Treaty of Verdun
The Treaty of Verdun, signed in August 843, was a significant event in European history, marking the formal division of the Carolingian Empire among the three surviving grandsons of Charlemagne. This treaty effectively ended the civil war that had erupted among these grandsons following the death of their father, Louis the Pious, in 840.
Background
- Charlemagne had expanded his empire to include much of Western and Central Europe, but after his death, the empire was divided among his sons according to the Treaty of Aachen in 817. However, conflicts arose due to disputes over inheritance and governance.
- Upon Louis the Pious's death, his three sons, Lothair I, Louis the German, and Charles the Bald, vied for control, leading to the Oaths of Strasbourg in 842, which solidified the alliance between Louis and Charles against Lothair.
The Division
Under the terms of the Treaty of Verdun:
Impact and Legacy
- The treaty marked the beginning of the fragmentation of the Carolingian Empire, setting the stage for the development of modern European nations.
- The division was not stable, leading to further conflicts and treaties like the Treaty of Prüm in 855, which further subdivided Lothair's lands.
- The cultural and linguistic divisions established by the treaty influenced the linguistic boundaries in Europe, with Middle Francia becoming a melting pot of languages and cultures.
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