European Kingdoms

Carolingian Kings of the Eastern Franks (East Francia / Kings of Germany)
AD 840 - 911 & 961

Central Europe All Modern States Germanic Tribes Hessian States Modern Balkans Modern British Isles Polish States Saxon States

The Holy Roman empire had a tortuous and complex history. Its origins lay in the Merovingian Frankish empire which was divided and reunified several times. Eventually this was formally divided into a western kingdom (formerly Neustria), an eastern kingdom (formerly Austrasia), and Burgundy, forming what would soon become medieval France and the Holy Roman empire.

The early eighth century AD saw the rapid diminution of Merovingian power and influence. Instead it was their deputies, the Carolingian mayors of the palace, who exercised real authority throughout the Frankish kingdom. A palace usurpation took place, with the full backing of the Pope, in which the mayor, Pepin III was able to send the last Merovingian king to a monastery and become the first Carolingian king of the Franks in his place.

Not a notable general, Pepin nevertheless remained undefeated in battle. However, it was his son, Charles, later known as Charles 'the Great', or Charlemagne, who really reversed Frankish fortunes and created a vast European empire. He fought the Angrivarii, Avars, Bavarians, Lombards, and Pomeranians to secure territory far to the east of the initial Frankish lands  He completed his conquest of much of the Germanic-speaking lands by defeating the mighty Saxons.

In AD 800 he was crowned 'Roman Emperor' by Pope Leo III, apparently against his own wishes. He was viewed as the inheritor of the Roman empire, which gave him a large degree of legitimacy, especially in Western Europe and Central Europe. His descendants became responsible for establishing the basis of modern Europe's nation states. This started through division which took place in the ninth century.

By the Act of Thionville in 806, he announced the division of his vast empire between his three sons. By 814, of the three only Louis 'the Pious' still survived to be crowned sole Frankish emperor at Aix-la-Chapelle. The empire was now partitioned into the Western Franks, Eastern Franks, and Middle Franks. The eastern half of the empire eventually evolved into modern Germany, but Frankish Carolingian rule was relatively brief before a High-German-speaking Teutonic ruling class was established.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from Hungarians and Europe in the Early Middle Ages: An Introduction to Early Hungarian History, András Róna-Tas (Central European University Press, 1999), from The Annals of Fulda (Timothy Reuter (Trans), Manchester Medieval Series, Ninth-Century Histories, Volume II, 1992), from Vita Karoli Magni (Life of Charles the Great), Einhard, from the Royal Frankish Annals (author unknown), from Sword, Miter, and Cloister: Nobility and the Church in Burgundy, 980-1198, Constance Brittain Bouchard (New York 1987), from Noble Strategies in an Early Modern Small State: The Mahuet of Lorraine, Charles T Lipp, from The History of the Franks, Volume II, Gregory of Tours (O M Dalton, Trans, 1967), from From Roman Provinces to Medieval Kingdoms, Thomas F X Noble, and from External Links: The Latin Library, and the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, and Encyclopaedia.com, and The Holy Roman Empire (Heraldica), and The Holy Roman Empire, Christopher Brooks (Portland Community College via LibreTexts Humanities).)

840 - 876

Son of Carolingian Louis I. Duke of Alemannia (& Breton March).

840 - 843

Before his death, Louis 'the Pious', who is also duke of Alemannia, promulgates the Ordinatio Imperii in 817, proclaiming, despite the ancient Frankish custom of dividing territory between surviving sons, that his eldest son, Lothar, will be sole beneficiary of the imperial dignity and sole inheritor of the empire.

The new idea proves too much, provoking rebellions and rivalries between all four of Louis' sons which last until after the king's death (one of those sons, Pepin I of Aquitaine, has already predeceased his father).

King Louis 'the Pious' of the Frankish empire attempted to leave the empire intact for his eldest son, Lothar, but the others rebelled at the idea, and the Treaty of Verdun in AD 843 confirmed the empire's official division between Charlemagne's three surviving grandsons (click or tap on map to view full sized)

Lothar initially claims overlordship over all three regions and Louis and Charles have to go to war to convince him to relent. The counties of the Spanish March all take sides during this period, with the powerful Bernard of Septimania, count of Barcelona, siding with Pepin II of Aquitaine along with a large number of other marches and counties, including Agde, Béziers, Girona, Melgueil, Narbonne, Nîmes, Septimania, and Toulouse, capital of Aquitaine.

Opposing them in favour of Charles are Sunifred, count of Urgel (and Andorra) and Cerdanya, his brother Sunyer I, count of Empúries, their sons (who collectively are sometimes referred to as the Bellonid dynasty or the Bellonids), Ricwin, count of Nantes (killed in battle in 841), and Lambert II, also later count of Nantes.

Lothar does relent in 843, and the Treaty of Verdun confirms the official division of the empire between Charlemagne's surviving three grandsons, with rule over the empire as a whole being nominal.

Charlemagne unified all the Frankish states under one ruler and created an empire which stretched deep into modern Germany, something the Romans had never managed - but this vast domain was too big to endure long as a single entity after his death

Lothar receives Middle Francia (the Rhine corridor, the kingdom of Burgundy, and Italy); Charles 'the Bald' receives Western Francia (France and the duchy of Burgundy), as well as holding onto Aquitaine; and Louis 'the German' receives Eastern Francia (Germany, including Alemannia (Swabia), Bavaria, Khorushka, and Saxony, plus regions which are already emerging as Franconia and Thuringia).

846

Prince Pribina, a Slav noble and adventurer who had been chased out of Great Moravia by Mojmir I, is granted the eastern section of Avar territory - in Lower Pannonia - as the principality of Balaton, with his headquarters near Lake Balaton on the River Zala (close to the modern village of Zalavár, in Zala County in Hungary, surrounded by forests and a swamp).

As dux of the eastern march and prince of Balaton, Pribina's main duty is to hem the territorial ambitions both of Great Moravia and Bulgaria. Having himself been a victim of Moravia's ambitions, Pribina is only too happy to play a large role in Louis 'the German's campaigns against that state.

Lake Balaton today lies within the borders of Hungary, with landscapes, nature reserves, beaches, and folklore which make it focal point of the country's tourism trade

855

With tensions increasing along the Frankish-Slavic border, Boris of Bulgaria is persuaded by Rastislav of Great Moravia to attack the Eastern Franks in support of him. The campaign is a complete failure, with subsequent retribution involving Louis 'the German' invading Bulgaria at the same time as it is attacked by previously-peaceful Croats (possibly a diversionary tactic organised by Louis). Peace is soon agreed, without necessarily harming Boris' standing at home.

870

A province of East Francia (a province is termed 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. One territory which is affected by this arrangement is the diocese of Liège (see feature link).

The Meuse valley, shown here at the citadel of Namur, formed the western border for the Chattuarii following their crossing of the Rhine, taking territory from the fading Roman administration

876

The death of Louis 'the German' results in his territory being divided between his three sons. This is something which he has already foreseen, and portions of territory have previously been appointed to each of them in 865.

Now, in a peaceful succession, Carloman inherits Bavaria and the Ostmark (plus Lower Pannonia of the former Avar lands), Louis 'the Younger' gains Franconia (which includes the Hessi lands), Saxony, and Thuringia, while Charles 'the Fat' succeeds to Rhaetia and Alemannia (Swabia). As the oldest son, Carloman also retains de facto dominance over the Eastern Franks as a whole.

876 - 880

of Germany. King of Bavaria, Italy, & part of Lotharingia.

876 - 882

III of Germany. Ruled Franconia, Lotharingia & Empire (901).

876 - 887

III of Germany. France (884), Italy (879). III of Empire (881).

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.

Charles 'the Fat' (not necessarily living up to his descriptive sobriquet) welcomes messengers into his tent as titular head of the Frankish empire, as depicted in the fourteenth century Grandes Chroniques de France

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 feudal Rome is Prince Theophylact of the Theophylactii. He has served Louis III as judex in Italy, and is now elected 'Consul of the Romans' by Rome's nobility. He is also a senator and magister militum, and count of Tusculum (modern Tuscany).

This romantic painting shows the amphitheatre of the Italian city of Tusculum, native territory of the influential counts of Tusculum who dominated the early post-Frankish Roman civil authority

888

The rule of German lands 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 now officially divided between East Francia and West Francia.

In time the western section becomes medieval France, with the title of Roman emperor also being held by Germans. Charles 'the Fat' takes refuge in the monastery of Reichenau in Alemannia (Swabia) where he dies the following year.

887 - 899

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

888

Berengar of Friuli 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 II of Spoleto but, following a defeat in battle, Berengar emerges as sole ruler of Italy. However, he is still a 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, Zwentibold of Lorraine.

On top of the ruins of the ancient city of Brufa, which lie about twenty kilometres to the south-east of the town of Spoleto itself, the Lombards built Monteleone di Spoleto

899 - 911

Son. IV of Germany. Last Carolingian ruler.

903

Count Gebhard of the Wetterau in the lands of the Hessi is confirmed as duke of Lotharingia by Louis 'the Child', king of Germany. Unfortunately he is killed in 910 in battle against the Magyars, somewhere in the region of Augsburg.

905

With Central Europe suffering constantly at the hands of the marauding Magyars, the title of German Roman emperor appears to lapse. Louis III of Lower Burgundy and Provence, and Louis IV of the German kingdom of East Francia (the nascent Holy Roman empire in its core form) remains in titular command of East Francia though.

911 - 915

The Frankish empire effectively disintegrates in 911, upon the untimely death of the young Louis. East Francia is formally secured by elected native German rulers, with Conrad I 'the Younger', duke of Franconia, being the first to be elected as king of Germany (East Francia).

The Vikings who settled in Normandy in this period would have seemed a rough-and-ready lot to the relatively sophisticated French court

Now ruling what had formerly been the eastern section of the Carolingian empire, Conrad is the duke of Franconia and also the count of Oberlahngau in the lands of the Hessi, but he appears not to be recognised as Germanic Roman emperor, leaving that title vacant.

A large-scale political reorganisation of south-western Germany now creates the stem duchy of Swabia while also moving the bishopric of Liège into German Frankish hands.

911 - 918

Duke of Franconia (906-911).

915

In September 915, Count Palatine Erchanger is confirmed as the first duke of Swabia by the nobility. After being defeated at the Battle of Wahlwies, the proclamation is not supported by King Conrad I of Germany, despite him being Erchanger's brother-in-law. Erchanger's rise and fall is swift, perhaps unsurprisingly.

The Battle of Wahlwies took place in the Hegau, an extinct volcanic region in southern Swabia (and modern Germany), with Wahlwies itself being a small satellite village of the town of Stockach, now in the modern district of Konstanz, southern Baden-Württemberg (Photo by External Link: sued7.de)

919 - 936

Duke of Saxony (912-936).

936 - 944

Upon the death of his ally, Henry 'the Fowler', Gilbert of Maasgau, duke of Lorraine, rebels against his successor, Otto I. Instead he swears allegiance to Louis IV d'Outremer of the Western Franks. Gilbert rules Lorraine almost as an independent state for the next three years.

936 - 961

Duke of Saxony (936-973).

936 - 944

Upon the death of his ally, Henry 'the Fowler', Gilbert of Maasgau, duke of Lorraine, rebels against his successor, Otto I. Instead he swears allegiance to Louis IV d'Outremer of the Western Franks. Gilbert rules Lorraine almost as an independent state for the next three years.

937

A massive invasion is conducted by the Magyars as they sweep around in a giant circle through central and Southern Europe. They begin from their base in Pannonia to enter into and ravage Bavaria, Swabia, Saxony, Franconia, and Thuringia within the East Frankish kingdom.

Once established on the Pannonian plain, the Magyars plagued Europe's established kingdoms for several decades before being forced through defeat in battle at Lechfield in 955 to concentrate on establishing their own medieval kingdom in what would become Hungary

From the Aachen area, the Magyars advance deep into the West Frankish kingdom, the kingdom of Provence, and then the territory of the Middle (Italian) Franks. They attack Tuscany and the Papal States as far south as Naples, before returning to their adopted Hungarian homeland.

938

Another large-scale raid is attempted along the same route as in 933. This time the Magyars are stopped at Erfurt by Otto I and his subjects of the East Frankish kingdom, the powerful duke of Saxony.

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.

Germany in AD 962 may have had its new emperor to govern those territories which are shown within the dark black line, but it was still a patchwork of competing interests and power bases (click or tap on map to view full sized)

961

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

In later years, the title 'King of the Germans' is viewed as the junior of the two, usually being granted to the heir to the imperial throne. Once an heir has been crowned king of the Germans, his route to becoming emperor upon the death of his father is usually unobstructed - at least in theory.