Carolingians
Pippinids and Arnulfings
Carolingians were a Frankish noble dynasty which ruled over most Western and Central Europe from the mid-8th century until the end of the 9th century. Through Pepin of Heristal (born 635/45-714) who defeated the Merovingian King Theuderic III in the Battle of Tertry in 687 and became de facto ruler of the Frankish Kingdom, the Carolingians originate from the Pippinids and Arnulfings. The two Frankish noble houses were united through marriage of Begga, daughter of Pepin the Elder (also known as Pepin of Landen) and Ansegisel, son of Saint Arnulf of Metz sometime after 639. For that reason Pepin the Middle and Saint Arnulf of Metz are sometimes viewed as the founders of the Carolingian dynasty as Pepin of Heristal was the son of Begga and Ansegisel. However, the foundation of the Carolingian dynasty is traditionally attributed to Pepin’s illegitimate son Charles Martel (born c. 688-741) because he established the base for the future rise of the Carolingians and gave the dynasty its name (from Carolus, Latin for Charles).
Charles Martel
Charles Martel is best known for defeating the Umayyad forces in the Battle of Tours in 732 and halting the Muslim advance in Western Europe but he also established himself as an absolute ruler over virtually whole Western Europe although he never assumed the title of a king. He also laid the foundation for the feudal system that became the predominant military and political organization by the end of the Early Middle Ages. Like the Merovingian kings, he divided his territories among his sons Carloman and Pepin the Short before his death in 741. They succeeded him as Mayors of the Palace but Carloman went into monastery in 747 and left Pepin the Short as sole Mayor of the Palace.
Pepin the Short
Unlike his father, Pepin the Short did not hesitate to accept the title King of the Franks. After he gained Pope Zachary’s approval, he deposed the last Merovingian King Childeric III in 751 and became the first Carolingian King of the Franks. In return for papal support, he forced the Lombard king to return the Papacy lands seized from the Church including the Exarchate of Ravenna and confirmed the Papal possession of these lands with the so-called Donation of Pepin in 754 which became the legal basis for foundation of the Papal States.
Charlemagne
Charlemagne (768-814), the greatest of all Carolingians and the Emperor of the Romans from 800 was made co-ruler of the Frankish Kingdom with his brother Carloman after their father’s death in 768. However, his brother died unexpectedly three years later leaving Charlemagne as sole King of the Franks. His rule was primarily marked by constant territorial expansion which extended his rule over most Western and Central Europe. Although Charlemagne was primarily a brilliant military leader, he also initiated cultural and intellectual revival known as the Carolingian Renaissance in the early 9th century.
Louis the Pious
Charlemagne divided his empire among his three sons in 806 but his youngest son, Louis the Pious (814-840) inherited the entire Carolingian Empire after his death in 814 because both his brothers died earlier. Louis the Pious spent most of his rule struggling with his sons Lothair I, Pepin of Aquitaine and Louis the German after he tried to include his youngest son from his second marriage, Charles the Bald into the inheritance. He was deposed twice and despite his efforts to please his sons and redivision of his realm the after the death of Pepin of Aquitaine in 838, the tensions between his sons continued.
Lothair I, Louis the German and Charles the Bald
After the death of Louis the Pious in 840, his eldest son Lothair I claimed the entire Carolingian Empire provoking a civil war that ended with his defeat and division of Charlemagne’s empire into three kingdoms with the Treaty of Verdun in 843. Lothair I retained the Imperial title and the middle section of the empire called Middle Francia and Italy, Charles the Bald became the King of West Francia or the western section of Charlemagne’s empire, while Louis the German became King of East Francia encompassing the lands east of the Rhine River.
Louis II the Younger, Lothair II and Charles of Provence
Lothair I died in 855, while his kingdom was partitioned among his three sons Louis II the Younger, Lothair II and Charles of Provence. The latter two died without legitimate male descendants and their territory was divided among their uncles Charles the Bald and Louis the German with the Treaty of Meerssen in 870. After the death of the third son of Lothair I without issue in 875, the Imperial title passed to Charles the Bald but Louis the German invaded his dominions. Louis the German died one year later and Charles the Bald tried to seize his kingdom as well. However, he was defeated by Louis’ sons and died while returning to France in 877.
Carloman of Bavaria, Louis the Younger and Charles the Fat
East Francia was after the death of Louis the German in 876 divided among his three sons Carloman of Bavaria, Louis the Younger and Charles the Fat. However, Carloman was forced to give his lands to Louis the Younger and Charles the Fat after suffering a stroke in 879, while the latter became sole ruler of the East Franks after the death of Louis the Younger without an heir in 882.
Louis the Stammerer, Louis III and Carloman II
Charles the Bald was after his death in 877 succeeded by his son Louis the Stammerer who died already in 879. He was succeeded by his sons Louis III and Carloman II. The latter became sole King of West Francia after the death of his brother in 882 but died himself two years later while hunting. West Francia passed to King of East Francia, Charles the Fat who ruled the entire Carolingian Empire until 887 when he was deposed in East Francia. After his death in 888, the mighty Carolingian Empire permanently split into West Francia from which emerged the Kingdom of France and East Francia, the precursor of the Holy Roman Empire.
Carolingians after the Death of Charles the Fat
The East Franks deposed Charles the Fat and elected Arnulf of Carinthia, an illegitimate son of Carloman of Bavaria in 887. He ruled East Francia until his death in 899 and was succeeded by his son Louis the Child who was at the time only 7 years old. He died without issue in 911 and the Carolingian rule in East Francia came to an end. In West Francia, Charles the Fat was followed by Odo of Paris, a non-Carolingian but four Carolingians ruled the western part of the former Charlemagne’s empire intermittently until the accession of the Capetian dynasty: Charles the Simple (893-922), Louis IV (936-954), Lothair of France (954-986) and Louis V (986-987).
Extinction of the Carolingian Dynasty
The eastern branch of the Carolingian dynasty founded by Louis the German became extinct with death of Louis the Child in 911, while the western Carolingian dynasty founded by Charles the Bald died out with Louis V in 987. Carolingian cadet branches founded by Bernard of Italy, an illegitimate son of Charlemagne’s son Pepin of Italy continued to rule Vermandois and Lower Lorraine until 1122 when died the last member of the Carolingian dynasty, Adelaide of Vermandois. The male line became extinct with the death of Adelaide’s brother Odo the Insane, Count of Vermandois sometime after 1085.
