The Treaty of Verdun (French: Traité de Verdun; German: Vertrag von Verdun), agreed to on 10 August 843, ended the Carolingian civil war and divided the Carolingian Empire between Lothair I, Louis II and Charles II, the surviving sons of the emperor Louis I. The treaty was the culmination of negotiations lasting more than a year. It was the first in a series of partitions contributing to the dissolution of the empire created by Charlemagne and has been seen as foreshadowing the formation of many of the modern countries of western Europe.
 Emperor Louis I (right) blessing the division of the Frankish Empire in 843 into West Francia, Middle Francia, and East Francia; from the Grandes Chroniques de France, 15th century | |
| Signed | 10 August 843 |
|---|---|
| Location | Verdun, Francia |
| Parties |
|
The treaty was the first of the four partition treaties of the Carolingian Empire, followed by the Treaties of Prüm (855), Meerssen (870), and Ribemont (880).
Background
Following Charlemagne's death, Louis was made ruler of the Frankish Empire. Agobard, archbishop of Lyon, opposed the division of the empire, as he claimed that it would divide the church. During his reign, Louis the Pious divided the empire so that each of his sons could rule over their own kingdom under the greater rule of their father. Louis’ eldest son, Lothair I, was given the title of emperor but because of several re-divisions by his father and the resulting revolts, he became much less powerful. When Louis died in 840, Lothair I claimed overlordship over the entirety of his father's kingdom in an attempt to reclaim the power he had at the beginning of his reign as emperor. He also supported his nephew Pepin II's claim to Aquitaine, a large province in the west of the Frankish realm. Lothair's brother, Louis II, and his half-brother Charles II refused to acknowledge Lothair's suzerainty and declared war against him. After a bloody civil war, they defeated Lothair at the Battle of Fontenoy in 841 and sealed their alliance in 842 with the Oaths of Strasbourg which declared Lothair unfit for the imperial throne, after which he became willing to negotiate a settlement. The meeting happened shortly before August 10, as confirmed by a contemporary letter.
Provisions
Francia Occidentalis Francia Media Francia Orientalis
Each of the three brothers was already established in one kingdom: Lothair in the Kingdom of Italy; Louis the German in the Kingdom of Bavaria; and Charles II in the Kingdom of Aquitaine.
- Lothair I received Francia Media (the Middle Frankish kingdom).
- In the settlement, Lothair (who had been named co-emperor in 817) retained his title as emperor, but it conferred only nominal overlordship of his brothers' lands. His domain later became the Low Countries, the Rhineland west of the Rhine, Lorraine, Alsace, Burgundy, Provence, and the Kingdom of Italy (which covered the northern half of the Italian Peninsula). He also received the two imperial cities, Aachen and Rome.
- Louis II received Francia Orientalis (the East Frankish kingdom).
- He was guaranteed the kingship of all lands to the east of the Rhine (although not the Netherlands to the north of the Rhine) and to the north and east of Italy, altogether called East Francia. It eventually became the High Medieval Kingdom of Germany, the largest component of the Holy Roman Empire.
- Charles II received Francia Occidentalis (the West Frankish kingdom).
- Pepin II was granted the Kingdom of Aquitaine, but only under the authority of Charles. Charles received all lands west of the Rhône, called West Francia. It eventually became the Kingdom of France.
After Lothair's death in 855, his eldest son, Louis II, inherited Italy and his father's claim to the Imperial throne. Upper Burgundy and Lower Burgundy (Arles and Provence) passed to Lothair's third son, Charles of Provence. The remaining territory north of the Alps, which did not previously have a name, was inherited by Lothair's second son, Lothair II, and was then named Lotharingia (present day Lorraine) after him.
Legacy
This section does not cite any sources. (October 2016) |
The division reflected an adherence to the old Frankish custom of partible or divisible inheritance amongst a ruler's sons, rather than primogeniture (i.e., inheritance by the eldest son) which would soon be adopted by both Frankish kingdoms. Since Lotharingia combined lengthy and vulnerable land borders with poor internal communications as it was severed by the Alps, it was not a viable entity and soon fragmented. This made it difficult for a single ruler to reassemble Charlemagne's empire. Only Charles the Fat achieved this briefly.
In 855, the northern section became fragile Lotharingia, which became disputed by the more powerful states that evolved out of Francia Occidentalis (present day France) and Francia Orientalis (present day Germany). Generations of kings of France and Germany were unable to establish a firm rule over Lothair's kingdom. While the north of Lotharingia was then composed of independent countries, the southern third of Lotharingia, Alsace-Lorraine, was traded back and forth between France and Germany from the 18th to the 20th century. In 1766, it passed to France after the death of Stanisław Leszczyński, who had acquired the region from the German Habsburgs by the Treaty of Vienna (1738) ending the War of Polish Succession (1733–1738). In 1871, Alsace-Lorraine became German, after the victory of Prussia and its German allies over the French in the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871). In 1919, it became French again by the Treaty of Versailles (1919), following the French victory over the Germans in World War I (1914–1918). In 1940, Germany reannexed Alsace-Lorraine following Germany's conquest of France. Finally, in 1945, after World War II (1939–1945), Alsace-Lorraine was solidified as French territory, which it remains to this day, more than a thousand years after the Treaty of Verdun. The collapse of the Middle Frankish Kingdom also compounded the disunity of the Italian Peninsula, which persisted into the 19th century.
See also
- Oaths of Strasbourg (842)
- Treaty of Coulaines (843)
- Treaty of Prüm (855)
- Treaty of Meerssen (870)
- Treaty of Ribemont (880)
References
- von Ranke, Leopold (1894). Deutsche Geschichte [German History] (in German) (3rd ed.). Leipzig: Verlag von Duncker & Humblot. p. 8.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - "What was the Treaty of Verdun?". ThoughtCo. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
- "Treaty of Verdun". Encyclopedia Britannica.
- Pouzet, Philibert (1890). La succession de Charlemagne et le traité de Verdun. Paris. p. 72.
- Goldberg, Eric Joseph (2006). Struggle for Empire: Kingship and Conflict Under Louis the German, 817–876. Cornell University Press. p. 115. ISBN 9780801438905.
- Friedrich Heer (2002). The Holy Roman Empire, p. 20
- "Pippin II". Encyclopedia Britannica. 2007.
- "Charles II". Encyclopedia Britannica. 2021.
- "Treaty of Verdun: 843". thenagain.info. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
External links
Media related to Treaty of Verdun at Wikimedia Commons
The Treaty of Verdun French Traite de Verdun German Vertrag von Verdun agreed to on 10 August 843 ended the Carolingian civil war and divided the Carolingian Empire between Lothair I Louis II and Charles II the surviving sons of the emperor Louis I The treaty was the culmination of negotiations lasting more than a year It was the first in a series of partitions contributing to the dissolution of the empire created by Charlemagne and has been seen as foreshadowing the formation of many of the modern countries of western Europe Treaty of VerdunEmperor Louis I right blessing the division of the Frankish Empire in 843 into West Francia Middle Francia and East Francia from the Grandes Chroniques de France 15th centurySigned10 August 843LocationVerdun FranciaPartiesCharles II Lothair I Louis II The treaty was the first of the four partition treaties of the Carolingian Empire followed by the Treaties of Prum 855 Meerssen 870 and Ribemont 880 BackgroundFollowing Charlemagne s death Louis was made ruler of the Frankish Empire Agobard archbishop of Lyon opposed the division of the empire as he claimed that it would divide the church During his reign Louis the Pious divided the empire so that each of his sons could rule over their own kingdom under the greater rule of their father Louis eldest son Lothair I was given the title of emperor but because of several re divisions by his father and the resulting revolts he became much less powerful When Louis died in 840 Lothair I claimed overlordship over the entirety of his father s kingdom in an attempt to reclaim the power he had at the beginning of his reign as emperor He also supported his nephew Pepin II s claim to Aquitaine a large province in the west of the Frankish realm Lothair s brother Louis II and his half brother Charles II refused to acknowledge Lothair s suzerainty and declared war against him After a bloody civil war they defeated Lothair at the Battle of Fontenoy in 841 and sealed their alliance in 842 with the Oaths of Strasbourg which declared Lothair unfit for the imperial throne after which he became willing to negotiate a settlement The meeting happened shortly before August 10 as confirmed by a contemporary letter ProvisionsPartition of the Frankish Empire after the Treaty of Verdun 843 Francia Occidentalis Francia Media Francia Orientalis Each of the three brothers was already established in one kingdom Lothair in the Kingdom of Italy Louis the German in the Kingdom of Bavaria and Charles II in the Kingdom of Aquitaine Lothair I received Francia Media the Middle Frankish kingdom In the settlement Lothair who had been named co emperor in 817 retained his title as emperor but it conferred only nominal overlordship of his brothers lands His domain later became the Low Countries the Rhineland west of the Rhine Lorraine Alsace Burgundy Provence and the Kingdom of Italy which covered the northern half of the Italian Peninsula He also received the two imperial cities Aachen and Rome dd Louis II received Francia Orientalis the East Frankish kingdom He was guaranteed the kingship of all lands to the east of the Rhine although not the Netherlands to the north of the Rhine and to the north and east of Italy altogether called East Francia It eventually became the High Medieval Kingdom of Germany the largest component of the Holy Roman Empire dd Charles II received Francia Occidentalis the West Frankish kingdom Pepin II was granted the Kingdom of Aquitaine but only under the authority of Charles Charles received all lands west of the Rhone called West Francia It eventually became the Kingdom of France dd After Lothair s death in 855 his eldest son Louis II inherited Italy and his father s claim to the Imperial throne Upper Burgundy and Lower Burgundy Arles and Provence passed to Lothair s third son Charles of Provence The remaining territory north of the Alps which did not previously have a name was inherited by Lothair s second son Lothair II and was then named Lotharingia present day Lorraine after him LegacyThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed October 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message Treaty of Verdun Memorial at Fontenoy en Puisaye The division reflected an adherence to the old Frankish custom of partible or divisible inheritance amongst a ruler s sons rather than primogeniture i e inheritance by the eldest son which would soon be adopted by both Frankish kingdoms Since Lotharingia combined lengthy and vulnerable land borders with poor internal communications as it was severed by the Alps it was not a viable entity and soon fragmented This made it difficult for a single ruler to reassemble Charlemagne s empire Only Charles the Fat achieved this briefly In 855 the northern section became fragile Lotharingia which became disputed by the more powerful states that evolved out of Francia Occidentalis present day France and Francia Orientalis present day Germany Generations of kings of France and Germany were unable to establish a firm rule over Lothair s kingdom While the north of Lotharingia was then composed of independent countries the southern third of Lotharingia Alsace Lorraine was traded back and forth between France and Germany from the 18th to the 20th century In 1766 it passed to France after the death of Stanislaw Leszczynski who had acquired the region from the German Habsburgs by the Treaty of Vienna 1738 ending the War of Polish Succession 1733 1738 In 1871 Alsace Lorraine became German after the victory of Prussia and its German allies over the French in the Franco Prussian War 1870 1871 In 1919 it became French again by the Treaty of Versailles 1919 following the French victory over the Germans in World War I 1914 1918 In 1940 Germany reannexed Alsace Lorraine following Germany s conquest of France Finally in 1945 after World War II 1939 1945 Alsace Lorraine was solidified as French territory which it remains to this day more than a thousand years after the Treaty of Verdun The collapse of the Middle Frankish Kingdom also compounded the disunity of the Italian Peninsula which persisted into the 19th century See alsoOaths of Strasbourg 842 Treaty of Coulaines 843 Treaty of Prum 855 Treaty of Meerssen 870 Treaty of Ribemont 880 Referencesvon Ranke Leopold 1894 Deutsche Geschichte German History in German 3rd ed Leipzig Verlag von Duncker amp Humblot p 8 a href wiki Template Cite book title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint date and year link What was the Treaty of Verdun ThoughtCo Retrieved 15 May 2017 Treaty of Verdun Encyclopedia Britannica Pouzet Philibert 1890 La succession de Charlemagne et le traite de Verdun Paris p 72 Goldberg Eric Joseph 2006 Struggle for Empire Kingship and Conflict Under Louis the German 817 876 Cornell University Press p 115 ISBN 9780801438905 Friedrich Heer 2002 The Holy Roman Empire p 20 Pippin II Encyclopedia Britannica 2007 Charles II Encyclopedia Britannica 2021 Treaty of Verdun 843 thenagain info Retrieved 15 May 2017 External linksMedia related to Treaty of Verdun at Wikimedia CommonsPortals Holy Roman EmpireLawMiddle Ages
