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The Frankish Feud: East Francia's Invasion of West Francia in 879 CE
In the year 879 CE, the Carolingian Empire, once a unified realm under Charlemagne, was fractured into competing kingdoms. The death of Louis the Stammerer, King of West Francia, in April 879 created a power vacuum and instability in the western kingdom. This moment of weakness was seized upon by Louis the Younger, King of East Francia, who sought to expand his influence and territory into the western realm.
The Carolingian Empire had been divided among Charlemagne's descendants through the Treaty of Verdun in 843 CE. By 879 CE, the empire was split into three main regions: West Francia (modern-day France), East Francia (modern-day Germany), and Middle Francia (a contested region including parts of Italy and the Low Countries). The death of Louis the Stammerer left West Francia in disarray, with his two young sons, Louis III and Carloman II, inheriting the throne. Their youth and inexperience made the kingdom vulnerable to external threats.
Louis the Younger, ruler of East Francia, saw an opportunity to assert his dominance. He claimed that the western nobles had failed to properly recognize his authority and that he had a legitimate right to intervene. His invasion was also motivated by territorial ambitions, particularly over the region of Lotharingia, which lay between East and West Francia and was a source of ongoing conflict.
Louis the Younger launched his campaign in late 879 CE, marching his forces into West Francia. His army advanced into the western kingdom, targeting key territories and strongholds. The invasion was met with mixed resistance; some western nobles, dissatisfied with the rule of Louis III and Carloman II, may have tacitly supported Louis the Younger, while others rallied to defend their kingdom.
The conflict did not result in a decisive victory for either side. Instead, it highlighted the fragility of the Carolingian kingdoms and the ongoing struggle for power among Charlemagne's descendants. By 880 CE, a truce was negotiated, and Louis the Younger withdrew his forces, securing some territorial gains in Lotharingia but failing to achieve a complete conquest of West Francia.
The invasion of 879 CE underscored the fragmentation of the Carolingian Empire and the growing independence of regional powers. It also set the stage for further conflicts over Lotharingia, which would remain a contested region for centuries. The event marked a turning point in the decline of centralized Carolingian authority and the rise of feudalism, as local nobles increasingly wielded power independent of the kings.
In the broader context of European history, the invasion of 879 CE was a precursor to the eventual formation of modern France and Germany as distinct nations. The rivalry between East and West Francia would continue to shape the political landscape of medieval Europe, influencing the course of history for generations to come.