Charles the Fat

Lore & Background

Charles was the youngest of three sons of Louis the German and Hemma. An incident of demonic possession was recorded in his youth, in which he was said to have been foaming at the mouth before being taken to the altar of the church. He was described as a very Christian prince, fearing God, keeping His commandments, generous in almsgiving, and always intent upon celebrating the praises of God. He succeeded to the Italian throne upon the abdication of his older brother Carloman of Bavaria, who had been incapacitated by a stroke.

Reader's Guide

Charles the Fat is significant as the last Carolingian emperor of legitimate birth and the last ruler of a united Frankish kingdom. His reign, however, was marked by lethargy and illness—he is believed to have had epilepsy—and he twice purchased peace with Viking raiders, including at the infamous Siege of Paris, which led to his downfall. The reunited empire did not last. The Empire quickly fell apart after his death, splintering into five separate successor kingdoms; the territory it had occupied was not entirely reunited under one ruler until the conquests of Napoleon. His nickname 'Charles the Fat' is not contemporary but was first used in the twelfth century by the Annalista Saxo.

Did You Know?

• Charles was the youngest son of Louis the German and Hemma, and a great-grandson of Charlemagne.
• His nickname 'Charles the Fat' was first used by the Annalista Saxo in the twelfth century, not during his lifetime.