Charles the Simple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charles the Simple |
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|---|---|
 |
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| King of West Francia | |
| Reign | 898–922 |
| Predecessor | Odo |
| Successor | Robert I |
| King of Lotharingia | |
| Reign | 911–923 |
| Predecessor | Louis the Child |
| Born | 17 September 879 |
| Died | 7 October 929 (aged 50) Péronne |
| Burial | Collégiale Saint-Fursy de Péronne |
| Spouse | Frederuna (m. 907; d. 917) Eadgifu of Wessex (m. 919) |
| Issue more... |
Gisela? Louis IV of France |
| Dynasty | Carolingian |
| Father | Louis the Stammerer |
| Mother | Adelaide of Paris |
Charles III (born 879, died 929), also known as Charles the Simple, was a king of the Franks. He ruled West Francia from 898 to 922. He was also the king of Lotharingia from 911 to 919–923. Charles was part of the important Carolingian dynasty. This family had ruled for a long time.
Contents
Early Life and Becoming King
Charles was born after his father, King Louis the Stammerer, had died. His mother was Adelaide of Paris. When his half-brother, King Carloman II, died in 884, Charles was too young to become king. Instead, the Frankish nobles chose his cousin, Charles the Fat, to rule.
Charles the Fat was not a popular ruler. He was removed from power in 887. The nobles then elected Odo, a hero who had defended Paris from Vikings. Young Charles was protected by Ranulf II, a powerful duke.
In 893, when Charles was 14, some nobles who opposed Odo crowned Charles as king at Reims Cathedral. However, he only became the true king of West Francia after Odo died in 898.
Charles and the Vikings
In 911, a group of Vikings led by Rollo attacked Paris and Chartres. Charles's army won a battle near Chartres. After this, Charles decided to make a deal with Rollo.
This deal was called the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte. It created the Duchy of Normandy. In exchange for the Vikings' loyalty, Charles gave them land between the Epte River and the sea. This land became Normandy. Rollo also agreed to be baptized as a Christian. He also married Charles's daughter, Gisela.
King of Lotharingia
In 911, Louis the Child, the last Carolingian king of East Francia, died. The nobles of Lotharingia had been loyal to him. They chose Charles as their new king, separating from East Francia. East Francia had elected a non-Carolingian king, Conrad I.
Charles had worked for years to gain support in Lotharingia. For example, he married a Lotharingian woman named Frederuna in 907. He also defended Lotharingia from attacks by Conrad I. However, Lotharingia was later taken by East Francia in 925.
Revolt of the Nobles
Queen Frederuna died in 917. She had six daughters but no sons. This made the question of who would be the next king unclear. In 919, Charles married Eadgifu, the daughter of the King of England. They had a son, who would later become King Louis IV of France.
Around this time, Charles showed too much favor to a nobleman named Hagano. He gave Hagano lands and monasteries that belonged to other important nobles. This made many aristocrats angry. In Lotharingia, the new duke, Gilbert, switched his loyalty to the new king of East Francia.
The nobles were very upset with Charles. They captured him in 920. After talks with Archbishop Herveus of Reims, Charles was released.
In 922, the Frankish nobles revolted again. This time, Robert of Neustria led them. Robert was Odo's brother. The rebels elected Robert as their new king. Charles had to escape to Lotharingia.
Charles returned with an army in 923. He fought Robert's army at the Battle of Soissons. Robert died in the battle, but his army still won. Charles was captured and imprisoned in a castle at Péronne. Robert's son-in-law, Rudolph of Burgundy, was then chosen as the new king.
Charles died in prison on October 7, 929. He was buried at the nearby abbey of Saint-Fursy. His son, Louis, later became King Louis IV of France in 936. After Charles's defeat, Queen Eadgifu and their children had fled to England for safety.
Family
Charles first married Frederuna in May 907. She was the daughter of Dietrich, a count. They had six daughters:
- Ermentrude
- Frederuna
- Adelaide
- Gisela, who married Rollo
- Rotrude
- Hildegarde
Charles married for the second time in 919 to Eadgifu of Wessex. They had one son:
- Louis IV of France (born 920, died 954), who became King of West Francia in 936.
Charles also had other children:
- Arnulf
- Drogo
- Rorice (died 976), who became Bishop of Laon
- Alpais, who married Erlebold, count of Lommegau.
Images for kids
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A coin from the time of Charles III the Simple.
See also
In Spanish: Carlos III de Francia para niños
