Charles the Bald (french: Charles le Chauve; 13 June 823 – 6 October 877), also known as Charles II, was a 9th-century king of
West Francia (843–877),
king of Italy (875–877) and emperor of the
Carolingian Empire (875–877). After a series of civil wars during the reign of his father,
Louis the Pious, Charles succeeded, by the
Treaty of Verdun (843), in acquiring the western third of the empire. He was a grandson of
Charlemagne and the youngest son of Louis the Pious by his second wife,
Judith.
Struggle against his brothers
He was born on 13 June 823 in
Frankfurt, when his elder brothers were already adults and had been assigned their own ''regna'', or subkingdoms, by their father. The attempts made by
Louis the Pious to assign Charles a subkingdom, first
Alemannia and then the country between the
Meuse and the
Pyrenees (in 832, after the rising of
Pepin I of Aquitaine
Pepin I or Pepin I of Aquitaine (French: ''Pépin''; 797 – 13 December 838) was King of Aquitaine and Duke of Maine.
Pepin was the second son of Emperor Louis the Pious and his first wife, Ermengarde of Hesbaye. When his father assigned t ...
) were unsuccessful. The numerous reconciliations with the rebellious
Lothair and Pepin, as well as their brother
Louis the German,
King of Bavaria, made Charles's share in
Aquitaine and Italy only temporary, but his father did not give up and made Charles the heir of the entire land which was once
Gaul. At a
diet in
Aachen
Aachen ( ; ; Aachen dialect: ''Oche'' ; French and traditional English: Aix-la-Chapelle; or ''Aquisgranum''; nl, Aken ; Polish: Akwizgran) is, with around 249,000 inhabitants, the 13th-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the 28th- ...
in 837, Louis the Pious bade the nobles do homage to Charles as his heir. Pepin of Aquitaine died in 838, whereupon Charles at last received that kingdom, which angered Pepin's heirs and the Aquitainian nobles.
The death of the emperor in 840 led to the outbreak of war between his sons. Charles allied himself with his brother Louis the German to resist the pretensions of the new Emperor Lothair I, and the two allies defeated Lothair at the
Battle of Fontenoy-en-Puisaye
The three-year Carolingian Civil War culminated in the decisive Battle of Fontenoy, also called the Battle of Fontenoy-en-Puisaye, fought at Fontenoy, near Auxerre, on 25 June 841. The war was fought to decide the territorial inheritances of Ch ...
on 25 June 841. In the following year, the two brothers confirmed their alliance by the celebrated
Oaths of Strasbourg. The war was brought to an end by the
Treaty of Verdun in August 843. The settlement gave Charles the Bald the kingdom of the West Franks, which he had been up until then governing and which practically corresponded with what is now France, as far as the
Meuse, the
Saône, and the
Rhône, with the addition of the
Spanish March
The Hispanic March or Spanish March ( es, Marca Hispánica, ca, Marca Hispà nica, Aragonese and oc, Marca Hispanica, eu, Hispaniako Marka, french: Marche d'Espagne), was a military buffer zone beyond the former province of Septimania, estab ...
as far as the
Ebro. Louis received the eastern part of the
Carolingian Empire, known then as
East Francia
East Francia (Medieval Latin: ) or the Kingdom of the East Franks () was a successor state of Charlemagne's Carolingian Empire, empire ruled by the Carolingian dynasty until 911. It was created through the Treaty of Verdun (843) which divided t ...
and later as Germany. Lothair retained the imperial title and the
Kingdom of Italy. He also received the central regions from
Flanders through the
Rhineland and
Burgundy
Burgundy (; french: link=no, Bourgogne ) is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. The c ...
as king of
Middle Francia.
Reign in the West
Shortly after Verdun, Charles went on to an unsuccessful campaign against Brittany, on the return from which he signed the
Treaty of Coulaines with his nobility and clergy.
After that, the first years of his reign, up to the death of Lothair I in 855, were comparatively peaceful. During these years the three brothers continued the system of "confraternal government", meeting repeatedly with one another, at
Koblenz
Koblenz (; Moselle Franconian language, Moselle Franconian: ''Kowelenz''), spelled Coblenz before 1926, is a German city on the banks of the Rhine and the Moselle, a multi-nation tributary.
Koblenz was established as a Roman Empire, Roman mili ...
(848), at
Meerssen (851), and at
Attigny (854). In 858, Louis the German, invited by disaffected nobles eager to oust Charles, invaded the West Frankish kingdom. Charles was so unpopular that he was unable to summon an army, and he fled to
Burgundy
Burgundy (; french: link=no, Bourgogne ) is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. The c ...
. He was saved only by the support of the bishops, who refused to crown Louis the German king, and by the fidelity of the
Welfs
The House of Welf (also Guelf or Guelph) is a European dynasty that has included many German and British monarchs from the 11th to 20th century and Emperor Ivan VI of Russia in the 18th century. The originally Franconian family from the Meuse ...
, who were related to his mother, Judith. In 860, he in his turn tried to seize the kingdom of his nephew,
Charles of Provence
Charles of Provence or Charles II (845 – 25 January 863) was the Carolingian King of Provence from 855 until his early death in 863.
Charles was the youngest son of Emperor Lothair I and Ermengarde of Tours.
His father divided Middle Fra ...
, but was repulsed. On the death of his nephew
Lothair II
Lothair II (835 – 8 August 869) was the king of Lotharingia from 855 until his death. He was the second son of Emperor Lothair I and Ermengarde of Tours. He was married to Teutberga (died 875), daughter of Boso the Elder.
Reign
For political ...
in 869, Charles tried to seize Lothair's dominions by having himself consecrated as King of
Lotharingia at
Metz, but he was compelled to open negotiations when Louis found support among Lothair's former vassals. Lotharingia was partitioned between Charles and Louis in the resulting
treaty (870).
Besides these family disputes, Charles had to struggle against repeated rebellions in Aquitaine and against the
Bretons. Led by their chiefs
Nomenoë and
Erispoë, who defeated the king at the
Battle of Ballon (845) and the
Battle of Jengland (851), the Bretons were successful in obtaining a ''de facto'' independence. Charles also fought against the
Vikings, who devastated the country of the north, the valleys of the
Seine
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, mouth_coordinates =
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, progression =
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, tributarie ...
and
Loire, and even up to the borders of Aquitaine. At the Vikings' successful
siege and sack of Paris in 845 and several times thereafter Charles was forced to purchase their retreat at a heavy price. Charles led various expeditions against the invaders and, by the
Edict of Pistres
An edict is a decree or announcement of a law, often associated with monarchism, but it can be under any official authority. Synonyms include "dictum" and "pronouncement".
''Edict'' derives from the Latin edictum.
Notable edicts
* Telepinu Proc ...
of 864, made the army more mobile by providing for a
cavalry
Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...
element, the predecessor of the French
chivalry
Chivalry, or the chivalric code, is an informal and varying code of conduct developed in Europe between 1170 and 1220. It was associated with the medieval Christianity, Christian institution of knighthood; knights' and gentlemen's behaviours we ...
so famous during the next 600 years. By the same edict, he ordered fortified bridges to be put up at all rivers to block the Viking incursions. Two of these bridges at Paris saved the city during its
siege of 885–886. Charles engaged in diplomacy with the
Emirate of Cordoba
An emirate is a territory ruled by an emir, a title used by monarchs or high officeholders in the Muslim world. From a historical point of view, an emirate is a political-religious unit smaller than a caliphate. It can be considered equivalen ...
, receiving camels from
Emir Muhammad I in 865. From the 860s, the palace of
Compiègne became an increasingly important centre for Charles and he founded a monastery there in 876. In the tenth century Compiègne was known as ‘Carlopolis’ because of its association with Charles.
Reign as emperor
In 875, after the death of the Emperor
Louis II (son of his half-brother Lothair), Charles the Bald, supported by
Pope John VIII, traveled to Italy, receiving the royal crown at
Pavia and the imperial insignia in Rome on 25 December.
['' Annales Vedastini''; AV 876] As emperor, Charles combined the mottoes that had been used by his grandfather and father into a single formula: ''
renovatio imperii Romani et Francorum'', "renewal of the empire of the Romans and Franks". These words appeared on his
seal.
Louis the German, also a candidate for the succession of Louis II, revenged himself by invading and devastating Charles's domains, and Charles had to return hastily to
West Francia. After the death of Louis the German (28 August 876), Charles in his turn attempted to seize Louis's kingdom, but was decisively beaten at the
Battle of Andernach on 8 October 876.
In the meantime, John VIII, menaced by the
Saracens
file:Erhard Reuwich Sarazenen 1486.png, upright 1.5, Late 15th-century Germany in the Middle Ages, German woodcut depicting Saracens
Saracen ( ) was a term used in the early centuries, both in Greek language, Greek and Latin writings, to refer ...
, was urging Charles to come to his defence in Italy. Charles again crossed the
Alps, but this expedition was received with little enthusiasm by the nobles, and even by his regent in
Lombardy
Lombardy ( it, Lombardia, Lombard language, Lombard: ''Lombardia'' or ''Lumbardia' '') is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in the northern-central part of the country and has a population of about 10 ...
,
Boso, and they refused to join his army. At the same time
Carloman, son of Louis the German, entered northern Italy. Charles, ill and in great distress, started on his way back to Gaul, but died while crossing the pass of
Mont Cenis at
Brides-les-Bains, on 6 October 877.
Burial and succession
According to the Annals of St-Bertin, Charles was hastily buried at the abbey of
Nantua,
Burgundy
Burgundy (; french: link=no, Bourgogne ) is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. The c ...
because the bearers were unable to withstand the stench of his decaying body. A few years later, his remains were transferred to the
Abbey of Saint-Denis where he had long wished to be buried, in a
porphyry tub which may be the same one known as "
Dagobert's tub" (''cuve de Dagobert''), now in the
Louvre.
It was recorded that there was a memorial brass there that was melted down at the Revolution.
Charles was succeeded by his son,
Louis Louis may refer to:
* Louis (coin)
* Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name
* Louis (surname)
* Louis (singer), Serbian singer
* HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy
See also
Derived or associated terms
* Lewis (d ...
. Charles was a prince of education and letters, a friend of the church, and conscious of the support he could find in the episcopate against his unruly nobles, for he chose his councillors from among the higher clergy, as in the case of
Guenelon of Sens Wenilo, , , . ''Wanilo'' is a contemporary Latin variant. (died 865) was the archbishop of Sens from 836 or 837. Prior to becoming bishop, Wenilo was a palatine chaplain. As bishop, he was one of the leading men in Aquitaine and crowned Charles the ...
, who betrayed him, and of
Hincmar of Reims.
Baldness
It has been suggested that Charles's nickname was used ironically and not descriptively; i.e. that he was not in fact bald, but rather that he was extremely hairy.
An alternative or additional interpretation is based on Charles's initial lack of a ''
regnum Regnum may refer to:
* Latin for kingdom or dominion, see realm
* ''Regnum'', Latin word for Kingdom (biology)
* REGNUM News Agency, a Russian news agency
* ''Champions of Regnum'', a computer game
* An online database for PhyloCode
The ''Internat ...
''. "Bald" would in this case be a tongue-in-cheek reference to his landlessness, at an age where his brothers already had been sub-kings for some years.
Contemporary depictions of his person, e.g., in his
Bible of 845, on his seal of 847 (as king) as well as on his seal of 875 (as emperor) show him with a full head of hair, as does the
equestrian statuette (c. 870) thought to depict him.
The ''Genealogy of Frankish Kings'', a text from Fontanelle dating from possibly as early as 869, and a text without a trace of irony, names him as ''Karolus
Calvus'' ("Charles the Bald").
Certainly, by the end of the 10th century,
Richier of Reims
Richerus or Richer of Reims ( fl. 10th century) was a monk of Saint-Remi, just outside Reims, and a historian, an important source for the contemporary kingdom of France.
Life
He was a son of Rodulf, a trusted councillor and captain of Louis IV o ...
and
Adhemar of Chabannes Adhemar is both a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include:
Given name
* Adhemar of Salerno (died 861), prince
* Adhemar of Capua (died after 1000), prince
* Adhémar de Chabannes (988-1034), French monk and historian
* Adhema ...
refer to him in all seriousness as "Charles the Bald".
Marriages and children
Charles married
Ermentrude Ermentrude or Ermintrude is a feminine Germanic name from the Middle Ages. It may refer to:
*Erminethrudis (d. c. 600), a Merovingian-era nun
*Ermentrude of Orléans (823–869), queen of the Franks by her marriage to Charles the Bald
*Ermentrude, ...
, daughter of
Odo I, Count of Orléans
Odo I (french: Eudes; also ''Hodo'', ''Uodo'', or ''Udo'' in contemporary Latin; died 25 May 834) was the Count of Orléans (''comes Aurelianensium'') following the final deposition of Matfrid until his own deposition a few years later.
He belonge ...
, in 842. She died in 869. In 870, Charles married
Richilde of Provence, who was descended from a noble family of
Lorraine.
With
Ermentrude Ermentrude or Ermintrude is a feminine Germanic name from the Middle Ages. It may refer to:
*Erminethrudis (d. c. 600), a Merovingian-era nun
*Ermentrude of Orléans (823–869), queen of the Franks by her marriage to Charles the Bald
*Ermentrude, ...
:
*
Judith (c. 843 – after 866), married first King
Ethelwulf of
Wessex, second his son
King Ethelbald, and third
Baldwin I, Margrave of Flanders
*
Louis the Stammerer (846–879)
*
Charles the Child
Charles the Child (Latin ''Karolus puer'', from the ''Annales Bertiniani''; 847/848, Frankfurt am Main – 29 September 866, Buzançais) was the King of Aquitaine from October 855 until his death in 866.
He was the second son of Charles the Bald a ...
(847–866)
*
Lothair the Lame Lothair the Lame (french: Lothaire le Boiteux, ''c''. 848 – 865) was a French prince, the third son and fourth child of Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald (french: Charles le Chauve; 13 June 823 – 6 October 877), also known as Charles II, w ...
(848–866), monk in 861, became Abbot of Saint-Germain
*
Carloman (849–876)
* Rotrude (852–912), a nun, Abbess of Saint-Radegunde
* Ermentrud (854–877), a nun, Abbess of Hasnon
* Hildegarde (born 856, died young)
* Gisela (857–874)
* Godehilde (864–907)
With
Richilde:
*
Rothilde
Rothilde (Latin: ''Rothildis''; 871 – 928/929) was a lady born into the royal family of Western Francia.
Biography
Rothilde was a daughter of the King of the Franks, Charles the Bald, son of Louis the Pious. Her mother was Charles’ second s ...
(871–929), married firstly to Hugues, Count of Bourges and secondly to
Roger, Count of Maine.
* Drogo (872–873)
* Pippin (873–874)
* a son (born and died 875)
* Charles (876–877)
See also
*
First Bible of Charles the Bald
*
Crown of Charlemagne
*
Capitularies of Charles the Bald The Capitularies of Charles the Bald represent a series of acts implemented by King Charles to decide and promulgate laws governing public affairs. Capitularies were used extensively by the Merovingian and Carolingian rulers (see the Capitularies ...
*
Engelram, Chamberlain of France
Notes
References
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
Carolus Calvus Francorum Rex, ''Patrologia Latina''
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Charles 02
823 births
877 deaths
9th-century Holy Roman Emperors
9th-century kings of West Francia
9th-century kings of Italy
Frankish warriors
Burials at the Basilica of Saint-Denis
Dukes of Swabia
Dukes of Maine
People from Frankfurt
9th-century rulers in Europe
9th-century French people
9th-century people from West Francia
Carolingian dynasty
Sons of emperors