Louis the Pious HOLYROMAN EMPIRE, EMP OF THE WEST

                   Carlemagne's son and successor Louis I the Pious was totally incapable
of coping with the heavy burden.  Lacking drive or firmness, he could but
preside over the decline of imperial power as local officers and lords
asserted their independence and ursurped royal authority.  Louis could not
even control his own sons, who became dissatisfied with the lands and powers
bestowed upon them and who fought against their father and among themselves.
When the unhappy Louis died in 840 his three sons were locked in strife
for supremancy.  Lothair, the eldest, had been recognized as Emperior and
given Italy.  But his powition was challenged by Louis the german who ruled
over the East Franks (Germany) and Charles the Bald wo rulled over the
West Franks (France).  In 842 after their victory over Lothair at Fontenay,
Charles and Louis took the famous Strasbourg Oath, which pledged them to
mutual assistance.  Lothair now agreed to compromise, and in 843 the 3
brothers concluded the Treaty of Verdun.  Lothair retained his imperial
title and received a belt of territory extending from Rome through Alsace and
Lorraine to the mouth of the Rhine River.  Louis was confirmed in possession
of the eastern lands and Charles in his possession of the Western lands
in France.  Henceforth the three segments were to go their separate ways,
their rulers fighting for territorial advantage, except for a brief period
between 884 & 887, when there was a reunification under the Carolingian
emperior Charles the Fat.  Charles military and political ineptness, however
led to his deposition, and never agin the the middle ages were Germany and
France to be united.  They were ruled by different houses and became political
and military antagonists.