Editing Carolingian Empire (section)

===After the Treaty of Verdun (843–877)===
{{Main|Treaty of Verdun}}
Lothar received the imperial title, the kingship of Italy, and the territory between the [[Rhine]] and [[Rhône River|Rhone]] Rivers, collectively called the [[Middle Francia|Central Frankish Realm]]. Louis was guaranteed the kingship of all lands to the east of the Rhine and to the north and east of Italy, which was called the [[East Francia|Eastern Frankish Realm]] which was the precursor to modern Germany.{{sfn|Reuter|2013|p=91-92}} Charles received all lands west of the Rhone, which was called the [[West Francia|Western Frankish Realm]].

Lothar retired Italy to his eldest son [[Louis II of Italy|Louis II]] in 844, making him co-emperor in 850. By the [[Treaty of Prüm]] (855), Lothar divided his kingdom into three parts: the Italian territory already held by Louis remained his, the territory of the former Kingdom of [[Burgundy (region)|Burgundy]] was granted to his third son [[Charles of Burgundy, son of Lothar|Charles of Burgundy]], and the remaining territory for which there was no traditional name was granted to his second son [[Lothar II]], whose realm was named [[Lotharingia]].{{sfn|West|2023|p=}}

Louis II, dissatisfied with having received no additional territory upon his father's death, allied with his uncle [[Louis the German]] against his brother Lothar and his uncle Charles the Bald in 858. Lothar reconciled with his brother and uncle shortly after. Charles was so unpopular that he could not raise an army to fight the invasion and instead fled to Burgundy. He was only saved when the bishops refused to crown Louis the German king. In 860, Charles the Bald invaded Charles of Burgundy's kingdom but was repulsed. Lothar II ceded lands to Louis II in 862 for support of a divorce from his wife, which caused repeated conflicts with the pope and his uncles. Charles of Burgundy died in 863, and his kingdom was inherited by Louis II.

Lothar II died in 869 with no legitimate heirs, and his kingdom was divided between Charles the Bald and Louis the German in 870 by the [[Treaty of Meerssen]]. Meanwhile, Louis the German was involved in disputes with his three sons. Louis II died in 875, and named [[Carloman of Bavaria|Carloman]], the eldest son of Louis the German, his heir. Charles the Bald, supported by the pope, was crowned both king of Italy and emperor. The following year, Louis the German died. Charles tried to annex his realm too, but was defeated decisively at [[Andernach]], and the Kingdom of the eastern Franks was divided between [[Louis the Younger]], [[Carloman of Bavaria]] and [[Charles the Fat]].