Charles the Younger

Charles the Younger, born circa 772, was the second son of Charlemagne and the first by his third wife, Hildegard of Swabia. When Charlemagne divided his empire among his sons, his son Charles was designated King of the Franks.

His elder brother, Pippin the Hunchback, was disinherited, and his younger brothers Carloman (renamed Pippin) and Louis the Pious received Italy and Aquitaine, respectively.

Charles was mostly preoccupied with the Bretons, whose border he shared and who insurrected on at least two occasions and were easily put down, but he was also sent against the Saxons on multiple occasions. Charles' father outlived him, however, and the entire kingdom thus went to his younger brother Louis the Pious, Pippin also having died.

Around 789 it was suggested by Charlemagne that Charles the Younger should be married to Offa's daughters Ælflæd. Offa insisted that the marriage could only go ahead if Charlemagne's daughter Bertha was married to Offa's son Ecgfrith. Charlemagne took offence, broke off contact, and closed his ports to English traders. Eventually, normal relations were reestablished and the ports were reopened. Just a few years later, in 796, Charlemagne and Offa concluded the first commercial treaty known in English history.

His father associated Charles in the government of Francia and Saxony in 790, and installed him as ruler of the ducatus Cenomannicus (corresponding to the later Duchy of Maine). with the title of a king. Charles was crowned King of the Franks at Rome December 25 800, the same day his father was crowned Emperor.

On 4 December 811, in Bavaria, Charles had a stroke and died. He left eleven children the eldest being Gerard, the oldest of eight sons, and three sisters.

Family

Charles married another unknown daughter of Offa, and their children were:

• Gerard (792-841), ancestor the House of Ramnulfids
• Liudolf (794-866), ancestor of the Houses of Liudolfings, and Wettin
• Uffo (796-852), ancestor of the Houses of Nassau, and Savoy
• Bovo (798-850), ancestor of the House of Medici
• Guntram(800-837), ancestor of the House of Habsburg
• Oda (802-)
• Adalelm (804-870), ancestor of the House of Württemberg
• Rotlind (806-)
• Wildrut (808-)
• Odo (810-871), ancestor of the House of Bonaparte
• Robert (812-866), ancestor of the Houses of Capet, Plantagenets, and Burkes

References

• The Earliest English Kings, written by D.P. Kirby