European Kingdoms

Carolingian Kings of Middle Franks (Francia Media / Italy)
AD 781 - 875

The year 781 saw the final conclusion of the efforts of Frankish emperor, Charlemagne, to fully conquer and subdue the Lombards in Italy. In that same year his son, Pepin, was given command of Italy. Under his descendant, Lothar, the Frankish kingdom of Italy included all of central and northern Italy (the former exarchate of Ravenna and Lombard kingdom territories), and the Rhine corridor up to modern Holland. It also seems to have included Switzerland. The rulers of Frankish Italy were known as the Middle Franks due to their geographical position between the Western and Eastern Franks. Two of their number were heads of the Frankish empire as a whole between 840-875.

781 - 810

Pepin

Son of Charlemagne. King of Italy.

c.790 - 791

Claimed both by the Carolingian Franks and Byzantium, the principality of Benevento is now attacked by the latter. Byzantine troops under the command of Adelchis, son of the last king of Lombardy, land on the coast of Italy around 790, but are almost immediately faced by a coalition of troops from Benevento, Spoleto and the Franks. The attack is successfully repelled, and the Franks think that they have retained nominal control over the region. However, Duke Grimoaldo also resists them successfully, probably in the following year, and maintains the independence of his principality.

810

A military expedition guided by Pepin to conquer the Venetian lagoons is stopped by the Venetian people themselves.

810 - 818

Bernard

Son. King of Italy. No heir.

814

The surviving son of Charlemagne becomes Frankish emperor, bearing authority over Italy as well as his many other domains. Bernard remains on the throne, but when he dies without an heir, Louis replaces him with Lothar, his own son.

818 - 840

Lothar I

Nephew. Son of Louis I. King of Italy. Inherited Francia Media.

840 - 843

Louis I wills the Frankish empire to his sons, but tries to ensure that the eldest gains the biggest share, in order to avoid the fragmentation of territory that so weakened the Merovingians. Lothar receives Middle Francia (the Rhine corridor including the kingdom of Burgundy, and Italy, which includes the duchy of Spoleto); Charles the Bald receives Western Francia (France and the duchy of Burgundy); Louis the German receives Eastern Francia (Germany). However, Lothar initially claims overlordship over all three regions and Louis and Charles have to go to war to convince him to relent.

840 - 855

Lothar I

I of Italy, Burgundy, & Empire.

844 - 855

Louis II

Son. II of Italy (844-875), Burgundy, & Empire.

849

Louis intervenes directly in the ten year war between the new prince of Benevento, Radelchis I, and the brother of the former prince, Siconulf. He formalises the division of Benevento between the principality itself and the city of Salerno, in Campania in south-western Italy. This city will form the capital of a new principality which also gains the cities of Capua, Cassano Irpino, Cimitile (Nola), Conza, Paestum, Sarno, Sora, Taranto, and Teano.

855

Upon Lothar's death, Francia Media is divided between his three sons. Louis II receives Italy and the imperial crown, Charles receives Provence, and Lothar II the remainder - the Rhine corridor from Burgundy up to the North Sea. This area has no traditional name of its own, so it is named after its ruler - Lotharingia (and this later becomes Lorraine).

855 - 875

Louis II

Sole ruler following the death of his father.

855 - 875

Louis' title of emperor has little meaning since he rules only in Italy, and even there his reign is constantly challenged by independent Lombard dukes and by the Arab Aghlabid invaders of southern Italy. He supports his brother Lothar II, king of Lotharingia, in a dispute with the Pope, and briefly (864) occupies Rome. He subsequently submits to the pope. He also unsuccessfully tries to claim Lotharingia after Lothar's death.

855 - 869

Lothar II

Son of Lothar. King of Lotharingia & Burgundy.

855 - 863

Charles

Son of Lothar I. King of Provence.

860

Duke Adelchis of Benevento is forced to play the traditional game of fending off the hostile intentions of both south and north, this time in the form of Aghlabid Islamic invaders in the south and the Franks of Italy in the north. In 860 he is defeated by the Muslims at Bari and is forced to agree a truce. Subsequently, this forces him to call on the aid of Emperor Louis II. The emperor attempts to gain greater influence in Benevento, but Adelchis is able to fend him off as well as defeating a fresh Muslim invasion.

875 - 877

Charles II of the Western Franks nominally rules Italy and the Frankish empire.

877 - 881

Charles the Fat / Carloman of Bavaria

King of Germany. Gained Imperial title in 881 as Charles III.

881 - 888

Charles III of the Eastern Franks nominally rules Italy and the Frankish empire.

883 - 884

The Byzantine empire is enjoying a resurgence of fortune in southern Italy. Under Nicephorus Phocas the Elder, the Byzantine forces slowly reconquer Calabria from 883, with attacks being concentrated on territory around Benevento. Following the deposing of Duke Radelchis there, his successor, Aione, responds by capturing Bari, although he loses it again within a year.

888 - 891

Berengar I of Friuli

King & Germanic Roman Emperor.

891 - 894

Guy / Guido / Wido of Spoleto

Germanic Roman Emperor.

894 - 896

Lambert of Spoleto

Germanic Roman Emperor.

896 - 899

Arnulf, King of Germany

Germanic Roman Emperor.

899 - 905

Louis III of Lower Burgundy & Provence

King of Burgundy (887-928). Emperor Eastern Franks (901-905).

905 - 922

Berengar I of Friuli

Restored. Germanic Roman Emperor (915-922).

915

As the latest in a series of conflicts with the Saracens, the forces of the new Byzantine strategos of Bari, one Nicolaus Picingli, assemble alongside those of various other southern Italian princes in the Christian League. It includes Landulf I of Benevento, John I and Docibilis II of Gaeta, Gregory IV and John II of Naples, Pope John X, Guaimar II of Salerno, and Alberic I of Spoleto. The allied Byzantine-Lombard army fights and defeats the Fatamids at the Battle of Garigliano, a drawn-out combination of fights and a siege. The Saracens find themselves in a worsening situation and eventually attempt to flee, only to be captured and killed. It is a militarily significant victory in the fight against Islamic advances in Italy.

922 - 926

Rudolf II of Upper Burgundy

King of Burgundy (912 - 937), & Lower Burgundy (933-937).

926 - 947

Hugh of Arles of Lower Burgundy

King of Burgundy (928-933).

947 - 950

Lothair II of Arles

Germanic Roman Emperor.

950 - 961

Berengar II of Ivrea

Germanic Roman Emperor.

953

Feeling that his position is threatened by the marriage of his father, Otto of Saxony, 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. The following year, Ludolph is deprived of his title.

961 - 973

Otto I the Great

Duke of Saxony (936-973) and Holy Roman Emperor.

973

With the rise to power of the Saxon Otto I, control of Italy falls permanently to the non-Frankish Holy Roman Emperors.