Kingship and Politics in the Late Ninth Century
Simon MacLean
This is a major study of the collapse pan-European Carolingian empire and reign its last ruler, Charles III 'the Fat' (876–888). The later decades are conventionally seen as dismal period decline fall, scarred by internal feuding, unfettered aristocratic ambition Viking onslaught. book offers an alternative interpretation, arguing that previous generations historians misunderstood nature causes end empire, neglected many relatively numerous sources for this period. Topics covered include significance power; political structures; possibilities limits kingship; developments in royal ideology; struggle with Vikings regional identities. In proposing these explanations empire's disintegration, has broader implications our understanding formative European history more generally.