839 manifested some of the faults which marred his 824-987 talent and energy after he had been rendered reckless by injustice and misfortune; and an easy self-delusion convinced Louis-le-débonnaire that the wayward grandson he wished to disinherit was absolutely irreclaimable. Young Pepin's pretensions or rights must yield to the welfare of the Empire another and more eligible successor must be found. Louis revived the sentence of forfeiture which he had pronounced against Pepin the father. Lothair had an ample provision: the undutiful Louis-le-Germanique was unworthy of favour. Who then ought to rule Aquitaine? Who so deserving as Charles King of Neustria?upon him accordingly was the realm bestowed. of the civil wars-at § 16. And yet there were those about Renewal Louis-le-débonnaire who lauded him for his pru- tacks of the dence and kindness.-This wonderful infatuation Northmen. put an end to all hesitation on the part of Louisle-Germanique. Levying all his forces, Germans and Sclavonians, he invaded Alemannia and recovered the territories which had been usurped from him. The Aquitanians rose in revolt on behalf of the boy Pepin. Earth and heaven appeared in confusion. Another comet became visible in the sign of Aries, pendant over the nether world with threatening fire. Streams of asteroids were again seen, and the Northmen renewed their dreadful ravages. Nevertheless, striving against errors and calamities, Louis-le-débonnaire, though VOL. I. X 839 824-987 suffering from infirmities which had brought on a premature old age, was stirred to greater vigour. Even Lothair found it expedient to temporize, and he repaired to his father at Worms. A great Placitum was held nigh the Garden of Roses, and Lothair, kneeling before his father, entreated pardon for his repeated acts of inProceed gratitude and disobedience. But this apparent ings at Worms be- contrition was directed to a cunning scheme of Louis-le- aggrandizement: Lothair complained that he, and Lo- the Emperor, the firstborn, was still deprived tween débonnaire thair. of a fair and equitable proportion of the great Carlovingian inheritance: so many of the arching circles had been broken away from the Imperial crown, that the mutilated diadem was a crown of dishonour. True to his ruling desire, the advantage of Charles-le-Chauve, the basis of the treaty was easily settled by Louis-le-débonnaire. The younger Pepin to be wholly excluded, Tenth par- Louis-le-Germanique restricted to Baoiaria proper, the empire without any appurtenances or appendages-noLouis. thing but Baioaria. Grandson and son, brother tition of made by and nephew, thus excluded and despoiled, Louisle-débonnaire concluded the tenth, the last proposed partition of the Empire, offering to Lothair -either that he (Lothair) should plan out the division and leave the choice to Charles,-or that he (Louis) should make the division. Lothair accepted the latter suggestion. To him, as Em 839-840 peror, were assigned the Eastern territories 824-987 (Bavaria excepted)—all the lands beyond Meuse and Rhine-various Burgundian districts, chiefly in modern Switzerland-modern Provence and all beyond to Italy. The residue was given to Charles-le-Chauve, who, by anticipation, we may call king of France, though as yet the name of "Francia" appertained only to a particular portion of his territory on the western side of the Rhine. Aquitanian tion-the reduced by débon But this partition required to be enforced 839-840. by the sword. The young Pepin, the boy insurrec Pepin, was still in Aquitaine. Emeno and the insurgents national party, by a sudden and successful move- Louis-lement, had gained possession of the country, and naire. caused the boy to be crowned as their king. Louis-le-débonnaire was immediately in action: with Judith to comfort him, and the young Charles to delight him, he crossed the Loire. His promptitude produced delusive obedience.Convened at Clermont, the magnates of Aquitaine performed homage to Charles-le-Chauve : provoked to unusual sternness, Louis-le-débonnaire testified a vindictive sense of justice depriving Emeno of the County of Poitiers, and condemning to death numerous offenders; who, as it is said, conjoined the offences of rapine and rebellion. § 17. Compelled to be satisfied with Aquitaine's uneasy and enforced submission, Louis 840 March Revolt of German ique-he is defeated by his father. 824-987 le-débonnaire was speedily called away to renew his unhappy warfare. Louis-le-Germanique bursting out from Bavaria, and heartily supApril. ported by his people, had reoccupied Alemannia. Louis-le- Louis-le-débonnaire buckled on his burnished hawberk,-and leaving Judith and Charles at Poitiers, marched against his contumacious son. So energetic was the old father's rally, that Louis-le-Germanique was compelled to retreat into Bavaria; and Louis-le-débonnaire, victor in this deplorable conflict, summoned a Diet of the Empire to be held at Worms on the Feast of Saint Rumbold, the first day of July then next ensuing. Lothair was commanded to attend for the purpose of advising on very important affairs, probably the complete subjugation of his German brother. 840. May. Eve of the Ascension. Great eclipse. But the end was nigh-Louis-le-débonnaire never saw any of his children again. At Frankfort on the Maine he stayed his progress: it was springtime, past Whitsuntide.-The season had been rendered awful: on the eve of the Ascension the sun was totally eclipsed, and the stars shone with nocturnal brightness. His stomach refused nourishment, weakness and languor gained upon him. Uneasy and seeking rest, the sick man fancied that he would pass the approaching summer upon the island which, dividing the heavily gushing Rhine, is now covered by the picturesque towers of the Pfaltz; and 840 he desired that a thatched lodge or leafy hut 824-987 should be there prepared, such as had served for him when hunting in the forest or as a soldier in the field-lying on his couch, he longed for the soothing music of the gurgling waters, and the freshness of the waving wind. Thither was he conveyed, his bark floating down from stream to stream. Many of the clergy were in attendanceamongst others, his brother, Archbishop Drogo, who at this time held the office of Archicapellanus and Drogo received the last injunctions which the son of Charlemagne had to impart. His imperial crown and sword he sent to Lothair, with the earnest request that he would be kind and true to Judith the widowed empress, and keep his word and promise to his brother Charles. Dying of inanition, the bed of the humble and contrite sinner was surrounded by the priests who continued in prayer with him and for him till he expired. He died on the third Sunday in June; and his corpse was removed to Metz, and buried in the Basilica of Saint Ar- naire. nolph, without the walls of the city. Imperii fulmen, Francorum nobile culmen, 840. June 20. Death of débon § 18. EMPIRE, tomb, epitaph, basilica, have 840, 841 all disappeared all are nullities.-A dislocated occasioned Confusion |