Charles the Fat

Quick facts

Born

839 wd

Place of birth

Neudingen wd

Died

13 January 888 wd

Place of death

Neudingen wd

Occupation

monarch wd

Spouse

Richardis wd

Positions held wd

• King of West Francia (0885–0887)
• King of East Francia (0882–0887)
• Carolingian Roman emperor (0881–0887)

About

Over his lifetime, Charles became ruler of the various kingdoms of Charlemagne's former empire. Granted lordship over Alamannia in 876, following the division of East Francia, he succeeded to the Italian throne upon the abdication of his older brother Carloman of Bavaria who had been incapacitated by a stroke. Crowned emperor in 881 by Pope John VIII, his succession to the territories of his brother Louis the Younger (Saxony and Bavaria) the following year reunited the kingdom of East Francia. Upon the death of his cousin Carloman II in 884, he inherited all of West Francia, thus reuniting the entire Carolingian Empire.

Usually considered lethargic and inept—he was frequently ill, and is believed to have had epilepsy—Charles twice purchased peace with Viking raiders, including at the infamous Siege of Paris, which led to his downfall.

The reunited empire did not last. During a coup led by his nephew Arnulf of Carinthia in mid-November 887, Charles was deposed in East Francia, Lotharingia, and the Kingdom of Italy. Forced into quiet retirement, he died of natural causes on 13 January 888, just a few weeks after his deposition. The Empire quickly fell apart after his death, splintering into five separate successor kingdoms; the territory it had occupied was not entirely reunited under one ruler until the conquests of Napoleon.

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Questions

When was Charles the Fat born?

Charles the Fat was born on 839 in Neudingen.

What positions has Charles the Fat held?

Positions held by Charles the Fat include: King of West Francia (0885–0887); King of East Francia (0882–0887); Carolingian Roman emperor (0881–0887).

Sources

1. Wikipedia (English): Charles the Fat · CC BY-SA 4.0
2. Wikidata item Q150712 · CC0 1.0
3. Image: Sceau de Charles le gros.jpg by Unknown author Unknown author (Public domain)

Last updated 31 October 2026 · facts checked 6 November 2026

Cite this page

"Charles the Fat". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/charles-the-fat. Retrieved 6 November 2026.

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