Lotharingia, also known as Lotharii Imperium or Lothar's Realm, was a historical region in Western Europe that played a significant role during the early Middle Ages. It was named after Lothair I, a king of the Carolingian Empire and later Holy Roman Emperor.
The region was initially part of the Carolingian Empire under Charlemagne. Following his death, his empire was divided among his grandsons under the Treaty of Verdun in 843:
The territory of Lotharingia stretched from the North Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, encompassing parts of modern-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland. It included:
Lotharingia was not a stable political entity and saw numerous divisions and mergers:
The region's history left a lasting impact on the cultural and linguistic development of Western Europe: