The prevalent image of the late Carolingian age is one of decline and fall. Charles III the Simple’s (893/898−923) rule, which has hardly received any scholarly attention since the late 19th century, is perceived to have been the classic example of this development. Enthroned by rebels as well as cast down by a rebellion he is said to have been a weak ruler, powerless in the face of the ambitions of the nobles of the West Frankish realm. Yet, what do “weak” and “powerless” mean? In modern scholarship, early medieval rule is understood not as a question of command and obedience but as the result of cooperation between rulers and nobles. Thus, royal actions, such as the defence of the realm against the Northmen, interactions with other rulers or in regard to conflicts with or between the nobles, are reflections of the relations between the ruler and the circle of nobles around him. A ruler’s power therefore depended on his ability to integrate the most powerful nobles into his rule, to mediate between their interests and to create consensus over the course of action. Based on this view, a new assessment of Charles the Simple’s rule, the circle of nobles around him, the actions taken by him and thus his royal power is provided in this study, with the rules of his predecessors since the death of Charles the Bald in 877 serving as a basis for comparison.
Author(s): Horst Lößlein
Publisher: Modern Academic Publishing
Year: 2019
Language: English
Pages: 421
City: Cologne
Cover
Half Title
Title
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Preface
Summary
Abbreviations
Introduction
Possibilities and limits of late Carolingian rule
The functioning of royal power
Analytical approach
I. Becoming king: The questions of legitimacy and support
I.1 Charles’ claim to the throne
I.1.1 Louis the Stammerer’s two marriages
I.1.2 The question of Louis’ succession
I.1.3 Passing over Charles
I.1.4 A Robertian on the throne
I.1.5 Carolingian blood matters
I.2 Close supporters and distant allies
I.2.1 Archbishop Fulk of Reims
I.2.2 The network elevating Charles
I.2.3 The motives behind the rebellion
I.2.4 The cohesion of the network
I.2.5 Allies sought within the realm
I.2.6 Allies sought outside the realm
I.2.7 A network of different layers
I.3 Conclusion
II. Changes in the political landscape: From Louis the Stammerer to Odo
II.1 Old elites: Louis II the Stammerer
II.2 Rival factions: Louis III and Carloman II
II.3 New faces on the rise: Charles the Fat
II.4 Resistance, integration and rebellion: Odo
II.5 Conclusion: Continuities and changes
III. Networks of royal power: Charles the Simple
III.1 General overview
III.1.1 Charles’ itinerary
III.1.2 Contacts with distant regions
III.1.3 Using diplomas to demonstrate Carolingian legitimacy?
III.2 Breaking it down: Networks of royal power
III.2.1 Close associates and allies
III.2.1.1 The first years
III.2.1.2 Shifting balances
III.2.1.3 A new balance
III.2.1.4 Lotharingia
III.2.1.5 The early Lotharingian network
III.2.1.6 A king of two regna?
III.2.1.7 The later years
III.2.1.8 Liberty of choice?
III.2.2 Family and friends
III.2.3 The role of the marchiones
III.3 Conclusion: The development of Charles’ network and its dissolution
IV. Relations with other rulers
IV.1 Creating cooperation: Louis the Stammerer
IV.2 Carolingian networks: Louis III and Carloman II
IV.3. Structural weaknesses: Odo
IV.4 Possibilities and limits of royal power: Charles the Simple
V. The Viking problem
V.1 Viking incursions and royal measures in protection of the realm
V.1.1 Going on the offensive: Louis the Stammerer-Charles the Fat
V.1.2 Strategies of containment: Odo
V.1.3 Return to the old strategies: Charles the Simple
V.2 Diplomatic solutions
V.2.1 Dudo’s De moribus et actis primorum Normanniae ducum
V.2.2 The treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte
V.2.3 Using an old solution in a new way
V.3 Conclusion
VI. Conflicts, rebellions and the role of trust
VI.1 Solving conflicts: The role of interest groups
VI.2 Rulers and nobles: Breaches of trust
VI.3 Speaking justice: Symbolic acts
VI.4 Against the king: Questioning the right to rule
VI.5. Conclusion
Conclusion
Bibliography
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
Index
