Charles the Child

Charles the Child was the son of Louis the Pious and his second wife, Judith of Bavaria, and the grandson of Charlemagne and Hildegard of Vinzgouw. He was the younger brother of Lothair I and Pepin of Aquitaine, and the half-brother of Louis the German and Bernard of Italy. Charles was born in 823 and was given the kingdom of Aquitaine by his father, who was the King of the Franks and the Emperor of the Carolingian Empire. He was also the nephew of Adalhard of Corbie and Wala of Corbie, who were influential Abbots of Corbie.

Early Life

Charles the Child was born in 823 to Louis the Pious and Judith of Bavaria, who was the daughter of Welf of Bavaria and Hedwig of Bavaria. His early life was marked by the influence of his mother, who was a powerful figure in the Carolingian court and a close ally of Ebbo of Rheims, the Archbishop of Rheims. Charles was educated by Walaho of Langres, the Bishop of Langres, and was trained in the arts of war by Bernard of Septimania, who was a close advisor to his father. He was also influenced by his grandmother, Hildegard of Vinzgouw, who was the wife of Charlemagne and the mother of Louis the Pious, Pepin of Italy, and Carloman I.

Reign

Charles the Child became the King of Aquitaine in 832, after his father, Louis the Pious, deposed his older brother, Pepin of Aquitaine, who had rebelled against him. Charles's reign was marked by the influence of his mother, Judith of Bavaria, who played a significant role in the Carolingian court and was a close ally of Adalhard of Corbie and Wala of Corbie. He was also supported by Odo of Metz, the Bishop of Metz, and Amaury of Langres, the Bishop of Langres. Charles's reign was marked by conflicts with his brothers, Lothair I and Louis the German, who were also vying for power in the Carolingian Empire.

Military Campaigns

Charles the Child led several military campaigns during his reign, including a campaign against the Bretons in 843, who were led by Nominoe, the Duke of Brittany. He was supported by Rainulf I of Aquitaine, the Count of Poitou, and Bernard of Septimania, who was a close advisor to his father. Charles also led a campaign against the Vikings, who were raiding the coast of Aquitaine and the Kingdom of the Franks. He was aided by Ragnar Lothbrok, a Viking warrior who had allied himself with the Carolingian Empire. Charles's military campaigns were also influenced by his uncle, Bernard of Italy, who was the King of the Lombards and a close ally of Lothair I.

Death and Succession

Charles the Child died in 866, at the age of 43, without an heir. His death led to a succession crisis in the Kingdom of Aquitaine, which was eventually resolved by the Treaty of Meerssen in 870. The treaty divided the kingdom between his brothers, Louis the German and Charles the Bald, who were also the King of the East Franks and the King of the West Franks, respectively. Charles's death also led to the rise of Robert the Strong, the Count of Anjou, who became a powerful figure in the Carolingian Empire and a close ally of Charles the Bald.

Legacy

Charles the Child's legacy is marked by his role in the Carolingian Empire and his influence on the development of the Kingdom of Aquitaine. He was a key figure in the conflicts between his brothers, Lothair I and Louis the German, and played a significant role in the Treaty of Verdun in 843, which divided the Carolingian Empire between his brothers. Charles's legacy is also marked by his support for the Church of Aquitaine, which was led by Rodulf of Bourges, the Bishop of Bourges, and Frothar of Toul, the Bishop of Toul. He was also a patron of the arts and supported the work of Walafrid Strabo, a Benedictine monk and a close advisor to Louis the Pious. Category:Carolingian kings