Treaty of Verdun
Verdun, Meuse, France
What happened
Three grandsons of Charlemagne: Lothair I, Louis the German and Charles. After the death of their father, Louis the Pious, in 840, the three brothers fought over Charlemagne's great empire. Louis and Charles defeated Lothair in 841 and swore an alliance in 842. In August 843 the brothers met at Verdun and agreed to divide the empire into three kingdoms.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the first of the treaties that broke up Charlemagne's empire. Its western and eastern kingdoms foreshadowed the later countries of France and Germany.
What came next
Lothair kept the title of emperor and the middle kingdom, Louis took the lands east of the Rhine, and Charles took the west. The middle lands were later called Lotharingia.
Did you know?
The name of the French region of Lorraine comes from Lotharingia, the middle kingdom named after Lothair's son.
Timeline
- 840Louis the Pious dies.
- 841Louis and Charles defeat Lothair at Fontenoy.
- 842The Oaths of Strasbourg unite Louis and Charles.
- 10 August 843The Treaty of Verdun divides the empire.