Carolingians in crisis: the medieval civil war that shaped Europe
Jan 29, 2025
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Matthew Gabriele, a professor and co-author of "Oathbreakers," and David M. Perry, also co-author of the same work, delve into the tumultuous legacy of the Carolingians. They discuss the brutal Battle of Fontenoy in 841 AD, pitting Charlemagne’s grandsons against each other. The conversation explores the fragile power dynamics, the church's role in the conflict, and how these medieval struggles shaped modern European identities. Their insights reveal the complicated aftermath of a fractured empire.
The Battle of Fontenoy highlighted the intense rivalries among Charlemagne's grandsons, ultimately leading to a catastrophic civil war that fragmented their empire.
The resulting Treaty of Verdun in 843 redefined territorial divisions, shaping the future of medieval Europe and setting the stage for modern France and Germany.
Deep dives
Battle of Fontenois: A Turning Point in Carolingian Power
The Battle of Fontenois, fought on June 25, 841, marked a pivotal moment in the civil war among the grandsons of Charlemagne, following the death of their father, Louis the Pious. The battle took place near modern Auxerre, and it was characterized by the intense rivalry between Lothar, who aimed to unify the Carolingian Empire, and his brothers, Louis the German and Charles the Bald, who sought autonomy in their respective territories. As they faced off in what became an unusually large and bloody clash, various tactics and strategies unfolded, with each side drawing on significant military resources from across the empire, indicating the widespread engagement in this internal conflict. The outcome had severe consequences, shaking the foundations of the empire and resonating through generations, ultimately exemplifying the fragility of the Carolingian unity that Charlemagne had built.
The Fragile Legacy of Charlemagne's Empire
Charlemagne's empire, established in the late 8th and early 9th centuries, had expanded to cover most of Western and Central Europe but quickly fragmented within two generations following his death. After Louis the Pious's reign, his sons faced significant challenges in maintaining the empire's integrity due to multiple coups and conflicts that revealed deep-seated rivalries and power struggles among them. The rule governed by necessity of aligning powerful nobles within the empire only further complicated the governance, leading to a swift decline in political stability. Interestingly, as internal tensions boiled, the narrative surrounding this unity was built on distorted self-perceptions of strength, setting the stage for the eventual civil war that would solidify the fracturing of what had been Charlemagne's grand vision.
Lothar's Downfall and the Aftermath
Despite expectations that Lothar would prevail in the Battle of Fontenois due to his seemingly superior military resources, he ultimately suffered a decisive defeat against his brothers, resulting in a critical shift of power. This failure not only showcased the shifting allegiances and military dynamics within the Carolingian civil war, but it also left Lothar scrambling to regain political traction as he fled the battlefield. His retreat involved rallying support and shaping narratives to counteract his brothers' victories, but ultimately, it proved insufficient against the united front presented by Louis and Charles. The consequences extended beyond mere loss of the battle; the pursuit that followed was rife with brutal retributions, culminating in a more significant ideological shift that would impact the nature of leadership and governance in the years to come.
Treaty of Verdun: The Birth of Fragmented Rule
The civil war culminated in the Treaty of Verdun in 843, which effectively reorganized the crumbling Carolingian Empire into three distinct parts, delineating northern, eastern, and southern territories for the brothers. However, the treaty did not manifest as a straightforward document, but rather emerged as a political necessity amidst ongoing conflicts, and echoed the fractured nature of the times, as both historic precedents and emergent powers shaped the new order. The agreement was marked by a notable absence of clear administrative documentation, hinting at the chaotic nature of governance during this tumultuous period. Thus, the impacts of the treaty not only facilitated temporary peace among the factions but also laid the groundwork for the modern states of France and Germany, as the allegiances and conflicts would continue to mold medieval Europe for centuries.
History is full of dysfunctional families, but few more so than the Carolingian ruling clan. The empire was at the height of its power under renowned ruler Charlemagne. But just two generations later, in the year 841 AD, his grandsons were locked in a vicious contest for power and control. This jockeying culminated in the bloody pitched battle of Fontenoy – a key moment in a civil war that shattered an empire and reshaped Europe, according to Professor Matthew Gabriele and David M Perry in their new book, Oathbreakers. David Musgrove spoke to them to find out more about the shocking aftermath of this crisis.
(Ad) Matthew Gabriele and David M Perry is the author of Oathbreakers: The War of Brothers That Shattered an Empire and Made Medieval Europe (HarperCollins, 2025). Buy it now from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oathbreakers-Brothers-Shattered-Empire-Medieval/dp/0063336677/?tag=bbchistory045-21&ascsubtag=historyextra-social-histboty.
The Carolingian king Lothar II was embroiled in a scandal that destroyed his reign and ended his kingdom – Professor Charles West shares the story: https://link.chtbl.com/v2GgAvSP.
The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine.
