Aquitaine Essay, Research Paper

Conflict between the Royals ? Charles the Bald and Pippin

increased the region?s vulnerability ? Pippin?s failure to defend Bordeaux

triggered widespread Aqutainian defection to Charles in 848 ? heavy losses 840s

including Bordeaux. Importance of royal action ? always local will to resist

Northmen ? the King pegged local resistance to a wider defence strategy ? when

Charles the Bald was able to help Aquitaine, like re-fortification of Angouleme

relatively successful Charles the Bald cooperates with Salomon (head of Bretons)

scoring some successes against the NorthMen Charles the Bald?s preferred tactic of recruiting one Viking

group to use against othersl Severity of attacks in 880s?? Why so severe? Concentre on middle kingdom of Lotharingia ? split between

East and West kingdoms, no one considered it heartland, vulnerable. Not just fatalistic passivity ? some resistance with

payments The Frankish elite might choose to defend their own social position in

preference to their own peope ? peasants thought safest defence was flight. Charles may have belittled ?unauthorised castella? or

aristocratic defences Viking effects on the Frankish economy ? were Viking

activities a stimulus to the Frankish economy ? flight of labour from Seine to

Champagne meant Charles the Bald had permitted peasants to keep wages earned as

wage labourers, short-term effects for those that fled painful predatory

consumers were not imperialists.