Born in Neudingen in 839, Charles was the final Carolingian emperor of legitimate birth. As a great-grandson of Charlemagne, he briefly reunited the entire Carolingian Empire through a series of successions and inheritances, holding the titles of king of West Francia, king of East Francia, and Carolingian Roman emperor before his deposition in 887.
Rise to Power
The youngest son of Louis the German and Hemma, Charles received lordship over Alamannia in 876. He ascended to the Italian throne following the incapacitation of his brother, Carloman of Bavaria. In 881, Pope John VIII crowned him emperor. Following the death of his cousin Carloman II in 884, Charles inherited West Francia, successfully consolidating control over the vast territories previously held by his forebears.
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Seeking to emulate Charlemagne, Charles initiated the construction of a new palace at Sélestat in Alsace, intended to serve as a central administrative base. During his reign, he faced persistent regional unrest, including the rebellion of Boso of Provence and territorial disputes involving Guy II of Spoleto. His inability to effectively address Viking incursions, notably during the Siege of Paris, undermined his authority.
Deposition and Death
The political stability of the reunited empire proved transient. In mid-November 887, his nephew Arnulf of Carinthia led a successful coup, resulting in Charles being deposed in Italy, Lotharingia, and the lands of his northern domains. Forced into retirement, Charles died on 13 January 888 at Neudingen. He was buried at the Abbey of Reichenau.
Fast facts
- Born: 839, Neudingen
- Died: 13 January 888, Neudingen
- Buried: Abbey of Reichenau
- Reign as Emperor: 881-887
- King of West Francia: 885-887
- King of East Francia: 882-887
- Religion: Christianity
- Occupation: Monarch
Questions readers ask
Why is he called Charles the Fat?
The nickname is not contemporary. It first appeared in the twelfth century, provided by the anonymous Saxon Annalist.
How did he become the last Carolingian ruler to hold a united empire?
Through the successive deaths of his brothers and his cousin Carloman II, he inherited their respective territories between 879 and 884, momentarily reuniting the former empire.
Achievements
- king of West Francia (885–887)
- Carolingian Roman emperor (881–887)
- king of East Francia (882–887)
