Editing Low Countries (section)

===Frankish Empire===
{{see also|Lower Lorraine}}
By the end of the 8th century, the Low Countries formed a core part of a much expanded [[Francia]] and the Merovingians were replaced by the [[Carolingian dynasty]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ramirez-Faria |first1=Carlos |title=Concise Encyclopedia of World History |date=2007 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=9788126907755 |page=683 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gGKsS-9h4BYC&pg=PA683 |language=en}}</ref> In 800, the Pope crowned and appointed [[Charlemagne]] [[Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor]] of the re-established [[Holy Roman Empire|Roman Empire]].

After the death of [[Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor]] [[Louis the Pious]] Francia was divided in three parts among his three sons.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Chopra |first1=Hardev Singh |title=De Gaulle and European Unity |date=1974 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=9780883862889 |page=131 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VedEZydsEYMC&pg=PA131 |language=en}}</ref> The middle slice, [[Middle Francia]], was ruled by [[Lothair I]], and thereby also came to be referred to as "Lotharingia" or "Lorraine". Apart from the original coastal [[County of Flanders]], which was within [[West Francia]], the rest of the Low Countries were within the lowland part of this, "[[Lower Lorraine]]".

After the death of Lothair, the Low Countries were coveted by the rulers of both [[West Francia]] and [[East Francia]]. Each tried to swallow the region and to merge it with their spheres of influence. Thus, the Low Countries consisted of [[fief]]s whose sovereignty resided with either the [[Kingdom of France (987–1498)|Kingdom of France]] or the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. While the further history the Low Countries can be seen as the object of a continual struggle between these two powers, the title of [[Duke of Lothier]] was coveted in the low countries for centuries.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jeep |first1=John M. |title=Routledge Revivals: Medieval Germany (2001): An Encyclopedia |date=2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781351665391 |pages=291–295 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ikArDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT291 |language=en}}</ref>