East Francia

East Francia was the eastern kingdom created by the 843 partition of the Carolingian Empire. Its East Frankish kings ruled a realm that developed into the medieval German kingdom.

Treaty of Verdun: An 843 agreement that divided the Carolingian Empire among the sons of Louis the Pious. It established the eastern kingdom ruled by Louis the German.
East Frankish kings: The rulers who held the East Frankish kingship from the kingdom’s formation through its transition into the German kingdom. Their reigns show how authority passed through the kingdom’s changing political order.
Charles the Fat: A Carolingian ruler who governed East Francia and later reunited much of Charlemagne’s empire. His reign marked the last brief reunion of the Carolingian realms.
Kingdom of Germany: The medieval kingdom ruled by German kings, which formed the central territorial basis of the Holy Roman Empire. East Francia developed into this kingdom during the tenth century.
Carolingian Empire: The Frankish empire ruled by Charlemagne and his successors from the late eighth to the ninth century. East Francia was one of the realms formed from its division.
Carolingian dynasty: The Frankish ruling family descended from Charlemagne’s grandfather Charles Martel. Its branches supplied East Francia’s early kings and later disputed the succession.
Arnulf of Carinthia: A Carolingian ruler who became king of East Francia in 887 and emperor in 896. His election followed the deposition of Charles the Fat.
Ottonian dynasty: A Saxon dynasty that ruled the German kingdom and supplied its emperors from the tenth century. Its kings established a durable post-Carolingian order in the former East Frankish realm.
Louis the German: A son of Louis the Pious who ruled East Francia from 843 until 876. He became the first ruler of East Francia under the Treaty of Verdun.
Duchy of Saxony: A powerful medieval duchy in northern Germany, ruled by the Ottonian dynasty from 919. Saxon rulers took the East Frankish kingship after the Carolingian line ended.

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