Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
History and Geography
The Early Middle Ages
The Treaty of Verdun
Charlemagne, king of the Franks, died in 814. He was succeeded by his
son, Louis I (also known as Louis the Pious). During his reign, Louis
struggled to keep his rebellious sons (Charlemagne’s grandsons) from
permanently seizing power. After Louis died in 840, his three surviving
sons—Lothair I, Louis the German, and Charles the Bald—fought each
other for possession of the Frankish Empire.
Louis the German and Charles the Bald joined forces against their older
brother Lothair I, defeating him in the battle of Fontenoy in 841. The next
year, Louis and Charles made their alliance official by swearing the Oath
of Strasbourg. In 843, they forced Lothair to sign the Treaty of Verdun,
which divided the empire among the three brothers. Lothair retained the
title of emperor and received the central portion of the empire. Louis
received the empire’s eastern lands. Charles received the western lands.
MAP ACTIVITY
1. With a highlighter or pen, shade the box next to “Lothair I” in the map’s key. Use the
same highlighter or pen to shade Lothair’s kingdom on the map.
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Full Survey Chapter 13
20
The Early Middle Ages
Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
History and Geography
The Early Middle Ages
2. With a highlighter or pen, shade the box next to “Louis the German” in the map’s
key. Use the same highlighter or pen to shade Louis’s kingdom on the map.
3. With a highlighter or pen, shade the box next to “Charles the Bald” in the map’s key.
Use the same highlighter or pen to shade Charles’s kingdom on the map.
4. Note the battle symbol in the map’s key. Draw the same symbol next to the city on
the map where the brothers clashed in 841.
5. Circle the city on the map where Louis the German and Charles the Bald swore an
alliance in 842.
ANALYZING MAPS
6. Region Which brother received the territory east of the Rhine River?
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7. Region Which kingdom was the precursor to modern-day France?
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8. Location Aachen, a city located in modern-day Germany, was a capital of the
Frankish Empire. After the Treaty of Verdun, which brother’s kingdom included
Aachen?
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EXTENSION ACTIVITY
The Treaty of Mersen repartitioned the Frankish Empire in 870. Research
this agreement to find the answer to the following question: Which
brother’s northern lands, granted by the Treaty of Verdun, did the Treaty of
Mersen divide between the other two brothers?
Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Full Survey Chapter 13
21
The Early Middle Ages