\">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/\u003C/a>, via Wikimedia Commons\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Engraved illustration of Nominoë — John Tenniel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Viking expansions — IvanBondarev, CC BY-SA 4.0 \u003Ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\u003C/a>, via Wikimedia Commons\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Gohard, martyr of Saint John the Baptist — Édouard Jolin, CC BY-SA 3.0 \u003Ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\u003C/a>, via Wikimedia Commons\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Treaty of Meerssen, 870 — Trasamundo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n",[19,22,25,28,31,34,37,40,43],{"id":20,"title":21},"p4ch14z1","842: The Oaths of Strasbourg",{"id":23,"title":24},"p4ch14z2","843: Verdun, Three Francias",{"id":26,"title":27},"p4ch14z3","845: The Siege of Paris and the \\\"Tribute\\\"",{"id":29,"title":30},"p4ch14z4","864: The Edict of Pîtres",{"id":32,"title":33},"p4ch14z5","877: The Capitularies of Quierzy",{"id":35,"title":36},"p4ch14z6","848: Charles’s Anointing at Orléans",{"id":38,"title":39},"p4ch14z7","843–867: Brittany, Ballon, Jengland, and Treaties",{"id":41,"title":42},"p4ch14z8","858: Robert the Strong, Hincmar, and the Invasion",{"id":44,"title":45},"p4ch14z9","869–870: Metz and Meerssen (Lotharingia)","",true,false,"840 à 877","Après 840, la Francie occidentale se stabilise entre guerre civile, Vikings et pouvoirs locaux. When Louis the Pious died in 840 , the Carolingian Empire","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch14.png",{"period":53,"chapters":57},{"id":5,"title":6,"titleEn":6,"titleEs":7,"range":8,"rangeEn":8,"rangeEs":8,"cover":54,"coverArtworkId":56},{"fileName":46,"filePageUrl":46,"imageUrl":55,"sourceLabel":46},"/assets/carousels/p4/Alma-Tadema The Education of the Children of Clovis.jpg","alma-tadema-the-education-of-the-children-of-clovis",[58,64,71,78,84,90,96,102,109,115,122,128,134,140,146,152,158,164,170,176,178,184,190,196,202,208,214,220,226],{"id":59,"title":60,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":61,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":62,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":63,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch1","Clovis: The King Who Forged Gaul","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch1.jpg","Le premier grand roi franc et l'unification de la Gaule.","481 à 511",{"id":65,"title":66,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":67,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":68,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":69,"realm":70,"ready":47},"p4ch2","Theuderic I: Heir of the East (Austrasia)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch2.jpg","Le partage de 511 et la naissance de l'Austrasie.","511 à 534","Austrasie",{"id":72,"title":73,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":74,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":75,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":76,"realm":77,"ready":47},"p4ch2b","Clodomir: Orléans and the Burgundian War","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch2b.png","Division of the Frankish kingdom after the death of Clovis — Source: Wikimedia Commons","511 à 524","Orléans",{"id":79,"title":80,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":81,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":75,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":82,"realm":83,"ready":47},"p4ch2c","Childebert I: Paris, Alliances, and Expansion","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch2c.jpg","511 à 558","Paris",{"id":85,"title":86,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":87,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":88,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":89,"realm":70,"ready":47},"p4ch3","Theudebert I: Austrasia’s King Looking Toward Rome","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch3.png","Un roi d'Austrasie, entre Méditerranée, monnaie et ambitions italiennes.","534 à 548",{"id":91,"title":92,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":93,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":94,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":95,"realm":70,"ready":47},"p4ch3b","Theudebald: A Brief Reign in Austrasia","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch3b.png","The Frankish kingdom in 548 — Source: Wikimedia Commons","548 à 555",{"id":97,"title":98,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":99,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":100,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":101,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch4","Chlothar I: The Last Son of Clovis","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch4.jpg","Rivalités mérovingiennes et retour au royaume unique (558).","511 à 561",{"id":103,"title":104,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":105,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":106,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":107,"realm":108,"ready":47},"p4ch5","Chilperic I: Ambition and the Royal Feud","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch5.jpg","Les luttes de pouvoir et la rivalité Frédégonde-Brunehaut après 561.","561 à 584","Neustrie",{"id":110,"title":111,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":112,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":113,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":114,"realm":70,"ready":47},"p4ch5b","Sigebert I: Austrasia and the Brothers’ War","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch5b.jpg","In 561 , King Chlothar I , the last son of Clovis , died. As in the previous generation, his kingdom was divided among his sons.","561 à 575",{"id":116,"title":117,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":118,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":119,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":120,"realm":121,"ready":47},"p4ch5c","Guntram: Burgundy and Merovingian Arbitration","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch5c.jpg","After King Chlothar I died in 561 , the Frankish kingdom was once again divided among his sons.","561 à 592","Bourgogne",{"id":123,"title":124,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":125,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":126,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":127,"realm":83,"ready":47},"p4ch5d","Charibert I: Paris and a Brief Reign","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch5d.png","In 561 , after King Chlothar I died, the Frankish kingdom was divided among his sons according to Merovingian tradition.","561 à 567",{"id":129,"title":130,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":131,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":132,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":133,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch6","Chlothar II: The Survivor and the Unifier","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch6.png","La fin de la Faide royale et la réunification du royaume franc.","584 à 629",{"id":135,"title":136,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":137,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":138,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":139,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch7","Dagobert I: The Last Great Merovingian King","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch7.png","L'âge d'or mérovingien, Saint Éloi et la fondation de Saint-Denis.","629 à 639",{"id":141,"title":142,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":143,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":144,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":145,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch8","The Mayors of the Palace: Power Shifts (639–687)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch8.jpg","Après Dagobert, la réalité du pouvoir passe aux maires du palais.","639 à 687",{"id":147,"title":148,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":149,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":150,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":151,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch9","Pepin of Herstal: Prince of the Franks (687–714)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch9.png","Après Tertry, Pépin de Herstal gouverne comme l'homme fort du royaume.","687 à 714",{"id":153,"title":154,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":155,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":156,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":157,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch10","Charles Martel: Ruling Without a Crown (714–741)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch10.png","Après 714, Charles Martel devient l'homme fort du royaume franc.","714 à 741",{"id":159,"title":160,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":161,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":162,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":163,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch11","Pepin the Short: From Real Power to the Crown (741–768)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch11.png","Après 741, Pépin transforme le pouvoir pépinide en royauté.","741 à 768",{"id":165,"title":166,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":167,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":168,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":169,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch12","Charlemagne: Inherit, Conquer, Scale Up (768–814)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch12.png","Après 768, Charlemagne unifie le pouvoir et change d’échelle.","768 à 814",{"id":171,"title":172,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":173,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":174,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":175,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch13","Louis the Pious: The Empire Put to the Test (814–840)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch13.png","À partir de 814, Louis le Pieux tente de maintenir l’unité impériale face aux crises successorales.","814 à 840",{"id":15,"title":16,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":51,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":177,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":49,"realm":46,"ready":47},"Après 840, la Francie occidentale se stabilise entre guerre civile, Vikings et pouvoirs locaux.",{"id":179,"title":180,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":181,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":182,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":183,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch15","Louis the Stammerer: A Short Reign, a Fragile Kingdom (877–879)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch15.png","Après 877, Louis le Bègue hérite d’un royaume fragilisé et doit composer avec les grands.","877 à 879",{"id":185,"title":186,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":187,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":188,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":189,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch16","Louis III and Carloman II: Two Kings Facing the Vikings (879–884)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch16.jpg","Après 879, deux rois et un royaume sous pression viking ; le pouvoir se joue aussi chez les grands.","879 à 884",{"id":191,"title":192,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":193,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":194,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":195,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch17","Charles the Fat: Carolingian Unity and the Crisis of Power (884–888)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch17.jpg","Le siège de Paris (885–886) met à nu la crise du pouvoir carolingien, jusqu’à la rupture de 887–888.","884 à 888",{"id":197,"title":198,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":199,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":200,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":201,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch18","Odo: The Robertian King and the War of Prestige (888–898)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch18.jpg","Eudes impose une royauté robertienne par sacres, alliances et victoires, face à Charles le Simple.","888 à 898",{"id":203,"title":204,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":205,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":206,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":207,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch19","Charles the Simple: Norman Compromise, Imperial Ambitions, and Fall (898–929)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch19.jpg","Retour carolingien : compromis de 911, axe lotharingien, ambitions impériales, puis déposition et captivité.","898 à 929",{"id":209,"title":210,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":211,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":212,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":213,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch20","Robert I: The Robertian King of Civil War (922–923)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch20.jpg","Règne bref et décisif : sacre de 922, guerre civile, mort à Soissons et transition vers Raoul.","922 à 923",{"id":215,"title":216,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":217,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":218,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":219,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch21","Rudolph of Burgundy: King of the Franks Between Princes and Normans (923–936)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch21.jpg","Règne de Raoul : arbitrer entre princes, stabiliser la Normandie, puis succession carolingienne (936).","923 à 936",{"id":221,"title":222,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":223,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":224,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":225,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch22","Louis IV \\\"d’Outremer\\\": Carolingian Return and the Princes’ War (936–954)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch22.jpg","Restauration carolingienne : rivalité avec Hugues le Grand, crise lotharingienne, capture de 945, puis consolidation.","936 à 954",{"id":227,"title":228,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":229,"thumbnailArtworkId":46,"hasEn":47,"isFallback":48,"teaser":230,"coverFit":46,"coverPosition":46,"chronicle":231,"realm":46,"ready":47},"p4ch23","Lothair and Louis V: The End of the Carolingians (954–987)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch23.jpg","Lothaire et Louis V : guerre avec l’Empire, crise lotharingienne, mort de 987 et bascule capétienne.","954 à 987",1778543069436]