TREATY OF VERDUN: BACKGROUND, CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES - HISTORY - 2025

The Treaty of Verdun was an agreement for the partition of the Carolingian Empire between the three surviving sons of Emperor Ludovico Pius, one of Charlemagne's sons. This treaty was the first stage for the disintegration of the Carolingian Empire.

After the distribution between the three brothers was carried out, their territories became known as Western France, Middle France and Eastern France. This resulted in the formation of the modern Western European countries that are known today.

Division of the Carolingian Empire according to the Treaty of Verdun:. By Trasamundo, from Wikimedia Commons

Before reaching these concessions, a series of conflicts were disputed in which the territories of the Carolingian Empire were part. The Verdún commune, located in French territory, was the place where this treaty was finally signed.

Background

Charlemagne's Empire

Charles I the Great, better known as Charlemagne, was in charge of restoring the Empire in Western Europe. When his father, Pepin the Short, died in 768 AD. C, Charlemagne began his expansive policies within his empire.

Charlemagne dedicated almost all his life to maintaining the Empire, he took any risk and had to fight numerous conflicts; it fought against rebellions, internal resistance and other combats to secure the borders against its enemies.

The geographical extension of the kingdom of Charlemagne was impressive; it corresponded to the totality of what is now France, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, most of Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Slovakia.

No monarch had managed to gather such a large number of territories since the fall of the Roman Empire. The result of large tracts of land under his power was in part thanks to the alliance that the monarch had with the papacy, with which he was always in charge of maintaining good relations.

Despite this, Charlemagne foresaw his death and was aware that he must leave an heir to his great empire. The Carolingian dynasty remained at the fore until the early 10th century.

Charlemagne and his main heir

Charlemagne thought that Charles the Younger would be a good successor. This was his second child and the first from his second wife, Hildegarda. When Charlemagne divided his empire among his sons, Charles the Younger was appointed as the king of the Franks. The king exercised the mandate at the same time that his father did it as emperor.

Pepin the Hunchback, Charlemagne's first son, was banished from the inheritance, as he was immersed in a conspiracy against his brother Charles the Younger and his father to take over the throne. Since he was little, he lived with resentment towards his family, despite his physical condition.

Carloman, renamed Pepin, received Italy and Ludovico Pio, Aquitaine. With this concluded the division of the territories between the three sons of Charlemagne.

Charlemagne trusted in the military capacity of his son Carlos the Younger and he fulfilled the most difficult missions; his military cunning caused his father to leave him in charge of the empire. However, on December 4, 811 AD. C, Carlos had a stroke and died on the spot.

Causes

The inheritance of Ludovico Pío

After Charlemagne's death, his only surviving son, Ludovico Pio (Louis the Pious), inherited the entire Empire from Charlemagne. Despite this, Ludovico had three sons, Carlos el Calvo, Lotario I and Luis el Germánico, to whom he ceded all the territories.

Although Ludovico Pío wanted the empire to be kept in a "cohesive whole", he himself was in charge of dividing it in such a way that each one could govern their own Empire and did not result in disputes that individually affected the territories.

To his eldest son, Lothair I, he granted the title of emperor, but due to his father's poorly executed divisions and the number of revolts as a result, Lothair's power was significantly diminishing.

After the death of Ludovico, Lotario I claimed the absolute dominion of the Carolingian kingdom, in an attempt to recover the power that he lost when he was emperor. On the other hand, Luis el Germánico and Carlos el Calvo, refused to recognize the sovereignty of Lotario and both declared war on him.

Carolingian Civil War

On June 25, AD 841. C, the inevitable battle between the imperialists took place, for the command of Lothair I, against the divisionists represented by Carlos el Calvo and Luis el Germánico.

The war between the brothers began from the moment that Ludovico Pio appointed his first-born emperor. Later, Carlos el Calvo and Luis el Germánico rebelled against their father for having harmed them.

Ludovico's minors took advantage of the death of their father to join forces and defeat his successor, Lotario I, whose center of power was in Gaul.

Lotario was not far behind and advanced towards Aquitaine, where he had his ally Pepin II, his nephew. They later joined forces in Auxerre, a territory that now belongs to France.

In March 841 AD. C, the troops of Lotario faced those of Carlos. Although it was not a long battle, the imperialists of Lothario forced their opponents to retreat.

After a series of conflicts, the war finally ended and the document constituted by the Treaty of Verdun was made. They peacefully agreed that the territories would be divided equally.

Consequences

Policies

As a result of the fragmentation of the Carolingian Empire, after the Treaty of Verdun, the Kingdom of the West Franks was created. The kingdom geographically encompassed the south of present-day France, culminating in the Marca Hispánica.

After Charles's confrontation with his nephew Pepin II of Aquitaine, he was recognized as sovereign by the nobility. The assembly of Woms elected him as monarch. Years later, a war broke out between Carlos and his nephew until another treaty was signed recognizing the rights of Pipino II.

On the other hand, the title of emperor fell on Lothair I, obtaining as kingdom Middle France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, the west of the Rhine, France, Switzerland and the north of Italy.

Louis the Germanic corresponded to the German-speaking territories made up of Germany, Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia.

Geographic

After the Treaty of Verdun, Carlos el Calvo received the territory of Western France, the forerunner of present-day France. Lothair I received Middle France and Luis Germanicus was given Eastern France, in addition to other territories of Spain.

On the other hand, after this treaty the infallible failure of the Carolingian imperial restoration was evidenced. In fact, it practically ended the Carolingian Empire and the nations that are known today were created.

References

1. The Treaty of Verdun, ThoughtCo, (nd) Taken from thoughtco.com
2. Treaty of Verdun, Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, (nd). Taken from britannica.com
3. Treaty of Verdun, Wikipedia in English, (nd). Taken from wikipedia.org
4. The Verdun Treaty, On France Web, (nd). Taken from sobrefrancia.com
5. The Treaty of Verdun, Then Again Online, (nd). Taken from thenagain.info