Next, I will be writing about a Roman Emperor whose bickering with his brothers led to the formation of two present day European nations while a region that takes his name has changed nationality multiple times, over the last 1,000 years.
https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1315693834035064832
In 843, Holy Roman Emperor Lothair I converged on Verdun to meet his brothers Louis and Charles to close their 3 year Civil War.
The Treaty they signed would also form the core for two present day European nations - France and Germany. 1/10
The Treaty they signed would also form the core for two present day European nations - France and Germany. 1/10
Proclaimed as Co Emperor by Louis I in 817, civil war was not new for Lothair. The 817 proclamation led to his first civil war; one by his illegitimate cousin Bernard, King of Italy.
Louis cruelly got rid of his nephew, an event which left a lifelong regret & a penance. 2/10
Louis cruelly got rid of his nephew, an event which left a lifelong regret & a penance. 2/10
Soon, Lothair would be crowned King of Italy in place of Bernard. But the birth of a half brother in 823, led Lothair and his brothers Louis and Pepin to their first civil war in 830. Louis outlasted them in 831 and again in 836 and a third in 840, retaining the vast Empire. 3/10
Generational civil wars were not new to Franks. The Germanic custom of dividing realm between sons left civil wars inevitable.
But by 800, Franks had become the most powerful of the Germanic tribes, with Charlemagne being crowned as Emperor, the first in the West since 476 4/10
But by 800, Franks had become the most powerful of the Germanic tribes, with Charlemagne being crowned as Emperor, the first in the West since 476 4/10
As Lothair, Louis & Charles locked horns for 3 years, the future of the Empire was in balance.
The Treaty of Verdun divided it into three, with Lothair got the Middle, Louis (the German) got the East which became Germany, while Charles (the Bald) got the West (France) 5/10
The Treaty of Verdun divided it into three, with Lothair got the Middle, Louis (the German) got the East which became Germany, while Charles (the Bald) got the West (France) 5/10
But Lothair soon died in 855 leading to another division of the Empire, with Middle Francia slowly being eaten up by their neighbours.
The northern part was inherited by his son, Lothair II and would be known as Lotharinigia, after Lothair. 6/10
The northern part was inherited by his son, Lothair II and would be known as Lotharinigia, after Lothair. 6/10
Over time, Lotharingia became Lorraine and has seen shifting national loyalties.
Lower Lorraine got divided into many parts and now in five countries, while Upper Lorraine became present day Lorraine in France. Alsace, in France now, was last in Germany between 1871-1918 7/10
Lower Lorraine got divided into many parts and now in five countries, while Upper Lorraine became present day Lorraine in France. Alsace, in France now, was last in Germany between 1871-1918 7/10
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine for most of its history was part of the Germay, ruled by the Haus Châtenois and briefly even by a cadet branch of the French royal house.
But in 1766, France would annex Lorraine by force and it has been part of France since then. 8/10
But in 1766, France would annex Lorraine by force and it has been part of France since then. 8/10
Incidentally, the Carolingians trace their origins to Nancy in Lorraine from Arnulf, who was the Bishop of Metz in 614-629.
The Carolingians would die out very quickly, in Middle Francia by 875, in Germany by 911, in France by 987 and lastly in Lorraine in 1012 9/10
The Carolingians would die out very quickly, in Middle Francia by 875, in Germany by 911, in France by 987 and lastly in Lorraine in 1012 9/10
Finally, the last of the Carolingians did not come from Lothair or his brothers, but from Bernard of Italy, whose heirs ruled Vermandois in France till 1101. However, most of European royalties & nobilities can trace their ancestry to Carolingians. disjointedlaptop.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/fro… 10/10
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