Louis the Pious

Louis the Pious, also called the Fair and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne. He was born on 16 April 778.

In 781, he became King of Aquitaine and helped protect the southwestern part of the empire. He conquered Barcelona from the Emirate of Córdoba in 801. He also strengthened control over places like Pamplona and the Basques.

When Charlemagne died in 814, Louis became the sole ruler of the Franks. He wanted to include his adult sons, Lothair, Pepin, and Louis, in governing the empire. He planned to divide it among them. His reign had many challenges, including family conflicts. He worked to keep order in his empire until he died on 20 June 840.

Birth and rule in Aquitaine

Louis was born in 778 while his father Charlemagne was on a military campaign through the Pyrenees. He was the third son of Charlemagne and his wife Hildegard. When Louis was a young child, he was crowned King of Aquitaine in 781. His father sent him there to help govern the area and keep it safe.

Charlemagne wanted Louis to learn about the people and customs of his kingdom. Later, Louis joined in military campaigns, including efforts near the city of Barcelona. Even as a king, Louis followed his father's rules and learned to rule with his brothers. After his brothers died, Louis became the sole ruler of the large Carolingian Empire when his father died in 814.

Reign

While at his palace of Doué, Anjou, Louis heard that his father had died. He went quickly to Aachen and crowned himself emperor.

When he arrived at the imperial court in Aachen, Louis made changes. He removed things he thought were bad from his father's time. He destroyed old pagan items that Charlemagne had collected and sent away some family members.

He sent his unmarried sisters and nieces to nunneries. He chose Bernard, margrave of Septimania, and Ebbo, Archbishop of Reims to help him, though Ebbo later turned against him. He kept some of his father's advisors, such as Elisachar, abbot of St. Maximin near Trier, and Hildebold, Archbishop of Cologne. Later he replaced Elisachar with Hildwin, abbot of many monasteries.

He asked Benedict of Aniane to help change the Frankish church. Benedict made sure all religious places followed the Rule of Saint Benedict. In 816, Pope Stephen IV crowned Louis again, starting a tradition for French kings.

In 817, Louis made a plan for what would happen after he died. He divided the empire among his three sons. Lothair was to be the main ruler, Pepin became King of Aquitaine, and the youngest son Louis became King of Bavaria. This plan was meant to keep the empire together under Lothair while giving jobs to his brothers.

But the plan caused problems, especially when Louis later wanted to include his fourth son, Charles. This led to wars among his sons, making the empire weaker. Even with these problems, Louis worked to keep order and protect his borders.

Death

Louis became ill after his last battles. He went to his summer hunting lodge on an island in the Rhine near his palace at Ingelheim. He died on 20 June 840, surrounded by bishops and clerics. He was with his half-brother Drogo when he forgave his son Louis, named Lothair emperor, and asked for protection for Charles and Judith.

After his death, his surviving brothers began fighting. This fighting lasted until 843 when they signed the Treaty of Verdun. The empire was divided into three parts. West Francia and East Francia later became France and Germany. Middle Francia, which included Burgundy, the Low Countries, and northern Italy, did not last long and was reorganized as Lotharingia by 855. The argument over who would rule Aquitaine continued until 860.

Louis was buried in the Abbey of Saint-Arnould in Metz.

Marriage and issue

Louis the Pious had many children. With his first wife, Ermengarde of Hesbaye, he had three sons and three daughters. These included Lothair, who became king of Middle Francia, and Louis the German, who became king of East Francia.

With his second wife, Judith of Bavaria, he had another son and daughter. His son Charles the Bald later became king of West Francia. Louis also had two children who were not born to his wives: Arnulf of Sens and Alpaïs of Paris.