A quiz question · medium
What happened to Charlemagne's empire after his death in 814?
Charlemagne's empire passed intact to his son Louis the Pious. After Louis's death in 840, his three surviving sons fought a three-year civil war that ended with the Treaty of Verdun (843), partitioning the empire into West Francia (proto-France), East Francia (proto-Germany), and Middle Francia (a north-south strip from the North Sea to Italy that would dissolve within decades).
Read the full facts →From the facts
Charlemagne Charlemagne (Charles the Great, c. 742–814 AD) was a Frankish king who united most of western and central Europe under his rule and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day 800. He is the founder of the medieval European state system.
Related questions
- Charlemagne is on the standard list of European nation-founders. He died in 814. What did he actually rule?
- On Christmas Day in what year did Pope Leo III crown Charlemagne Emperor of the Romans in St Peter's Basilica?
- Who crowned Charlemagne Emperor of the Romans, and when?
- In what year did Constantinople fall to the Ottomans, ending the Byzantine Empire?