Louis the Germanic is the second son of Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne. Heir to an immense empire, the latter divides it between his three sons, Lothaire, Louis and Pépin. He favors the elder Lothaire in 817 by a legal text (Ordinatio Imperii ) by appointing him co-emperor, which triggered a war of succession, accentuated by the birth of Charles the Bald, from a second marriage. Favoring the latter by giving him a larger territory, Louis the Pious was deposed once again (833) in favor of the eldest, but Louis and Pépin returned the throne to him (834), feeling threatened by the power of Lothair. The death of Pépin in 838 generates a new division (treaty of Worms 839). Considering himself aggrieved, Louis prepares to attack his father, Louis the Pious, when the latter dies (840), then fights with Charles against Lothaire who wants to seize power. Victorious at Fontenoy-en-Puisaye (841), Charles and Louis sealed their alliance with the Oath of Strasbourg (842). In 843, by the Treaty of Verdun, the Empire was divided equally between Lothaire, Louis and Charles. Obtaining the eastern part, Louis is crowned king of Germania. After having fought each other, Charles and Louis shared the territory of Lothaire (Lotharingia), who died in 855 (Treaty of Mersen 870). Struggling constantly for power, Louis and Charles fought again, and Charles was crowned emperor (875), while in the East, Louis fought against the Slavs. Despite an eventful reign, he managed to develop the arts and culture at the same time.
Around 806 - 876
Status
King of West Francia