Weis' "Ancestral Roots. . ." (140:14), (144A:14), (146:14), (148:14),
(191:16), (250:15). Louis' father, CHARLEMAGNE, who died in 814, had intended to split his empire between his sons, but all except Louis predeceased him. Louis, therefore became sole heir to the Empire. His was a troubled reign. He exiled some of his father's closest advisors (including two cousins) immediately upon his succession. In 817, Louis declared that his eldest son, LOTHAR, would succeed him as Emperor and that his two younger sons, LOUIS THE GERMAN and Pepin would be given kingdoms within the Empire. The three sons were satisfied with this arrangement.
Louis had a nephew, BERNARD, who had succeeded his father, PEPIN, as King of Italy in 812. Louis made no provision for BERNARD in the succession plan. BERNARD, feeling he had been slighted, revolted against Louis. Louis put down the revolt and had BERNARD blinded. In 823 Louis' second wife bore him a son, CHARLES. Louis made known that he planned to include CHARLES in his succession plans. This was not acceptable to CHARLES' half brothers, LOTHAR and LOUIS. From the late 820s until his death in 840, Louis was in a continual struggle with one or more of his sons.
Three years of bitter civil war followed Louis' death. The Treaty of Verdun in 843 finally brought some resolution. LOTHAR was recognized as Emperor and was given sovereignty in an area which was to become known as "the Middle Kingdom" stretching from the North Sea to Rome. LOUIS THE GERMAN became sovereign over the portion of the old Empire east of LOTHAR's (basically modern day Germany) and CHARLES became sovereign over the portion of the old Empire west of LOTHAR's (modern day France). The other brother, Pepin had died in 838. LOTHAR, even though he retained the title of Emperor, had no authority in LOUIS' or CHARLES' domains. It was during these times of unrest towards the end of Louis' reign that the Vikings began to make their first raids along the northern coast of the Empire, occasionally venturing inland as well.