Atlantic West Europe, 832–843: Fragmentation and the Birth of West Francia

Between 832 and 843, Atlantic West Europe saw the Carolingian Empire descend into fragmentation through internal family struggles, significantly reshaping the political landscape and laying the foundations of distinct regional identities, notably in West Francia.

Political and Military Developments

• Carolingian Civil Wars

  • Emperor Louis the Pious’s sons—Lothair I, Pepin of Aquitaine, Louis the German, and later Charles the Bald—fought fiercely over succession rights, plunging the empire into civil wars.
  • At the Battle of Fontenoy (841), near Auxerre, Charles the Bald and Louis the German defeated their brother Lothair, weakening centralized authority.

• Treaty of Verdun (843)

  • The Treaty of Verdun partitioned the Carolingian Empire among Louis the Pious's surviving sons, decisively splitting the empire:
    • Charles the Bald received West Francia (later France), shaping the future identity of Atlantic West Europe.
    • Louis the German took East Francia (later Germany).
    • Lothair retained Middle Francia (stretching from Italy to the Low Countries), creating a buffer that would be contested throughout the medieval era.

• Brittany’s Increasing Autonomy

  • Nominoë of Brittany strengthened his autonomy amidst Carolingian turmoil, positioning Brittany for de facto independence.

Economic and Social Developments

• Economic Disruption
  • The civil wars damaged trade networks and agricultural productivity, though Atlantic coastal trade in cities such as Nantes and Bordeaux persisted, maintaining some economic stability.

Religious and Cultural Developments

• Cultural Fragmentation
  • The unity of the Carolingian Renaissance weakened, but monastic centers, particularly in Tours and Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire, preserved intellectual traditions amidst political unrest.

Legacy

This era’s pivotal event, the Treaty of Verdun, established lasting political and cultural boundaries. West Francia emerged as the direct precursor to the Kingdom of France, laying the groundwork for Atlantic West Europe's distinct medieval identity.