Charles the Bald, also known as Charles II, was a 9th-century king of West Francia (843–877), King of Italy (875–877) and emperor of the Carolingian Empire (875–877). After a series of civil wars during the reign of his father, Louis the Pious, Charles succeeded, by the Treaty of Verdun (843), in acquiring the western third of the empire. He was a grandson of Charlemagne and the youngest son of Louis the Pious by his second wife, Judith.
Charles the Bald as depicted in the Vivian Bible, c. 845
Denier of Charles the Bald struck at Paris
Denier (type Temple and cross) of Charles the Bald, minted at Reims between 840 and 864 (pre-Edict of Pistres).
The so-called Equestrian statuette of Charlemagne (c. 870), thought to possibly depict Charles the Bald
In medieval historiography, West Francia or the Kingdom of the West Franks constitutes the initial stage of the Kingdom of France and extends from the year 843, from the Treaty of Verdun, to 987, the beginning of the Capetian dynasty. It was created from the division of the Carolingian Empire following the death of Louis the Pious, with its neighbor East Francia eventually evolving into the Kingdom of Germany.
Royal lands (in blue) by the end of the 10th century
