Lower Burgundy is sometimes called the Kingdom of Arelat, the Kingdom of Cisjurane Burgundy, or the Kingdom of Provence.

The borders of Lower Burgundy are the Mediterranean Sea to the south, Septimania to the southwest, Aquitaine to the west, the Kingdom of Upper Burgundy to the north, and the Kingdom of Italy to the east.

Louis the Stammerer, who dies on April 10, 879, is survived by two adult sons, Louis and Carloman.

Boso renounces allegiance to both brothers and in July claims independence of the Kingdom of Provence.

On 15 October 879, the bishops and nobles of the region around the rivers Rhône and Saône assemble in the Synod of Mantaille and elect Boso king as successor to Louis the Stammerer, the first non-Carolingian king in Western Europe in more than a century.

This is the first "free election" of a king among the Franks, without regard to royal descent, though his mother was a Carolingian.

The Kingdom comprises the ecclesiastical provinces of the archbishops of Arles, Aix, Vienne, Lyon (without Langres), and probably Besançon, as well as the dioceses of Tarentaise, Uzès, and Viviers.

Atlantic West Europe (880–891): Renewed Carolingian Authority, Regional Powers, and Viking Threats

Between 880 and 891, Atlantic West Europe saw the resurgence of Carolingian power in West Francia, the ongoing fragmentation and consolidation of regional principalities like Flanders, Anjou, Aquitaine, Brittany, and Burgundy, and continued threats from Viking raids.

Political and Military Developments

• West Francia: Restoration Under Charles the Fat

  • Carolingian authority briefly consolidated under Emperor Charles the Fat (r. 881–888), who reunited Carolingian territories including West Francia.
  • Charles proved largely ineffective, failing notably during the Viking siege of Paris (885–886), despite the heroic defense led by Count Odo of Paris.

• Rise of Odo of Paris

  • Odo, Count of Paris, emerged as a military hero by successfully defending Paris against the Vikings.
  • Following Charles the Fat’s deposition in 887 and subsequent death in 888, West Francia's nobility elevated Odo to kingship, establishing him as the first non-Carolingian king since Charlemagne’s dynasty began.

• Establishment of Principalities

  • Flanders continued its growth under Baldwin II "the Bald," fortifying its independence by securing royal recognition and expanding its territories.
  • Anjou steadily consolidated power under local counts, enhancing regional autonomy in the Loire Valley.
  • Aquitaine experienced ongoing fragmentation among local nobles, though its regional identity and autonomy persisted.
  • Brittany strengthened under Duke Alain I, successfully resisting Viking invasions and securing regional autonomy.

• Upper and Lower Burgundy: Formation of Independent Kingdoms

  • After the death of Charles the Fat (888), Upper Burgundy (the future Free County of Burgundy or Franche-Comté) established itself independently under Rudolph I.
  • Concurrently, Lower Burgundy (later Kingdom of Provence or Cisjurane Burgundy) emerged under Boso, expanding regional autonomy.

Economic and Social Developments

• Impact of Viking Raids

  • Continued Viking raids disrupted trade routes along the Loire and Seine rivers, leading to fortified towns and castles as defensive measures.
  • This further accelerated regional fragmentation and encouraged the rise of local strongholds.

• Urbanization and Trade

  • Despite disruptions, towns like Paris, Tours, and Bruges gradually enhanced their roles as centers of commerce and administrative power, especially with increasing fortifications.

Religious and Cultural Developments

• Monastic Revival and Cultural Preservation
  • Monastic centers, despite Viking threats, continued intellectual preservation, notably at Saint-Martin of Tours and Saint-Bertin in Flanders.
  • Manuscript illumination and Latin scholarship continued, albeit reduced by instability.

Legacy and Significance

By 891, Atlantic West Europe had experienced:

• The decisive failure and ultimate end of centralized Carolingian control, setting the stage for Odo’s accession and the eventual rise of the Robertian dynasty.
• Continued growth and regional consolidation in Flanders, Anjou, Brittany, and Burgundy, reinforcing political fragmentation into strong regional states.
• Significant cultural preservation despite ongoing disruptions, laying the foundations for regional identities and future political structures in the early medieval period.

This era firmly signaled the fragmentation of Carolingian authority, paving the way toward the feudal decentralization that characterized subsequent medieval Europe.

Provence had been legally a part of the Italian kingdom from 863.

Following the death of Louis the Stammerer and the division of his realm between his two sons, Carloman and Louis, some nobles advocate electing a sole king, but eventually both brothers are elected kings.

Although doubts are cast upon their legitimacy, the brothers had obtained recognition and in March 880 divide their father's realm at Amiens, Carloman receiving Burgundy and Aquitaine.

However, Duke Boso has renounced his allegiance to both brothers and had been elected King of Provence, or Lower Burgundy.

The brothers Carloman and Louis march against him in the summer of 880, taking Mâcon and the northern parts of Boso's realm.

They unite their forces with those of Charles the Fat and unsuccessfully besiege Vienne from August to November.

Richard, called the Justiciar, is a Bosonid, the son of Bivin of Gorze and Richildis.

His elder brother is Boso of Provence and his younger sister is Richildis, second wife of Charles the Bald.

After the death of the Emperor Louis II in 875, Richard and Boso had accompanied Charles to Italy for his imperial coronation.

In Pavia, while preparing for his return journey in February 876, Charles had nominated Boso "Duke and Viceroy of Italy and Duke of Provence."

On Charles' death in 877, Boso had returned to France and confided the realm of Italy and the duchy of Provence to Richard and Hugh the Abbot as missi dominici.

When Boso declared himself "King of Provence" in 879 following the death of Louis the Stammerer, Richard had defected from Boso and taken Boso's county of Autun, which Carloman II had confirmed to him in 880.

The two had joined battle on the Saône and Richard had captured Mâcon and garrisoned it in the name of Carloman and Louis III under the command of Bernard Plantapilosa, a relative of the hereditary Counts of Mâcon.

After taking Lyon, he had besieged his brother's capital of Vienne, where he had been joined by Louis, Carloman, and the emperor Charles the Fat.

Richard eventually drives Boso out in September 882 and captures his wife Ermengard and children Engelberga and Louis, sending them as prisoners to Autun.

Boso goes into hiding in Provence.

The Death of Louis III and the Crisis of West Francia (882)

On August 5, 882, Louis III, King of West Francia, dies after falling from his horse while chasing a girl with amorous intent. His sudden and unexpected death occurs at Saint-Denis, a central location within his realm, and he is buried in the royal mausoleum of the Basilica of Saint-Denis.

The Aftermath: Carloman Becomes Sole King

• Louis III had no heirs, leaving his brother Carloman II as the sole ruler of West Francia.
• Carloman inherits a kingdom in crisis, beset by Viking invasions, feudal revolts, and territorial instability.

The Dire Condition of West Francia (882)

1. Viking Incursions

   • Norman raiders continue to plunder towns, monasteries, and cities, particularly in the Seine and Loire valleys.
   • The kingdom’s defensive structures are inadequate, and Carloman struggles to muster a unified military response.

2. Weak Royal Authority

   • The power of the West Frankish monarchy is limited, as local lords grow increasingly independent.
   • Even within his own kingdom, Carloman’s authority is heavily circumscribed, with nobles asserting regional autonomy.

3. Revolts in Burgundy

   • Feudal lords in Burgundy rise in rebellion, further weakening royal influence over the region.
   • This signals the continued fragmentation of the Carolingian realm, as local rulers refuse to recognize centralized authority.

Legacy of Louis III

• Though his reign was short (879–882), Louis III is remembered for his victory over the Vikings at Saucourt (881), immortalized in the Ludwigslied.
• His death marks another step in the decline of the Carolingian monarchy, accelerating the rise of feudal states.
• With West Francia increasingly vulnerable, Carloman faces the daunting task of holding together a kingdom on the brink of disintegration.

Though Louis III’s reign was defined by both military triumph and personal recklessness, his untimely death leaves West Francia in a precarious state, setting the stage for continued instability and the eventual collapse of Carolingian rule.

The Siege of Paris (885–886) and Charles the Fat’s Betrayal

Between 885 and 886, Paris, heavily fortified since its sack by the Danes in 857, withstands a massive Viking siegelasting eleven months. The Norse invaders, numbering around 40,000 warriors aboard 700 ships, launch relentless attacks against the fortified city, yet the Parisian defenders, led by Count Odo and Bishop Gozlin, refuse to surrender.

Paris Under Siege: A Brutal Standoff

• The Vikings attempt multiple assaults, trying to breach the fortified bridges of the Île de la Cité, but the Parisian garrison holds firm.
• Disease and starvation begin to spread within the city, weakening the defenders.
• In early 886, Count Odo personally rides out of Paris, breaking through Viking lines to seek reinforcements from Emperor Charles the Fat.

Charles the Fat Arrives… But Refuses to Fight

• Charles the Fat finally arrives with a large army and encircles the Viking force, setting up a camp at Montmartre.
• Despite securing a strong position, Charles refuses to engage the Vikings in battle, shocking his own commanders.
• Instead of fighting, he negotiates with the Norse leaders and pays them off, allowing them to continue their raids elsewhere.

The Humiliation of West Francia

• Charles orders the Vikings to sail down the Seine and plunder Burgundy, which is already in revolt against him.
• This diplomatic maneuver further undermines Frankish authority, as Charles is seen as abandoning his own people to Viking devastation.
• The decision enrages the nobles of West Francia, who see Charles’ inaction as cowardice and betrayal.

Consequences of the Siege and Charles’ Downfall

• Despite being greatly outnumbered, Paris holds out and is never taken, solidifying its status as a center of Frankish resistance.
• Count Odo’s leadership during the siege makes him a hero among the Frankish nobility, paving the way for his later election as King of West Francia in 888.
• The humiliating settlement with the Vikings severely damages Charles the Fat’s already weak reputation, leading to his deposition in 887.

The Siege of Paris: A Turning Point in West Francia

The Siege of Paris (885–886) is a defining moment in the decline of Carolingian authority and the rise of local feudal power. While Charles the Fat’s failure to protect his kingdom leads to his downfall, the bravery of Paris’ defenders propels Odo into power, marking the beginning of the end of Carolingian rule in West Francia.

Charles the Fat had probably abandoned his plans for Bernard and instead adopted Louis of Provence as his son at an assembly at Kirchen in May.

It is possible, however, that the agreement with Louis was only designed to engender support for Bernard's subkingship in Lotharingia.

In June or July, Berengar arrived in Kirchen, probably pining to be declared Charles's heir; he may in fact have been so named in Italy, where he will be acclaimed (or make himself) king immediately after Charles's deposition in 887.

Odo, Count of Paris, may have had a similar purpose in visiting Charles at Kirchen.

On the other hand, the presence of these magnates at these two great assemblies may merely have been necessary to confirm Charles' illegitimate son as his heir (Waiblingen), a plan which failed when the pope refused to attend, and then to confirm Louis instead (Kirchen).

Odo of France, recognizing the superiority of Arnulf’s position, had formally admitted the suzerainty of Arnulf in 888.

Arnulf had taken advantage of the problems in West Francia upon the death of Charles The Fat to secure the territory of Lorraine, which he had converted into a kingdom for his son, Zwentibold.

In addition, in 889, Arnulf supports the claim of Louis the Blind to the kingdom of Provence, after receiving a personal appeal from Louis’ mother, Ermengard, who comes to see Arnulf at Forchheim in May 889.