| Introduction Essay, Research Paper
Verdun not seen as final ? oaths of allegiance but moreover
showing mistrust. ? ideology of imperium Christianum survived in weakened form
? one empire under collective rule of three brothers ? there were some cases of
cooperation ? Kings often met to plan against the other ? Aquitainians invite
Louis the German to sned son Louis the Younger to rule over them 855 and 877 Carolingian politics dominated by attempts
Lothar?s remaing brothers ? Chares the Bald and Louis the German to inherit
nephew?s kingdoms ? pattern emerging of Louis the German siding with Lothar I?s
sons against aggressive Charles the Bald. Louis the German gives his three sons power before he dies ?
Carloman, Louis the Younger and Charles the Fat ? upon Louis? death kingdom
split between the two ? Charles the Bald dies a year later in 877 and Lothar II
of Italy same period Western unstable C the B follower L the Stammerer dies
shortly afterward C the B and his two sons Louis and Carloman also die soon ?
Louis the Younger invades West Francia and gets land lost in Lotharingia ?
Charles the Fat takes Italy ? brothers Carloman and ouis die off elaving
Charles the Fat as only adult legitimate Carolingian; having acquired Italy,
inherited remainder East Francia and took kingship in West Francia. 843 to 884 ? mistrust, intrigue and treachery ? structural
characteristics of the Frankish empire: no established precedence of sons over brothers, especially
if sons minors or young ? sons right to inherit but frequency of nephew or
brothers taking lnd shows brothers important as well. Why go for brother?s land??
Not just justice ? the ninth century inheritance rivalled external
conquest and warfare as way to increase power and satisfy following.? Itay had many problems ? Arabs and Popes but
looty, acceptable to take, was so big that in 875 that C the B, and Louis the
German?s sons all have a go. Imperial aristocracy with kindred and contacts in different
kingdoms ? could look elsewhere for help so kings careful not often powerful
people with other links. Paradoxically existence supra-regional aristocracy and an
empire with different kingdoms that led to a regionalisation of this
aristocracy.? Fluidity of aristocracy
and great purges by different Kings, notably in the East after treaty of
Coblenz in 600 ? moves west notably, number of regnal aristocracies replaced an
imperial aristocracy ? aristocracies coagulated in the different kingdoms and
this meant an increasing identification with a territory ? in the East this
coincided with the split between Louis the German?s brothers leading to the
three regional aristocracies.? Capable
of collective action ? increasingly consent of leading men needed for
inheritance, or they could invite a Carolingian to lead them
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