The Breakup of the Carolingian Empire

“The Breakup of the Carolingian Empire”

In this essay I will explain consequences of the major causes connected to the collapse of the Carolingian Empire. I will describe the role of those who were involved in destruction of this empire -- three Frankish kings, local governors and also the importance of foreign invaders.

Charlemagne's only surviving son, Louis the Pious who reign between 814 and 840

AD tried to regulate the question of succession in order to maintain the unity of the empire. He decided not to pass the imperial title and authority over the entire kingdom to his eldest son Lothar I, but divided the empire into three dependent kingdoms, one for each of his sons.

In the Treaty of Verdun in 843 AD, the three surviving Carolingian kings agreed to divide the empire into three equal and independent kingdoms: the oldest son Lothar got the Middle Kingdom, Charles the Bald received the Kingdom of the West Franks and the

Kingdom of the East Franks was governed under Louis the German. Lothar kept the imperial title, but it was now meaningless also as his authority over the other kings.

Destruction of the original empire continued even after the Treaty of Verdun.

This constant partitioning of the empire ended Frankish imperial unity and drew the outlines of future nations: Germany, France and Italy. Even smaller political entities appear during this period, such as duchies and counties, many with names still recognizable today: Brittany, Champagne, Bavaria and Saxony. The empire was simply too large and many Frankish nobles understood their chances to collect more of a personal power over the empire.

In addition to the internal destruction of imperial authority caused by weak Frankish rule foreign invaders attacked the collapsing empire from every direction. The most serious danger came from the Scandinavian Northmen or Vikings. Their skill as seamen helped them to raid Europe's coasts and access the continent by its rivers throughout the ninth century. Europe's great cities all fell victim to Viking raids. But like other invaders in European history, the Vikings eventually settled in the lands they invaded and adopted

Christianity. The northern French province of Normandy testifies to the settlement of the

Norman invaders. The Muslims from the south, and the Magyars from the east also attacked major areas of the empire.

Throughout the ninth century Frankish royal authority in each of the Carolingian kingdoms declined under the growing independence of local aristocracy and as a result of massive invasions. By the end of the ninth century, Carolingian power had disappeared.

The story of the breakup of the Carolingian Empire end up as many others collapsing empires – the growing desire of power by local governors without a powerful leader strengthened also with the external threats from barbarians caused that the weakened empire could not stand this pressure and had to disappear in hands of stronger invaders.