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