Arnulf of Carinthia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arnulf of Carinthia
Emperor of the Romans
Seal of Arnulf of Carinthia c. 896
Emperor in Italy
Reign	22 February 896 – 8 December 899
Coronation	22 February 896, Rome
Predecessor	Lambert
Successor	Louis the Blind
King of Italy
Reign	894 – 8 December 899
Predecessor	Lambert
Successor	Louis the Blind
King of East Francia
Reign	c. 27 November 887 – 8 December 899
Predecessor	Charles the Fat
Successor	Louis the Child
Born	c. 850
Died	8 December 899 Ratisbon, Duchy of Bavaria, East Francia (now Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany)
Burial	St. Emmeram's Basilica, Ratisbon
Spouse	Ota Oda of West Francia Vinburge
Issue	Louis the Child Ratold of Italy Zwentibold Glismut of Carinthia Hedwig of Carinthia
House	Carolingian
Father	Carloman of Bavaria
Mother	Liutswind
signum manus (890)

Arnulf (born around 850, died December 8 899) was an important ruler in the Carolingian Empire. He became the King of East Francia in 887. Later, he was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 896. He held this title until his death.

Arnulf was the son of Carloman, King of Bavaria, and a woman named Liutswind. She was from a region called Carantania, which is now part of Slovenia. When his father divided his lands in 880, Arnulf received the Duchy of Carinthia.

He grew up in Carantania, his mother's homeland. People there, especially the Slovenians, saw him as their own Duke from a young age.

Becoming King

Arnulf played a key role in removing his uncle, Charles the Fat, from power. Charles was the Holy Roman Emperor at the time. In November 887, Arnulf gathered support from important nobles. They held a meeting and decided to remove Charles from his position.

Charles peacefully stepped down. He asked Arnulf for some royal homes in Swabia, which Arnulf kindly granted. After Charles was removed, Arnulf was chosen by the nobles of the eastern Frankish lands to be their King.

Battles and Victories

Arnulf was known more as a fighter than a negotiator. He achieved a major victory in September 891 at the Battle of Leuven. Here, he defeated a large invading force of Vikings, also known as Northmen. This battle effectively stopped their attacks in that area.

Reports from the time say that so many Northmen died that their bodies blocked the river. After this victory, Arnulf built a new castle on an island in the Dijle river.

Dealing with Great Moravia

Arnulf tried to conquer the whole of Great Moravia several times. He made attempts in 892, 893, and 899, but he was not fully successful. However, in 893 or 894, Great Moravia likely lost some land to him. This land is now part of Western Hungary.

In 895, Bohemia separated from Great Moravia. It then became a vassal state under Arnulf's rule. Arnulf made an agreement with the Bohemian Duke Borivoj I. This agreement helped protect Bohemia from invasions.

Campaigns in Italy

In 893, Pope Formosus asked Arnulf for help in Italy. The Pope did not trust the new co-emperors, Guy and Lambert. He wanted Arnulf to come to Rome and be crowned Emperor.

Arnulf first sent his son Zwentibold with an army. They joined forces with Berengar of Friuli and defeated Guy. However, they were convinced to leave Italy later that year.

Second Italian Campaign

Arnulf personally led an army across the Alps in early 894. He conquered all the territory north of the Po River. But he stopped his advance when Guy suddenly died.

In September 895, Pope Formosus again asked Arnulf for help. Arnulf began his second campaign into Italy in October. He quickly crossed the Alps and captured Pavia. He then slowly moved through Tuscany, gaining support from local nobles.

When he reached Rome, the city was closed off and held by Lambert's mother, Ageltrude. Arnulf had to take the city by force on February 21, 896. He freed the Pope, and the next day, on February 22, he was crowned King and Emperor by Formosus.

Arnulf's power in Italy lasted only as long as he was physically there. He planned to march on Spoleto, where Ageltrude had fled. However, he became ill and had to stop his campaign. He returned to Germany and did not have control over Italy again.

Later Life and Successors

Arnulf died in 899. His son, Louis the Child, succeeded him as King of the East Franks. Louis was his son with his wife, Ota.

Arnulf also had another son, Zwentibold, who was not born to Ota. Arnulf had made Zwentibold the King of Lotharingia in 895. Zwentibold continued to rule there until the year 900.

Images for kids

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  A charter of donation by king Arnulf of Carinthia, issued on 15 April 890 at Regensburg.

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  Arnulf of Carinthia, (from the Chronicle of Dalimil, early 14th-century)

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  Arnulf of Carinthia and Louis the Child by Johann Jakob Jung (1840).

See also

In Spanish: Arnulfo de Carintia para niños