Importance of the West 814 - 898
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·       Because regna had been created for C’s dead sons, there was a lack of unity in L’s inheritance. L planned to continue familial devolution. Illegitimate Bernard to inherit Italy à church trouble.

·       Aachen + W = crucial centres. Recoronation of L the P at Rheims 816. Got rid of old guard (Wala, Adalhard - not Einhard). Appointed former royal serf Ebbo to A/B of Rheims; striking demo of imp power in society dominated by nobles.

·       Provisions for own inheritance; Ordinatio imperii (817) Lothar given co-imperial title already. Bernard feared loss of Italy - his rebellion had implications as far away as Rhaetia (modern Switz) and Loire valley. Huge family rivalry ending in murder of Bernard + disposal of Louis’ young illegit brothers; Lothar dominant at court.

·       Big reconciliation 818. Attigny 822 - collective repentance centred on Louis, then Lothar sent to rule Italy. Pippin of Aq married to daughter of F magnate + sent to W;

·       This is where Louis was keen to show his overall control (e.g. Paris assembly 829 / personally led successful campaign in Brittany 824). Links with Spain - unlucky failed collaboration v. Saracens 827. In W Louis had more to give and most to lose in W.

·       Here collision with interests of his sons (Lothar hankering after Neustria and resented being bundled off to Italy / Pippin resentful of father’s interference in Aq.) 830 revolt stirred up by counts but these 2 helped. Sharp vengeance but Louis stood firm. Short reconciliation but Louis’ sons united against him; could have been fatal if Pippin had not defected.

·       833/4 war focussed in W escalated family rivalry (e.g. battle for control of Loire valley - Louis’ army routed, many counts killed). Louis reasserted control and tried to reassign inheritance to make room for Charles - Frisia, Neustria and Aq on death of Pippin I; unpopular as Pippin’s son preferred. Death of Louis 840.

·       How damaging was all this? No capitularies 834-40 - loss of imp authority? But prestige still high in eyes of neighbours etc., control of minting + coinage high quality. Raids on Dorestad 834-7 dealt with  effectively by Louis. Vigorous protest v. spoliation of church property / skilful distribution of patronage (honores) and use of trusted men / eventual success in arena of family politics, disinheriting grandsons in Charles’ favour (kept Lothar in Italy and suppressed Louis the German).

·       On death of Louis, Lothar allied with Pippin II against Louis the German and Charles. Huge conflicts 840-3 resolved to favour of Charles (the Bald). Effective choosing of teams of noble negotiators by each king; bringing together kinship + practicalities. Verdun 843 agreed between Lothar, Louis and Charles; partition into 3 vertical stripes. Lothar’s portion split between his 3 sons anyway after his death 855. Boundary lines in flux - greatest interest was in heartlands - Lothar had most, but Charles had many royal estates.

·       Cause of Pippin II revived in Aq - some local support + had to be imprisoned for life by Charles. Still many threats.

·       Charles planning his own inheritance - tonsured younger sons and proposed his division; Louis got Neustria and Charles promised Aq. Kings in own right, but imperial-style supervision. Charles able to grab Lothar’s kingdom 869, shared with Louis the German 870. Charles hoped for more sons so he could disinherit the only remaining one (Louis the Stammerer).

·       Charles took control of Italy 875 on death of Louis II. Meanwhile Louis the German + son raided Charles’ kingdom; Louis wanted his son Karlmann to be i/c Italy. Things looking bad for Charles when he died 877.

·       Kingdom passed to Louis; energetic, favoured by Pope to become emperor. But soon died. Kingdoms of C the B and L the G bequeathed to sons of Louis the S and Louis the Y. L the S’s sons died (à only heir = Charles IV, passed over due to youth + Scandie threat). Whole empire reunited 884 under Charles the Fat, but overthrown by Arnulf - still reconstituted 888. Emergence of Odo.

·       Structural change? New obstacles for Odo = near hereditary territorial prinicpalities / diminished fisclands / no royal missi / NOT a Car.

Other Notes in this Category

1. Basis of Power
2. Carolignian Geneaology
3. Carolignians and Italy
4. Chronological Analysis
5. Church
6. Communications
7. Did growth lead to a more systematic style of government?
8. Domestic government and power bases
9. Ideology of Power
10. Importance of the West 814 - 898
11. Kingship and Royal Government - Janet Nelson
12. Logistics of Power
13. Nobility and Expansion Dynamic
14. Nobility and Expansion Dynamic - Effect on surrounding peoples
15. Plunder and Tribute in the Carolignian Empire
16. Society and Politics
17. Sociology of Power
18. The Carolignian Experiment - EF James
19. Vikings

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