[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":24},["ShallowReactive",2],{"zoom:p4ch23z7:en":3},{"period":4,"chapter":14,"zoom":17},{"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},"p4ch23","Lothair and Louis V: The End of the Carolingians (954–987)",{"id":18,"title":19,"chapterId":15,"html":20,"hasEn":21,"isFallback":22,"seoDescription":23},"p4ch23z7","983–986: Verdun, Ardennes, and the Lotharingian Attempt","\u003Cp>After 978, \u003Cstrong>Lotharingia\u003C/strong> again becomes the reign’s horizon. The Ottonian succession crisis (983) opens a window, but it closes quickly, leaving Lothair in a diplomatic and military struggle that ends up opposing him to Lotharingian networks.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>👑 983–984: an opportunity after Otto II’s death\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>In \u003Cstrong>983\u003C/strong>, the death of \u003Cstrong>Otto II\u003C/strong> leaves the Empire to \u003Cstrong>Otto III\u003C/strong>, still a child. Duke of Bavaria \u003Cstrong>Henry the Quarrelsome\u003C/strong> tries to impose his tutelage. Lotharingian actors, including \u003Cstrong>Adalbéron of Reims\u003C/strong>, seek to protect Otto III and Empress \u003Cstrong>Theophano\u003C/strong>: they push Lothair to support the “right” camp while letting him hope to recover Lotharingia.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Lothair then claims a tutor’s role and guardianship over Lotharingia. He receives homages from Lotharingian great men, including \u003Cstrong>Godfrey of Verdun\u003C/strong> (House of Ardennes), and reconciles with his brother \u003Cstrong>Charles\u003C/strong>, who also hopes to benefit in Upper Lotharingia.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>But Henry the Quarrelsome’s quick failure brings the project down: the peace concluded at \u003Cstrong>Worms (984)\u003C/strong> confirms Carolingian retreat and strengthens the House of Ardennes’ grip over Lotharingia.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⚔️ 985: Verdun and the capture of Lotharingian great men\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Lothair tries revenge. After a faltering alliance with Henry the Quarrelsome, he chooses direct action. \u003Cstrong>Hugh Capet\u003C/strong> refuses to fight against his Lotharingian kin, but the king gains support from powerful counts of the realm.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>In early \u003Cstrong>985\u003C/strong>, the royal army invades the duchy, besieges \u003Cstrong>Verdun\u003C/strong>, and takes it in \u003Cstrong>March\u003C/strong>. High‑ranking prisoners are captured, including \u003Cstrong>Godfrey\u003C/strong>, members of his house, and Duke \u003Cstrong>Theoderic\u003C/strong> of Upper Lotharingia.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Back in \u003Cstrong>Laon\u003C/strong>, Lothair imposes heavy obligations on the archbishop of Reims: maintain a garrison at Verdun and write to major archbishops of the Empire to display loyalty to the Carolingian king. Verdun becomes an instrument of political domination as much as a military success.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⛪ 985: open conflict with the House of Ardennes\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Rupture occurs when Lothair suspects \u003Cstrong>Adalbéron of Reims\u003C/strong> of double‑dealing. Logistic pretexts, refusal to obey, rivalry over the bishopric of Verdun: the king tries to prosecute the archbishop by convening an assembly at \u003Cstrong>Compiègne (11 May 985)\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Hugh Capet intervenes with his men and disperses the assembly. Lothair cannot open a second front: he releases part of the Lotharingian prisoners and seeks compromise, without renouncing his Lotharingian goal.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⚰️ Early 986: new plans, sudden death\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>In early \u003Cstrong>986\u003C/strong>, Lothair still considers attacking imperial cities such as \u003Cstrong>Cambrai\u003C/strong> or \u003Cstrong>Liège\u003C/strong>, then dies suddenly at \u003Cstrong>Laon\u003C/strong> on \u003Cstrong>2 March 986\u003C/strong>. His final activity shows a reign oriented eastward: diplomacy, sieges, captures, and pressure on the Church.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>🧠 Key takeaways\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>983–984: Otto III’s minority opens a Lotharingian window that closes quickly.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>985: Verdun is taken; the stake becomes ecclesiastical (Reims/Ardennes).\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Compiègne (May 985) reveals Hugh Capet’s power of arbitration.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n",true,false,"After 978, Lotharingia again becomes the reign’s horizon. The Ottonian succession crisis (983) opens a window, but it closes quickly, leaving Lothair in a",1778543124488]