834 Louis released by his son Ludwig and placed again on throne.
838 Death of Pepin. Lothair and Charles divide his share of the empire, which causes Ludwig to rebel against them.
840 Death of Louis in the midst of the civil war. His son Lothair I succeeds to the title of emperor, and claims right to govern the whole of the empire. His brothers Ludwig and Charles combine against him.
841 Defeat of Lothair at Fontenay, leading to
843 Treaty of Verdun, dividing the empire among the brothers as follows:
(1) Lothair I retains imperial title. He receives Italy, and the centre of the Frankish lands—a narrow strip reaching to the North Sea, Provence, and the greater part of Burgundy.
(2) Ludwig the German, the eastern part of the Frankish lands between the Rhine and Elbe.
(2) Charles the Bald, the western lands, Neustria, Aquitania, North Burgundy, Septimania, and the Spanish March.
The history of France, distinct from Germany, begins. Lothair’s territory north of Italy is called the kingdom of Lotharingia or Lorraine.
849 Lothair associates his son Louis II in the empire.