Charles of Provence orCharles of Burgundy (845 – 25 January 863) was aCarolingian king and ruler ofProvence andLower Burgundy from 855 until his early death in 863.
Charles was the youngest son of EmperorLothair I andErmengarde of Tours.[1]
By theTreaty of Prüm (19 September 855) his father dividedMiddle Francia between his three sons: the eldest,Louis, receivedItaly and the emperorship;Lothair II receivedLotharingia (modernLorraine, theLow Countries, andUpper Burgundy); and the youngest, Charles, receivedLower Burgundy withProvence.[2]
Charles was only a child when his father died; and the governance of his realm was undertaken by his tutor, CountGirart de Roussillon, whose wife had been a sister-in-law of Lothar I. Girart was a vigorous regent, defending the kingdom from the Northmen, who raided up theRhone as far asValence.
Charles' uncleCharles the Bald attempted to intervene in Provence in 861. After receiving an appeal for intervention from the count of Arles, he invaded Provence, but only reached Macon, being restrained byHincmar of Rheims.
Charles of Provence never ruled his realm in anything more than name. It was Girart, rather than Charles, who in 858 arranged that should Charles die without children, Provence would revert to Charles' brother Lothair. However, when Charles died, his elder brother Louis also claimed Provence, so the realm was divided between the two: Lothair received the bishoprics of Lyon, Vienne and Grenoble, to be governed by Girart; Louis received Arles, Aix and Embrun.
Charles of Provence Born: 845 Died: January 863 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byas King of Middle Francia | King of Provence 23 September 855 – January 863 | Divided betweenEmperor Louis II andLothair II of Lotharingia |
| International | |
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| People | |
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