European Kingdoms

Carolingian Kings of the Eastern Franks (East Francia / Kings of Germany)
AD 840 - 911

The eastern half of the Frankish empire evolved into modern Germany, but Carolingian rule was relatively brief before a High-German-speaking Teutonic ruling class was established. In 840, Louis the Pious left his empire to his sons, but tried to ensure that the eldest gained the biggest share, in order to avoid the fragmentation of territory that so weakened the Merovingians. Lothar received Middle Francia (the Rhine corridor including the kingdom of Burgundy, and Italy), Charles the Bald received Western Francia (France and the duchy of Burgundy), and Louis the German received Eastern Francia (Germany, including Alemannia and Bavaria). However, Lothar initially claimed overlordship over all three regions and Louis and Charles had to go to war to convince him to relent, which he did in 843. The Treaty of Verdun confirmed the official division of the empire between the three kings, with rule over the empire as a whole being nominal.

840 - 876

Louis II the German

Son of Carolingian Louis I. Duke of the Alemanni. II of Germany.

869 - 888

The Swiss territories are controlled by the Eastern Franks before passing to Upper Burgundy.

870

A province of East Francia, known as a 'gau', is first mentioned in the Treaty of Meerssen in this year. Known as Hattuarian Gau, it is on the west bank of the Rhine. This may well be a surviving relic of the former Germanic tribe of the Chattuarii. The treaty arises due to the death of Lothar II of Lotharingia. His territory is subsequently divided fairly by his uncles under the terms of the treaty, those uncles being Louis the German and Charles the Bald of the Western Franks.

876

The death of Louis the German results in his territory being divided between his three sons. This is something that he had already foreseen, and portions of territory had been appointed to each of them in 865. Now in a peaceful succession, Carloman inherits Bavaria and the Ostmark, Louis the Younger gains Franconia, Saxony, and Thuringia, while Charles the Fat succeeds to Rhaetia and Swabia. As the oldest son, Carloman also retains de facto dominance over the Eastern Franks as a whole.

876 - 880

Carloman of Bavaria / Charles

of Germany. King of Bavaria (876), Italy (877) & part of Lotharingia.

876 - 882

Louis III the Younger

III of Germany. Ruled part of Lotharingia. Empire (901-905).

876 - 887

Charles III the Fat

III of Germany. France 884-888. Italy 879-888. III of Empire 881-888.

877 - 879

Charles the Bald of the Western Franks and Italy dies while fending off Carloman (son of Louis the German, , who himself had been beaten to the Italian throne by Charles the Bald). Carloman gains Italy, but suffers a debilitating stroke just two years later. Unable to rule in anything but name and having no legitimate offspring, he divides his holdings between his brothers. Louis the Younger gains Bavaria while Charles the Fat gains Italy. Carloman's illegitimate son, Arnulf, becomes duke of Carinthia.

880

Lotharingia, which has been divided between the Eastern Franks and the Western Franks since 870, is incorporated into the Frankish Empire thanks to the Treaty of Ribemont.

881 - 882

Charles the Fat succeeds as titular head of the Frankish Empire, holding the position as Emperor Charles III. He is crowned by Pope John VIII. In the following year, 882, Louis the Younger dies and Charles, as the last remaining of the three brothers, inherits his territories of Bavaria, Franconia, Saxony, and Thuringia, thereby reuniting East Francia following its division in 876.

887

The first noble to exercise domination over the papacy in Rome is Prince Theophylact of the Theophylactii. He has served Louis III as judex in Italy, and is now elected Consul by Rome's nobility. He is also a senator and magister militum, and count of Tusculum (modern Tuscany).

888

The rule of Germany falls to non-Frankish emperors when the weak Charles is deposed by the Germans at the Diet of Tribur (November 887). the Frankish empire is officially divided between East and West. The western section becomes France, the eastern section Germany, with the title of Roman Emperor also being held by Germans. Charles the Fat takes refuge in the monastery of Reichenau in Swabia where he dies the following year.

887 - 899

Arnulf of Carinthia

Son of Carloman. Duke of Carinthia. Roman Emperor (896-899).

888

Berengar defeats his chief rival in Italy, Guy of Spoleto, as the two vie for control of the eastern half of the former Frankish Empire. Arnulf immediately forces Berengar to accept vassal status under him, but it seems that Berengar holds the Germanic imperial title.

896

Berengar of Friuli agrees on the formal division of Italy with Lambert, but following a defeat in battle, Berengar emerges as sole ruler of Italy. However, he is still vassal of Arnulf, who is now also Germanic Roman Emperor. Arnulf triggers a period of confusion in the western fringes of his imperial territory when he hands Lotharingia to his illegitimate son.

899 - 911

Louis IV the Child

IV of Germany.

911

East Francia passes to Conrad I of Franconia as the first elected native king of Germany, ruling what was the eastern section of the former empire. A large-scale political reorganisation of south-western Germany now creates the stem duchy of Swabia.

911 - 918

Conrad I

Duke of Franconia (906-911).

918 - 936

Henry I the Fowler

Duke of Saxony (912-936).

936 - 961

Otto I the Great

Duke of Saxony (936-973).

936 - 944

As king of Germany, the duchy of Lorraine reverts to Otto I.

953

Feeling that his position is threatened by the marriage of his father, Otto I, to Adelaide, heiress of Italy, Ludolph of Swabia joins forces with his brother-in-law, Conrad the Red, duke of Lorraine, in revolt. Ludolph is supported by the Swabians, but Conrad fails to gain the same support from his own subjects. Otto and Henry I of Bavaria defeat the rebellion.

961

The Germanic emperors are overthrown by the Saxon king of Germany, Otto I. The two titles are merged into one and the beginnings of the Holy Roman empire are born.