Louis the Blind facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Louis the Blind
Emperor of the Romans
Silver denarii coins showing Pope Benedict IV (front) and Emperor Louis (back)
Emperor in Italy
Reign	901–905
Coronation	February 901, Rome
Predecessor	Arnulf
Successor	Berengar I
King of Italy
Reign	900–905
Predecessor	Arnulf
Successor	Berengar I
King of Provence
Reign	887–928
Predecessor	Boso
Successor	Hugh
Born	c. 880 Provence
Died	5 June 928 Vienne, Provence
Spouse	Anna of Constantinople, daughter of Leo VI Adelaide, daughter of Rudolph I of Burgundy
Issue	Charles-Constantine Anna of Provence
House	Bivinids
Father	Boso
Mother	Ermengard

Louis the Blind (born around 880 – died 5 June 928) was a powerful ruler in the early Middle Ages. He was the king of Provence starting in 887, King of Italy from 900, and for a short time, he was also the Holy Roman Emperor, known as Louis III, between 901 and 905. His father was from the Bosonid family, and his mother was from the Carolingian royal family. Louis earned the nickname "the Blind" because he lost his eyesight after a failed attempt to take over Italy in 905.

Becoming King of Provence

Louis was born around 880. His father, Boso, had taken the throne of Provence. His mother, Ermengard, was the daughter of Emperor Louis II. When Louis was just seven years old, his father died on January 11, 887. Louis then became the new King of Provence.

The kingdom Louis inherited was smaller than his father's. Some parts had been lost to other rulers. This meant Provence was mainly around the city of Vienne. The important lords of Provence chose Louis's mother, Ermengard, to rule for him as his regent (a person who rules when the king is too young). She had help from Louis's uncle, Richard the Justiciar.

In May 887, Ermengard took Louis to meet her relative, Emperor Charles the Fat. The emperor recognized Louis as the new king and promised to protect him and his mother. Later, in 889, Ermengard visited Charles's successor, Arnulf, to get his support too. She also asked for the blessing of Pope Stephen V.

In August 890, a meeting of bishops and lords in Valence officially declared Louis as King of Arles, Provence, and Cisjurane Burgundy. This decision was supported by the pope and based on Charles the Fat's earlier agreement. In 894, Louis showed his loyalty to Arnulf.

Louis also had to fight against Saracens, who were pirates. These pirates had set up a base in Fraxinet in 889. They often raided the coast of Provence, which worried the local nobles. Louis fought against them throughout his time as king.

Struggles for Italy and Losing His Sight

In the year 900, several Italian lords invited Louis to come to Italy. They were having trouble with attacks from the Magyars (a group of people from Eastern Europe) and were unhappy with the rule of Berengar I. Louis was seen as a good choice because he was the grandson of Emperor Louis II.

Louis led his army across the Alps mountains. He defeated Berengar and made him leave Pavia, which was an old capital city. In Pavia, in the church of San Michele, Louis was crowned King of Italy on October 12, 900. He then traveled to Rome, where Pope Benedict IV crowned him Holy Roman Emperor in 901.

However, Louis struggled to stop the Magyar attacks and control northern Italy. Because of this, the Italian nobles soon stopped supporting him and went back to supporting Berengar. In 902, Berengar defeated Louis's armies. Louis was forced to go back to Provence and promise he would never return to Italy.

But in 905, Louis tried to invade Italy again. The Italian nobles, still unhappy with Berengar, asked Louis to return. This time, Adalbert I of Ivrea led the call for Louis. Louis again forced Berengar out of Pavia. He also managed to take the city of Verona with only a small group of followers, after a bishop named Adalard promised to help him.

However, Berengar's supporters in Verona quickly told him about Louis's small army and weak position. Berengar returned with troops from Bavaria and entered Verona at night. Louis tried to find safety in a church, but he was captured. On July 21, 905, Louis had his eyes put out as punishment for breaking his promise not to return to Italy. He was also forced to give up his titles as King of Italy and Emperor. Later, Berengar became Emperor.

After this, Louis continued to rule Provence for more than twenty years. However, his cousin, Hugh, who was the Count of Arles, became the main power in the region. Louis returned to Vienne, his capital city. By 911, he had given most of his royal powers to Hugh. Hugh became the Margrave of Provence and Marquis of Vienne and moved the capital to Arles. Hugh also married Louis's sister, Willa. Louis lived out his life quietly and died in 928. He continued to call himself Roman Emperor until his death. His brother-in-law, Hugh, succeeded him.

Family Life

Around 899, Louis III was expected to marry Anna of Constantinople. She was the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Leo VI the Wise. A letter from a church leader named Nicholas Mystikos mentions that Leo VI had arranged for his daughter to marry a Frankish prince, a cousin of Bertha, who later faced a great misfortune. This unfortunate prince was likely Louis III, who was blinded in 905. This marriage plan was part of efforts to strengthen alliances between the Byzantine Empire and Western powers to protect Byzantine lands in southern Italy.

Louis had a son named Charles-Constantine, who later became the Count of Vienne. The mother of Charles is not clearly named in old records. Some historians think she might have been Anna of Constantinople, based on the marriage plans and Charles-Constantine's name, which sounds like it could come from a Byzantine family.

In 914, Louis married for a second time to Adelaide. She was the daughter of Rudolph I of Upper Burgundy. Adelaide was likely the mother of Rudolph, another son of Louis the Blind.

In December 915, Louis's daughter, Anna of Provence, married Berengar. Some historians believe this Anna was also a daughter of Louis III and Anna of Constantinople.

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See also

In Spanish: Luis III el Ciego para niños