Lothair I, Holy Roman Emperor

Lothair was born as the eldest son of Emperor Louis the Pious and Ermengarde of Hesbaye. As firstborn, he was destined to inherit the imperial title and the largest share of his fathers realm.

Louis the Pious named Lothair co-emperor and primary heir in the Ordinatio Imperii. This arrangement was meant to preserve imperial unity while providing for his younger brothers Pepin and Louis.

Lothair married Ermengarde of Tours, daughter of Count Hugh of Tours. The marriage produced several children and connected Lothair to powerful Frankish nobility.

Pope Paschal I crowned Lothair as Emperor in Rome, reinforcing his position as heir to Charlemagnes legacy. This papal coronation strengthened his claim to imperial authority.

Louis the Pious revised the succession to provide for his youngest son Charles the Bald, born to his second wife Judith. This revision sparked decades of conflict among the brothers.

Lothair and his brothers briefly deposed Louis the Pious at the Field of Lies when the emperors army deserted him. Louis was humiliated and forced to do public penance.

Louis the Pious was restored to power when his sons quarreled among themselves. Lothair was forced to submit and retreat to Italy, losing influence at the imperial court.

Louis the Pious died, and Lothair claimed the entire empire as sole emperor. His brothers Louis the German and Charles the Bald refused to accept his supremacy, leading to civil war.

Lothair was decisively defeated by his brothers at the bloody Battle of Fontenoy. The battle killed thousands of Frankish nobles and demonstrated that Lothair could not impose his will by force.

Louis and Charles swore the Strasbourg Oaths against Lothair, the earliest document in French and German languages. This alliance forced Lothair to negotiate a division of the empire.

The Treaty of Verdun divided the Carolingian Empire into three kingdoms. Lothair retained the imperial title and received the Middle Kingdom stretching from the North Sea to Italy.

Lothair ruled Middle Francia, including Italy, Burgundy, Provence, and Lotharingia. His kingdom was wealthy but geographically awkward, lacking natural boundaries.

Seriously ill, Lothair abdicated and divided his kingdom among his three sons. He entered the monastery of Pruem as a monk, seeking spiritual preparation for death.

Lothair died just six days after becoming a monk. His Middle Kingdom was divided among his sons and would eventually be absorbed by France and Germany, though Lotharingia preserved his name.