Zwentibold facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zwentibold |
|
|---|---|
Zwentibold, Duke of Lotharingia, from a 12th-century book
|
|
| King of Lotharingia | |
| Reign | 895–900 |
| Predecessor | Arnulf of Carinthia |
| Successor | Louis the Child |
| Born | c. 870 |
| Died | 13 August 900 |
| Burial | Susteren Abbey |
| Spouse | Oda (daughter of Duke Otto I of Saxony) |
| Dynasty | Carolingian |
| Father | Arnulf of Carinthia |
| Mother | Vinburga |
Zwentibold (born around 870 – died August 13, 900) was a member of the Carolingian dynasty. He was a son of Emperor Arnulf. In 895, his father made him the King of Lotharingia, a kingdom he ruled until his death.
Zwentibold's Life
Early Years
Zwentibold was born around 870. This was during the time his great-grandfather, King Louis the German, ruled East Francia. Zwentibold was the first son of Arnulf of Carinthia and a woman named Vinburga. His father, Arnulf, was also a son of Carloman of Bavaria.
Zwentibold was named after his godfather, Svatopluk. Svatopluk was a powerful ruler from Great Moravia.
After King Louis the German died in 876, Carloman ruled the area of Bavaria. He gave some nearby lands, like Pannonia and Carinthia, to his son Arnulf. In 887, Arnulf became the king of East Francia. He took over from King Charles the Fat.
When Zwentibold grew up, he got involved in a struggle for the throne in West Francia. This was between Count Odo of Paris and Charles the Simple. But Odo and Charles started working together against Zwentibold. This happened when they realized Zwentibold wanted to become king of West Francia himself.
At first, Zwentibold was expected to take over East Francia after his father. But in 893, King Arnulf's wife had a legitimate son, Louis the Child. To make up for this, Zwentibold was given the title of King of Lotharingia. This kingdom had previously been ruled by Lothair II.
King of Lotharingia
In the summer of 893, Pope Formosus and King Berengar I of Italy asked Arnulf for help. They wanted help against Wido of Spoleto. Arnulf sent Zwentibold with an army to Italy. Zwentibold joined forces with Berengar in Verona. They marched to Wido's capital, Pavia, and tried to capture it. But they were not successful and gave up the siege.
Some stories say Zwentibold took money from Wido to leave. It's not clear if this was a personal payment or a tribute for his father. Zwentibold's retreat was seen as a failure. But after learning more, Arnulf gathered a stronger army. He personally led them to Italy and captured Pavia a few months later.
King Zwentibold's rule in Lotharingia was supported by his father. This was part of a plan to connect Lotharingia more closely with East Francia. Important church leaders, like Herman I of Cologne and Ratbod of Trier, also supported him. However, the local nobles did not like Zwentibold's rule. He also tried to help the common people a lot, which made some nobles dislike him even more.
His father, Arnulf, died in 899. His younger half-brother, Louis the Child, became king of East Francia at only six years old.
Death and Legacy
After his father died, Zwentibold tried to make Lotharingia fully independent. He wanted to rule it without East Francia's control. But without his father's support, the nobles in Lotharingia turned against him. They asked Louis the Child to intervene.
In 900, a count named Reginar I of Hainault and Odoacer fought against Zwentibold. Zwentibold was killed in battle that year. This happened near the Meuse river, close to the modern-day town of Susteren. His body is buried at Susteren Abbey.
After Zwentibold's death, King Louis the Child ruled Lotharingia. However, during Louis's reign, the East Frankish kingdom started to break apart. From 903, Zwentibold's kingdom was managed by a count named Gebhard. Gebhard was given the title of Duke of Lorraine.
Family Life
In 897, Zwentibold married Oda. She was the daughter of Duke Otto I of Saxony. They had three daughters:
- Benedetta (born around 898), who became an abbess at Susteren Abbey.
- Cecilia (born around 899), who also became an abbess at Susteren.
- Relenda (born around 900).
| Ancestors of Zwentibold | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
