Debrief
The beginning of the end of the Carolingian Empire started around 814 after Charlemagne's death and right as Louis Pious, Charlemagne's son, succeeded his father. The two problems with Louis were that he failed to maintain his authority when it came to controlling the wealthy Franks and when it came to controlling his four sons.
In 843, after the death of one of Louis' sons, the remaining three made things extremely difficult for the Empire when they divided it into three parts, and subsequently each son took control of a section. The dividing of the Empire into three parts was a result of the Treaty of Verdun, which all sons signed. Charles the Bald (843-877) began to rule the western lands of the Empire; Louis the German (843-876) became ruler of the eastern part of the Kingdom; Lothar (840-855) was placed in charge of the largest region of land and was given the official title of Emperor. Lothar became Emperor of the, "Middle Kingdom," which included the land from the North Sea to the Mediterranean and encompassed the Netherlands, the Rhineland and northern Italy. Because Lothar was granted the most land his other two brothers became slightly jealous and as a result the lands of France, lands of Charles the Bald, and the lands of Germany, lands of Louis the German, fought for rights over the Middle Kingdom for centuries.
Because of the divisions of the Empire, which were for political reasons at first, two separate peoples were formed. One culture was located in the west and spoke mainly a Romance language that eventually morphed into French. The other culture was located in the east and spoke a language that formed into German. The Disintegration of the Empire was sped along by the continual infighting between the heirs of the sons of Louis who ruled the eastern and western empire. Disintegration was also helped by the wars that were waged with countries around the Empire.
In 843, after the death of one of Louis' sons, the remaining three made things extremely difficult for the Empire when they divided it into three parts, and subsequently each son took control of a section. The dividing of the Empire into three parts was a result of the Treaty of Verdun, which all sons signed. Charles the Bald (843-877) began to rule the western lands of the Empire; Louis the German (843-876) became ruler of the eastern part of the Kingdom; Lothar (840-855) was placed in charge of the largest region of land and was given the official title of Emperor. Lothar became Emperor of the, "Middle Kingdom," which included the land from the North Sea to the Mediterranean and encompassed the Netherlands, the Rhineland and northern Italy. Because Lothar was granted the most land his other two brothers became slightly jealous and as a result the lands of France, lands of Charles the Bald, and the lands of Germany, lands of Louis the German, fought for rights over the Middle Kingdom for centuries.
Because of the divisions of the Empire, which were for political reasons at first, two separate peoples were formed. One culture was located in the west and spoke mainly a Romance language that eventually morphed into French. The other culture was located in the east and spoke a language that formed into German. The Disintegration of the Empire was sped along by the continual infighting between the heirs of the sons of Louis who ruled the eastern and western empire. Disintegration was also helped by the wars that were waged with countries around the Empire.